Call for Applications

3rd Zsófia Tallér International Composer Competition

“Composing music nowadays is completely individual, and everyone can choose the language they want…” (Tallér Zsófia)

The Tallér Zsófia Contemporary International Composer  Competition will be held for the third time in 2025 in memory of the late Tallér Zsófia, an Erkel, Bartók-Pásztory, and Artisjus Award-winning composer and university professor who passed away in 2021 at the age of 51 after a long illness. She was deeply dedicated to her profession and committed to supporting and fostering the success of the new generation of composers.

Theme and Inspiration

This year’s competition task is inspired by Tallér Zsófia’s piece Odi et Amo, a setting of a famous poem by Catullus. Participants are tasked with creating an entirely original work, using Odi et Amo only as a source of inspiration. Competitors are encouraged to write in their own unique style; The competitors may create a new musical piece in their own individual style; however, no specific or directly incorporated elements from the original Odi et Amo work can be used. Tallér Zsófia’s original piece can be listened to at the following link:

• Length of the composition: Maximum 5 minutes, minimum 4 minutes.
• Instrumentation: Mixed choir (SATB – occasional divisi allowed, maximum division: S-MS-A-T-BAR-B).
• Language: The choir pieces can be in Hungarian, English, Latin, German, or Italian.

Submission and Entry Conditions

• Anonymous submission: The compositions must be submitted with a pseudonym.
• Entry fee: None.
• Age limit: 35 years.

The compositions must be submitted in PDF format, containing no identifying information (e.g., the composer’s name) to ensure anonymity during evaluation. The organizers will generate pseudonyms, and applicants must provide their personal details in the submission email, which will be kept confidential.

Submissions should be sent to competition2025@twelvetones.hu with the subject “Tallér Zsófia Composition Competition.” The body of the email should include the composer’s name and the generated pseudonym. For further questions, the same email address can be used.

An MP3 recording (either MIDI realization or live performance) must also be attached. While there are no specific quality requirements for the recording, it should be of listenable quality.

Prize and Performance

The Pax et Bonum mixed choir will perform the winning piece during the Sofianetta Festival gala concert in 2025.

• Prize: 1,000 EUR.

All submissions must be sent electronically by February 10, 2025. By submitting their work, participants agree to the public performance of their piece. The organizers reserve the right to use recordings of the performance.

The members of the jury

• Szabolcs Mátyássy: composer, university associate professor, and chairman of the jury
• Ádám Brandenburg: composer, university assistant professor
• Ilona Dobszay-Meskó: composer, conductor
• Boldizsár Kiss: choir conductor

The jury reserves the right to split the prize or withhold it entirely.

The jury’s decisions are final and cannot be appealed.

The 2nd Zsófia Tallér Contemporary International Composer Competition has concluded with the talented Levente Kovács emerging as the winner. The prestigious event, which continues to honor the legacy of Zsófia Tallér, showcased an impressive array of global talent, celebrating innovation and excellence in contemporary film music composition.

About Levente Kovács

Levente Kovacs (born 1993) is a Hungarian composer, arranger, mockup artist, and pianist. His ability to play the piano by ear led him to a musical career, studying Applied Composition at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest and completing a Master’s in Media Composition at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, in 2018. Recognized for his talent in writing memorable themes and complex orchestrations, Levente has won several international film music contests, including Call for Scores (2024) and the German Game Music Award (2019). He has participated in numerous film music courses, including the ASCAP Film Scoring Workshop in Los Angeles, and has been a featured composer for the Vienna Symphonic Library since 2019. He is based in Augsburg, Germany.

Winning Composition

Kovács’s winning composition stood out for its stunning arrangement and highly varied structural composition. It seamlessly supports the imagery down to the tiniest details, showcasing amazing compositional techniques. The music is very sensitive to the drama, enhancing the narrative with professional precision. The quality of the mock-up is exceptional, sounding almost like a real orchestra, which is a sterling testament to his skills in creating realistic and impactful soundscapes.

A Heartfelt Thank You to All Participants

The organizers of the Zsófia Tallér Contemporary International Composer Competition extend their heartfelt thanks to all the applicants. The diversity and quality of submissions were extraordinary, reflecting the vibrant and evolving landscape of contemporary film music. Each participant brought unique perspectives and creativity, making this year’s competition an inspiring and enriching experience.

