[Call for Scores 2026] Takaaki SHIBATA ‘a Mandolin with’

Deadline: December 31, 2026 Application Form is here (A Google Account is required)

“a Mandolin with” is a creative project spearheaded by mandolinist Takaaki Shibata, aiming to open up new possibilities for chamber music featuring the mandolin.

While the mandolin has a long and established history in Europe, its place in the contemporary music landscape is not yet firmly established, and new repertoire for the instrument remains limited. Yet plucked string instruments — the lute and guitar in the West, the shamisen and biwa in Japan — have consistently played a vital role in music throughout history.

Sharing the same range as the violin, the mandolin is an instrument that is both approachable for composers and remarkably adaptable within chamber music, with a character all its own. This project sheds light on that potential, aiming to establish the mandolin as a serious choice for musical creation and to build a firm place for it in the repertoire.

Recitals connected to this project are built around two pillars:

Existing works featuring the mandolin, spanning the classical era to the present day
New works created specifically for this project

Through these two strands of programming, the project aims to reaffirm the mandolin’s history while expanding its possibilities for the music of the future.

The project began in 2025. In its first year, the call for scores and resulting performances were themed “with Voices/Winds”; last year’s theme was “with Bowed Strings.”

2026 Call for Scores Guidelines

In 2026, the call for scores invites chamber works for an instrumental group based on the instrumentation of Arnold Schönberg’s Serenade, op. 24 (Baritone, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Mandolin, Guitar, Violin, Viola, Violoncello). Please review the application guidelines below.

1. Instrumentation

An ensemble of three or more performers, always including the mandolin, chosen from the instruments and voice listed below. Maximum of one performer per instrument/voice.

Mandolin
Baritone (Voice)
Clarinet in B♭ / A (doubling permitted)
Bass Clarinet
Guitar
Violin
Viola
Violoncello

Notes on Performers and Instrumentation

For the mandolin, please clearly indicate tremolo and picking technique in the score.
For the bowed strings, please clearly indicate arco and pizzicato.
If text is used for the voice, it must satisfy one of the following conditions:

1. Text in Japanese, or a Japanese translation of a text originally in English, German, Italian, or French (other source languages are acceptable if phonetic symbols/IPA are provided). In either case, the text must be in the public domain in Japan (e.g., copyright protection has expired — generally 70 years after the author’s death).

2. Text written by the applicant, in Japanese, English, German, Italian, or French (other languages are acceptable if phonetic symbols/IPA are provided), or non-linguistic vocal expression. If using an original text written by someone other than the applicant, the applicant must obtain explicit permission from the author for both the submission and the performance.

Application Rules

Duration: 10 minutes or less
Deadline: December 31, 2026
There is no entry fee and no age restriction.
Works that have already been made public (for example, premiered in concert, released as video, or published) are not eligible.
Any method of musical notation is acceptable. However, any written explanations or performance instructions must be provided in Japanese, English, or both. (Standard musical terms in Italian and the like are permitted within the score.)
Limit of one submission per applicant.
Selection results will be announced on Takaaki Shibata’s website by January 31, 2027.
Approximately 1–2 works will be selected.
There is no financial remuneration for applicants.
Copyright remains with the composer. However, applicants must agree that the premiere will take place at the “a Mandolin with vol. 3: Serenade” concert on Sunday, April 25, 2027.
Rehearsals will take place in the Kansai region of Japan (primarily Kyoto). Composers residing farther away will follow rehearsal progress via audio/video recordings and online meetings.
Selected composers will be invited to the premiere (travel and accommodation expenses are not provided). If attendance is not possible, an audio recording of the premiere will be provided instead.

How to Apply

Submissions are accepted via the Google Form at the bottom of the page. Submissions by postal mail are not accepted. A Google Account is required to apply. If you reside in a country where Google services are unavailable, or if creating an account is difficult for you, please contact us using the inquiry form at the very bottom of the page.

Required file: Score PDF

File size must be 10 MB or smaller.
The file name must use half-width alphanumeric characters, in the format WorkTitle_LastName.pdf.
Good example: Chaconne_Bach.pdf

Notes:

For graphic scores exceeding 10 MB, or for submissions involving audio files, please upload the files to a cloud storage service with no expiration date (such as Google Drive), then submit a PDF containing the shared link as your score file in the application form.
If you encounter any issues with file sharing, or have any other questions, please contact us in advance using the inquiry form at the bottom of the page.

Submission Form

If you encounter any issues with the Submission form or have questions, please contact us from the following form.