If you are a composer, ensemble director, or other individual interested in participating in this project, please fill out the corresponding form below:

WE’RE LAUNCHING A CHORAL BRANCH!
Starting in 2021, And We Were Heard will begin serving underrepresented composers of vocal music! If you would like to volunteer to serve on our choral panel (vet scores, vet choir recordings, and organize composer collaborations), please submit a cover letter stating your interest and resume/CV to andwewereheard@gmail.com.

HOW IT WORKs . . .

And We Were Heard seeks to match composers historically marginalized by race or gender with ensembles to rehearse, perform, and create high-quality recordings of their work. Once a recording has been created, the composer can use the track to market themselves and their music while competing more effectively with large publishing companies and music distributors. The recordings will also be hosted on this site as a way for other directors to peruse available, playable music by diverse composers when making concert programming decisions.

STEP 1: Interested composers and ensembles submit profiles to our panel for review via the forms above. This screening process ensures that our collaborating composers and ensembles are generating high-quality content for each other. Currently, we are accepting works for wind band, string orchestra, and full orchestra. Composers will be prompted to send in PDFs of scores and parts in need a recording.

STEP 2: Our panel reviews and vets the composer applicants’ works and ensemble applicants’ submitted recordings. When accepted, ensemble directors will be sent two perusal scores that matches their ensemble’s reading level and instrumentation. Ensemble directors have one week to choose their collaborative recording piece and return the other score. The ensemble is sent the parts to begin work on the piece and the composer is notified of the beginning of the collaboration.

STEP 3: Each recording project will be assigned an And We Were Heard panelist who will act as a mediator for questions and information. This panelist will introduce the composer and ensemble director as well as facilitate communication. We request that email communication between composer and conductor always be cc'ed to the And We Were Heard panelist assigned to the project.

Each project carries a completion goal of one school semester. Directors may submit one request for an extension of an additional semester if needed. Recording ensembles may wish to turn out a high-quality recording in just a few weeks or spend a full semester preparing for a concert performance depending on their approach to the activity.

Composers and conductors are encouraged to communicate throughout the rehearsal and recording process. It is encouraged that the ensemble director give the composer as much helpful, productive feedback on their piece as possible in order to assist the composer with their future success and marketability. Composers and ensembles are encouraged to Zoom, Skype, or visit in person during the collaborative process if distance is not an issue.

Recordings submitted to the panel are reviewed for both fidelity and performance quality. Live performance recordings are acceptable for submission to this project. If a recording is deemed unacceptable for distribution by And We Were Heard, the ensemble will be given specific notes for correction and provided an additional opportunity to submit a higher-quality recording of the piece. If a high-quality recording is not delivered in two submissions, the ensemble will be excused from the project. All submitted recordings will be mastered by our on-staff audio engineer to ensure consistency across our site.

Participating ensembles are guaranteed the right to one performance of the collaboration piece free of charge during the semester it is recorded. Should they desire to keep the piece in their library, ensembles will be offered a 50% discount off the listed purchase price of the work or the composer may choose to gift the work free of charge as a thank you. Payment is made directly to the composer.

Recordings will be posted along with composer bios and links to purchase the piece on www.andwewereheard.org. Both the recording ensemble and the composer (or their chosen third-party agent) will retain non-commercial, promotional rights to the recording. And We Were Heard retains the right to host the recording on www.andwewereheard.org and our affiliated YouTube channel only.

Once a collaborative project has been completed, the ensemble can request to begin work on a new piece. Should the ensemble be interested in a “workshop” scenario in which multiple pieces are prepared and recorded in one sitting, please email a request. Once a composer’s first three pieces have been successfully recorded in a given genre, the composer may submit another three.

Currently, And We Were Heard is supporting women composers, non-binary composers, and composers of color who write music for wind band and string or full orchestra. We will be opening a choral branch in 2021. In the future, we may expand the scope of our efforts to include other composers and genres. If you are interested in serving as a panelist with And We Were Heard in a genre outside our current offerings, get started by reaching out to us!

Should you have any questions, please contact us at andwewereheard@gmail.com.