Looking Forward

With the success of this year’s competition, the anticipation for the next edition is already building. The Zsófia Tallér Contemporary International Composer Competition will return next year, continuing its mission to discover and celebrate the next generation of composers. Keep an eye out for announcements and prepare to be amazed by more groundbreaking musical works.

For more information about Levente Kovács and his work, visit his official website.

CALL FOR SCORE

„Composing music nowadays is completely individual, and everyone can choose the language they want….” (Zsófia Tallér)

In 2024, the Zsófia Tallér International Contemporary Composers Competition will be held for the second time, named after Zsófia Tallér, Erkel, Bartók-Pásztory and Artisjus Prize-winning composer and university professor, who died in 2021 at the age of 51 after a long illness. As an educator committed to the profession, he was particularly keen to support the professional development of the new generation of composers. The theme of this year’s competition is film music, and the competition is open to new compositions for a selected excerpt from Jaro Vojtek’s film Children.

To enter the competition, you must have written an original piece of music you have yet to compose.

The entry is anonymous.

Entry fee: none.

Age limit: 35 years.

The maximum length of the entry is the film extract length, up to 9 minutes.

Including and performing special instruments (bass drums, e.g. taiko, folk instruments, electronics, etc.) is not possible. Therefore, the application should not include elements that cannot be performed.

The film excerpt can be downloaded from this link:

https://vimeo.com/906076436?share=copy

jelszó: children8mincut

The film excerpt is the story of a jailbreak and subsequent escape from prison work, in which the lead character wants to get home to his wife and a few months-old child. The changing shots, escape, suffocation, and the discovery of the house provide an excellent opportunity to compose a varied soundtrack and a different approach to the drama.

Members of the jury:

• Gábor Hollerung, Distinguished Artist, Liszt Ferenc and Príma Prize-winning conductor, Head of the Jury
• Dániel Csengery, film composer
• Szabolcs Mátyássy, composer, associated professor
• Mátyás Prikler, film director, producer
• Bálint Sapszon, film composer, orchestrator, producer

Prize:

• The winning work will be performed in concert by the Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra in 2024
• An excerpt of the winning work will be recorded by the Budapest Scoring Orchestra in its large orchestra studio in 2024 in a 5-minute concert performance.
• 250 000 HUF

Please upload your entries, in the form of live instruments or sound samples (muck-ups), by 15 May at the latest, together with the film, to a cloud storage site (Google Drive, OneDrive, etc.) in mp4 or mov format.

In addition, please send the contact details of this file (link), the applicant’s details (name, age, city and country) and the entry score in pdf format to competition2024@twelvetones.hu.

The competition is anonymous, so the author’s name must not appear in the sheet music or film. Any mention of the author’s name anywhere in the entry will result in automatic disqualification.

The authors’ names must be entered in the text of the e-mail application and will be treated confidentially by the organiser. The jury members will only be informed of the entrants’ names after the final judging the entries. The jury will publish its decision by 30 May 2024, and the organiser will notify the winner.

By applying, the applicant agrees to the music being performed in public and to the music being recorded, the ownership of which will be recorded in a separate contract by the organiser before the recording. The winning applicant undertakes to provide the organisers with the soundtrack of the winning composition by 30 May 2024 at the latest.

The jury reserves the right to award or not to award the prizes.

The jury’s decision may not be appealed.

Sponsors:

Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra – https://bdz.hu

Budapest Scoring Orchestra- https://www.budapestscoring.com

MPhilms – https://www.mphilms.sk

The organisers would especially like to thank Jaro Vojtek for allowing us to use an excerpt from his film for the competition.

We are delighted to announce that András Emszt’s Breathing won the first Zsófia Tallér International Composition Competition, which attracted 40 excellent entries from over 15 countries, making for a fascinating competition.

The entries were of high quality, with a very varied compositional approach, ranging from many styles of contemporary music, from post-modern, through the once again very popular melodic trends, to compositions inspired by film music. Every year, the Zsófia Tallér International Composition Competition aims to allow young talents to showcase their creativity and musical skills.

The call for entries was for works for string orchestra, and the winning work will be performed by a string orchestra made up of members of the Alba Regia Symphony Orchestra on 15 April at the Sofianetta Festival at the Liszt Academy. If you want to listen to the work in advance, you can do so at the Ask the Composer concert in Székesfehérvár on 14 April.

