Last Month in Music
Welcome to a review of music for April - including playlists of released music, news in the industry, upcoming opportunities, and more!
Featured Episode: Interview with Odaline de la Martinez
Odaline de la Martinez is an award-winning composer, conductor, record producer, and event curator. She moved from Cuba to the states at a very young age, growing up in the influential city of New Orleans, then moving to study music throughout Europe. She is now based in the UK, where she has acquired an illustrious reputation for her versatile and eclectic vision, with a longstanding special commitment to contemporary music, women composers, and Latin American composers in particular. Join us as we discuss Afro-Cuban music in the western world, her career insights, and more.
Industry News
ASCAP 2026 Composers’ Choice Awards
Winners have been announced for this year’s Composer Choice Awards, including John Powell & Stephen Schwartz on the Wicked soundtrack, Blair Mowat on The Age of Disclosure documentary (click here to listen to an interview we did a couple years back), Jeff Toyne’s score for Palm Royale, and more. Read more…
Streaming, AI, and Copyright
The music industry is at a turning point where so many new technologies are forcing it to regain control over copyright and revenue. Read more…Alex Heiche on Funding Artists and Never Asking for Copyright in Return
Alex Heiche and his company Sound Royalties provides upfront funding to artists and composers without taking ownership of their copyrights, and here’s why he wants to support artists the way he does. Read more…
Music Releases
Listen to the latest and greatest compositions that came out last month, including orchestral works, experimental music, film scores, and more.
Check out the custom playlists on your preferred platform:
Upcoming Opportunities:
US Naval Academy Band: Call for Scores
Deadline: August 31st
USNA is looking for new or recently composed works to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States, written for the Wind Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, or Brass Quintet.
Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival: Call for Scores
Deadline: June 15th
Apply for an opportunity to have your music performed around New York City.
New Music Engine: Opportunities
Multiple Deadlines
Search new competitions, call for scores, and more.
More Competitions
You can find more opportunities for composition competitions linked below.
*When entering competitions, make sure to research their veracity, reviews from past entrees, and get to know if it’s a legitimate organization.
This Month in History
La passione di Gesu Cristo signor nostro
Throughout recent history, April has been an inspiration for composers and new music surrounding Christianity and the Easter holiday. Way back on the 3rd of April, 1730, Antonio Caldara premiered his oratorio La passione di Gesu Cristo signor nostro as part of Holy Week.
Whatever our thoughts are on religion’s influence throughout history, we can appreciate its hand in preserving and shaping the music that we hear today.
We recently had a name change from The Composer’s Life to The Composer’s Studio for this newsletter! Don’t worry, it’s still just me.
As always, share with any other composers who could benefit from this newsletter!
Until next time,
Nadia