Prize FAQ (frequently asked questions)
Can I mail or ship to you published hard copies / printed sheets of my music scores and compact discs / DVDs / cassette tapes / vinyl LPs / VCR tapes containing my sound files?
We are not accepting any physical/hard copies. This will save you money that you'd otherwise spend on printing, making CDs or DVDs, and mailing/shipping costs, while making life much easier for our judges and administrative staff. You'll need access to an Internet connected computer.
Can I mail in a personal check/bank check to pay my application fee?
We are not accepting personal checks or bank checks. Once you have completed your online application, there will be a window in which you can make your payment online with a credit card or bank card.
Can I upload Finale files, Sibelius files, or files from any other music notation program?
We are not accepting any music notation program files. All music scores must be exported to and uploaded in PDF format in order to ensure compatibility with any computer used by a judge. You should use your notation program to remove any names, titles, and/or identifying marks to preserve anonymity, save as a new file with a more generic title like "Entry #1", then convert it to PDF before uploading.
My score is handwritten. Can I submit it?
If it is clean and legible, you can scan it to PDF. Make sure your scanner is set for at least 200 DPI for legibility.
Can I upload AAC sound files from iTunes or AIF sound files from my Mac?
We are only accepting MP3 files or WAV files in order to ensure compatibility with any computer used by a judge. You can always use a free sound application like Audacity or iTunes to make the file conversion.
My best audio recording of a work I want to submit has a member, or members, of the Lydian String Quartet playing on it. Can I submit it?
We are not accepting a recording that any of us (Andrea Segar, Julia Glenn, Mark Berger, Joshua Gordon) are playing on because then anonymity will not be possible. If you submit such a recording, you will be disqualified.
My best recording of a work I want to submit is on a concert video. Can I submit it?
We are not accepting video files or links to YouTube / Vimeo / Soundcloud, etc.. You need to extract the audio from your concert video into a separate audio file and format it as an MP3 or WAV file for uploading.
My best audio recording of a work I want to submit is a MIDI/synthesizer realization of the live instrument parts. Can I submit it?
We prefer recordings of real players playing on real instruments. A composer may submit a MIDI/synthesizer realization of a work, but should recognize that anybody who sends a recording with actual playing by people will make a better impression.
Can I use Dropbox / Google Drive / YouSendIt / some other file transfer system for my file uploads?
You must use our online application for all of your file uploads. We will not accept files sent to us using any other method.
Is there a file size limit for uploading audio files?
There is no such limit, but please be reasonable; if your work is more than half an hour long, an MP3 file won't take up as much space as a WAV file on a judge's computer, and will be quicker to transfer.
What if I have completed my application, submitted it, and then want to change it?
If you wish to change anything in your uploaded portfolio, you can log in to your account and edit/redo any entry you have made or uploaded until the application deadline cutoff date and time on Thursday, December 15, 2022, by 11:59pm. Any attempt to submit an application at midnight or later (Friday, December 16, 2022 and onward) will not be accepted.
Why do I keep seeing screens/emails referencing the Brandeis University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences / GSAS when I'm applying only for this prize and not applying to be a graduate student at Brandeis University?
This application is being hosted by the Brandeis University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences / GSAS, and therefore some branding may be shared between the Lydian String Quartet Commission Prize Application and GSAS. When given the choice in any given window, it will likely be pre-selected for Lydian String Quartet, but make sure you select us if not.
How will you ensure anonymity?
Your scores and sound files will be filed by a code number generated by our online program. Judges will only be able to review these files from a folder with the code number, and will not be able or allowed to see any personal information connected to this code number.
I'm having issues with the online application; how do I get help?
You can contact our administrative staff about application issues by emailing music@brandeis.edu, and they will forward your issue to the relevant technical person to assist you in completing your application.
If I'm the winner, where will the concert take place?
The concert will be at the acoustically superb Slosberg Music Center at Brandeis University which is located in Waltham, Massachusetts, a short drive or commuter train ride from the city of Boston, Massachusetts in the USA.