The members of the jury were:

– Gyula Fekete, composer, vice-rector of the Academy of Music, president of the jury

– Ilona Dobszay-Meskó, composer, conductor

– Szabolcs Mátyássy, composer, assistant professor

– Dániel Dobri, composer, contemporary artistic director of the Alba Regia Symphony Orchestra

Congratulations to everyone who participated in this competition, and we look forward to receiving entries again next year. Next year’s call for entries will be published in the last months of the year.

We are pleased to announce the merger of Twelvetones Production Music and Schubert Music Library! This will create a stronger and more efficient music service provider. Together, we will leverage the creativity and unique music production experience of Twelvetones in Hungary and the international administrative background, knowledge and expertise of Schubert Music. The new partnership will continue under the name Schubert Music Library, and we will proudly preserve the Twelvetones brand and continue to build it together. The merger of Twelvetones Production Music and Schubert Music Library marks a significant step forward in music services in Hungary. We are confident that this merger will create a unique and unparalleled music library that will be a valuable asset to our customers and the industry. By bringing together the best of both companies, we can ensure that our clients get the perfect music for their projects.

We are excited to see what the future holds for our combined companies and look forward to continuing to deliver exceptional music to our clients.

Mennyből az angyal lejött hozzátok,
pásztorok, pásztorok!
Hogy Betlehembe sietve menvén
lássátok, lássátok.

Istennek fia , aki született
jászolban, jászolban,
Õ leszen néktek üdvözítõtök
valóban, valóban.

Rough translation:

From heaven, the angel has come down to you,
shepherds, shepherds!
To go in haste to Bethlehem
Behold, behold.

The Son of God who was born
In a manger, in a manger,
He is your Savior
Truly, truly.

A really great collaboration has started between UBM Records and Twelvetones, where we represent the UBM Media stock music catalogue in Hungary and they distribute Twelvetones’ catalogues in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. UBM, one of Germany’s most exciting independent labels, was founded in 2003 by composer Uwe Buschkötter and includes pop and contemporary catalogues in addition to production music. The exceptional production quality is matched by an amazing variety, so it’s safe to say that you really can find everything you need for a good TV show or online material.

Check out the catalogue of more than 340 albums!

UBM 2358 Football

There’s no other way to start this summary for a German label than with an album that belongs to a real football series. Packed with great fan rock anthems, the album evokes the unforgettable stadium atmosphere when fans sing the starting line-up of their favourite team.

UBM 2388 Scenic Wideness

This album is full of stunning compositions that convey a sense of calm, but also deal with dramatic themes such as climate change and other natural phenomena. What they all have in common, however, is that they capture a sense of a vast, infinite space.

UBM 2453 Blockbuster

Can we have enough trailer-type “epic” music? Well, obviously not. But fortunately there are a fair number of them in the UBM catalogue. Here’s another great example that has everything you need for the genre, gigantic drums, orchestra, big choir and electronics. The only thing missing is the punchy your imagery.

UBM 2465 Straight to VHS – 80s Themes & Atmospheres

A real treat for fans of the 80s. Unadulterated retro video music, from the heyday of VHS for those who love it.

UBM 2429 E-Mobility

These 17 perfect background tracks provide a musical backdrop for themes such as mobility, urban planning and social change. Overwhelmingly optimistic and neutral in tone, the electronic instrumentation blends perfectly with the most varied imagery, making it a firm favourite for TV shows and online videos.

UBM 2287 Electronic Dance Music – Vibrant EDM

Recently, EDM has moved from the world of clubs to the computers of the editing room, and more and more often it is being used as music in online programing or TV shows. Progressive house, Dutch house, EDM or future house, all of these genres can be found on this album to complement any party-themed broadcast, reality shows, fashion shows or sports activity.

See the full catalogue here: UBM Media

If we can help with any musical questions, contact us!

CALL FOR SCORE

„Composing music nowadays is completely individual, and everyone can choose the language they want….” (Zsófia Tallér)

Zsófia Tallér, Erkel, Bartók-Pásztory and Artisjus Prize-winning composer and university professor, passed away on 5 April 2021, after a long illness, at the young age of 51. As a teacher committed to her profession, her primary concern was to support the new generation of composers and to help them to achieve professional success. This spring, as part of the Sofianetta Festival, the Twelvetones Music Publishing is organising an international competition in her memory, with the winning entry being performed by the Alba Regia Symphony Orchestra.

