Renée B. Fisher Composer Awards 2027: Write New Piano Pieces for Students, $1,500 Each
A call for composers, distinct from the local piano competition
Neighborhood Music School in New Haven, Connecticut, is accepting submissions to the Renée B. Fisher Composer Awards. The current prominent deadline on the official page is 15 January 2027, by postmark. Composers propose a new solo piano work for either elementary/middle-school students (about three to four minutes) or high-school students (about four to five minutes). The separate performance competition for student pianists has its own Connecticut residence requirement; the composer award is not automatically restricted in the same way.
Submission and anonymity
A separate submission is required for each age division. The organiser asks for a signed application, one full score plus six anonymised jury copies, a recording or functioning private audio link and a one-page composer biography. Pieces must be unpublished, unrecorded commercially and not already publicly premiered or performed. The judges' copies must not contain the composer's name. Applicants mailing from overseas should budget time for delivery and follow the announced postmark rule, not a guessed email deadline.
Award terms and live concert obligation
Up to four composers are selected, two for music to be premiered in 2028 and two in 2029. Each chosen composer receives US$1,500 at the corresponding Winners' Concert and must be willing to attend in New Haven. Travel and accommodation reimbursements are capped at US$1,000 domestically or US$1,500 internationally. This award is not a US$1,500 payment issued immediately in January 2027, and travel beyond the cap should not be considered covered.
Read the latest version carefully
The official application page also contains text from an older piano competition and an obsolete 2026 date lower down. For Composer Awards, use the current 15 January 2027 heading and its specific application document; contact the institution if any PDF date conflicts. The Renée B. Fisher programme traces its history to 1977 and makes contemporary music accessible to young pianists, offering a meaningful public premiere rather than just an online certificate.
Official organiser application and primary-source information
Information researched on 23 October 2026. Check the organiser's current primary-source instructions, local closing time, rights, cost and legal eligibility before applying or paying.