The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Composers’ Prize is a biennial award given to deserving composers for each category.  Initiated in 2016, it is a competition on concert hall music, which calls for extended works that go beyond popular or traditional music-writing or improvisation, and thus can be better judged or evaluated if codified with an acceptable standard notation that may be published and recreated later through a performance. 

The NCCA, in line with its mission to “encourage the continuing development of a pluralistic culture by the people themselves,” will be creating the opportunity to have a direct hand in the development and enrichment of the genres in Philippine music literature.

1. Eligibility

The award is open to all Filipino composers, of legal age as prescribed by the law at the time of the submission, except to the officers and members of the NCCA Secretariat and the incumbent Executive Council (ExeCon) Members of the NCCA Committee on Music (NCM).  Compositions that may be submitted must be unpublished and unperformed until the award is given.  Likewise, these compositions should not have been awarded a prize from any award-giving body.

2. Mechanics

For the NCCA Composers’ Prize competition, the following are the requirements in the submission of entries:

2.1    Composers must submit an accomplished application form, which is available at the NCCA Plan/Policy Formulation and Programming Division (P/PFPD) or may be downloaded together with the following:

1. a) composer’s curriculum vitae
2. b) five (5) copies of the complete full score including the composer’s notes on the submitted composition
3. c) one 2×2 recent picture of the composer
   

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• Minimum duration of five (5) minutes to maximum duration of eight (8) minutes.
• The piano piece should be within the technical and artistic expressive parameters of the target age group (e.g. no octaves and very minimal pedaling for group ‘A’, a few octaves and chords and probably an expressive section for group ‘B’, etc.).
• Preferred target performers may be one of the following age groups (and the corresponding prizes; gross payment):
  • Group A: Piece for an 8-year-old (₱ 10,000.00)
  • Group B: Piece for a 9 to 10-year-old (₱ 15,000.00) Group
  • C: Piece for an 11 to 13-year-old (₱ 15,000.00)
  • Group D: Piece for a 14 to 18-year-old or teenager (₱ 15,000.00)
  • Group E: Piece for a 19 to 21-year-old (₱ 20,000.00)
  • Group F: Piece for a 22-year-old or young adult (₱ 25,000.00)

• With or without voice, maybe in concerto genre or a song cycle/large choral work with or without electronics and/or Philippine indigenous instruments.
• At least three (3) pieces/movements* (combined minimum of 12 minutes) preferably intended for youth or school/community-based orchestra. (PhP 225,000.00)

• With or without voices, maybe in concerto genre or a song cycle/large choral work with or without electronics and/or Philippine indigenous instruments)
• At least three (3) pieces/movements* (combined minimum of 12 minutes) preferably intended for youth or school/community-based symphonic band. (PhP 225,000.00)