In the 2025 Vocalverse Open Call for Experimental Solo Voice Compositions, we have received a total of 40 submissions from 16 countries: Albania (1), China (8), Denmark (1), Finland (1), France (2), Germany (2), Iran (1), Israel (1), Italy (5), Mexico (1), Romania (1), Spain (2), Slovenia (1), Sweden (1), United Kingdom (5), and United States (7). After a careful multi-round selection process by founder and co-artistic director of Vocalverse, Yifan Shao, and co-artistic director, Lauren Marshall, we are delighted to announce that 4 winning compositions have been selected for the regular repertoire of the 2025 Vocalverse Concert Series. These will be performed by composer and vocal artist Yifan Shao in all 2025 Vocalverse concerts. Due to the unexpectedly high quality of submissions, Vocalverse also decides to commend 3 compositions as honorable mentions that will be reserved as optional repertoire.

The winning compositions are:

Unvoiced (2025), for amplified voice and electronics by Gloria Xia (b.2004, CHN)

The Horizon Melted into the Sea (2025), for amplified voice and tape by Chang Ge (b.1999, CHN)

When Words Live (2025), for amplified voice and electronics by Soheil Shirangi (b.1987, IRN)

p(M) (2025), for amplified voice and electronics by Kari Väkevä (b.1957, FIN)

The honorable mentions are:

Drill Variations Ex Machina (2025), for 1 performer by Hanan Hadžajlić (b.1991, SLO)

Notes (2025), for voice by Daria Baiocchi (b.1978, ITA)

Gloria (2022), for voice and electronics by Volker Ignaz Schmidt (b.1971, GER)

The performer of this concert series, Yifan Shao, will contact all winning and honorably mentioned composers for rehearsals and optional interviews. See you at the concerts.

Sincerely,

Yifan Shao, founder and co-artistic director of Vocalverse

Lauren Marshall, co-artistic director of Vocalverse

April 1st, 2025

Past Open Calls

2025 Vocalverse Call for Experimental Solo Voice Compositions

To explore the possibilities of new vocal music, composer-performer, visual artist, and curator Yifan Shao is thrilled to announce the very first open call for new works named after “Vocalverse”, an irreplaceable universe that consists of the human voice, for experimental solo voice compositions.

Rules

a) This open call is eligible for composers from all nationalities, ages, and genders.

b) The instrumentation is solo voice. Preparations, electronics, and amplifications are allowed.

c) There are no stylistic restrictions, but this open call emphasizes experiments that actively explore new possibilities for the human voice.

d) The performing vocalist Yifan Shao has more than 6 octaves of ranges (middle C = C4) of E1 (undertone) - A1 (ordinary note low) - C6 (ordinary note high) - G7 (overtone and whistle tone) and a diction range of D2 - A5 with ample experience in extended techniques, especially multiphonics, distortions, and microtones.

e) The duration should be between 4-12 minutes.

f) Submissions must be unperformed and the composer must own full copyright.

g) Every composer should only submit 1 composition. All submissions are free.

h) Submissions should include 3 items: a score in .pdf form, a composer’s biography (for promotion), and a profile picture (for promotion). Digitally engraved and handwritten scores are both acceptable. Verbal, graphic, and conceptual scores are also accepted.

i) The selection panel consists of multiple professional composer-performers. Up to 5 compositions will be selected. Selected works will be performed by Yifan Shao for at least 2 times: 1 at Caroline H. Hume Concert Hall at San Francisco Conservatory of Music (United States), and 1 at Nordingrå Konstby (Sweden). Additional performances are highly possible. All selected works will receive a professional recording by May 2025.

j) Please make your submission to yifan.shao2003@gmail.com. This email also serves for questions.

k) THE DEADLINE OF SUBMISSION IS 11:59 PM PST, MARCH 31ST, 2025. NO EXCEPTION. VIOLATION OF ANY RULES MAY DISQUALIFY THE SUBMISSION.