You can only enter the competition with an unperformed, original piece of music.
The entry is anonymous.
Entry fee: none.
Age limit: 35 years.

Length: maximum 12 minutes, but not less than 7 minutes.
The pieces can feature the following instruments:: string chamber orchestra (5-4-3-3-1)

The jury members are:

• Gyula Fekete, composer, Vice-Rector of the Academy of Music, Head of the Jury
• Ilona Dobszay-Meskó, composer, conductor
• Szabolcs Mátyássy, composer, Senior Lecturer
• Dániel Dobri, composer, contemporary artistic director of the Alba Regia Symphony Orchestra

Prize:

• The winning piece will be performed by the Alba Regia Symphony Orchestra at the Closing Concert of the Sofianetta Festival in Székesfehérvár and Budapest in April 2023.
• 200.000 HUF 
• Prize offered by the online music portal Papageno (papageno.hu)

Entries should be sent electronically in pdf format to competition2023@twelvetones.hu by 1 March at the latest. The application must be accompanied by an mp3 sound recording (MIDI realisation or live performance). The competition is anonymous, so the name of the composer must not appear in the sheet music. Any mention of the author’s name anywhere in the entry will result in automatic disqualification.
The names of the authors must be entered in the text of the e-mail application, and will be treated confidentially by the organiser, and the jury members will only be able to know the names of the entrants after the final evaluation of the entries. The jury will publish its decision by 17 March 2023 and the winner will be notified by the organiser.

By submitting an application, the applicant agrees to the music being performed in public. The winning applicant undertakes to provide the organisers with the solo material of the winning composition by 31 March 2023 at the latest.

The jury has the right to share the prizes or not.

The jury’s decision is not subject to appeal.

Founded by Danny Pelfrey, the Amusicom library is used by major film studios, TV and cable channels, advertising agencies and broadcasters worldwide. Now the catalogue is also available in Hungary, represented by Twelvetones!

Danny Pelfrey is a composer himself, the proud owner of two Emmy Awards, six BMI Awards and a Video Premiere Award. He has scored numerous television series and films, and has also performed concert works.

His catalogue supplies for a wide variety of needs, with a focus on dynamic background music. For TV shows, sports, crime, detective and suspense themes, the selection is the widest, but there are also romantic albums with human emotions, as well as jazz, swing, rock and crazy electronica.

Check out the catalogue!

Urgent Grooves 9 – Powerful grooves with different instrumentation, including rock, electronic and symphonic.

Music To Shop By 3 – Acoustic and electric pop/rock music for advertising, shopping and travel shows.

Investigation 4 Mystery / Atmosphere – Atmospheric, mystical music from deep sea to space; from symphonic music to industrial instrumentation.

Inspirational -Uplifting, positive, inspiring music for film trailers, commercials and promos.

Frontiers In Science & Technology 1 – High tech music for science, space exploration, new technology discovery, business and communication videos.

Find the complete catalogue here: Amusicom

If we can help with any musical questions, contact us!

Can you think of some cool radio-friendly music?

For commercials, inspiring magazine features, crazy festival scenes?

It’s still hard to define what it means for music to be both modern and youthful, but we think the new Twelvetones album does both. This time Gábor Bruzsa, Csaba Faltay, Zoltán Istvánffy, Ross McLean, Imre Poniklo and Mike Zwecker have shown their wildest faces.

Be warned, even a single listen to the album is guaranteed to get you hooked!

I’m sure you’ve all been there, unexpectedly starting a song in public. If you’ve ever been in a children’s community, you can’t have failed to notice that little ones can hum and sing along to the latest commercials all day long. And it’s important for anyone making a commercial that the film grabs the attention. But it’s not only important for commercials; if you want the audience to remember the music from the party scene at the end of your film, you need to find music that they can easily recall days later.

The music on the new Twelvetones album is designed to get into the ears of the listener and stay there.

Hallgassunk bele az albumba!

It was love –An upbeat glam pop rock song with passionate and powerful female vocals, massive synthesizers and a driving beat.

Friend zone – An upbeat pop punk song about high school love, with punchy drums, guitars and catchy female vocals.

Right here – Upbeat, dynamic modern rock music with powerful and inspiring male vocals and guitar riffs.

Maluya – Devotional and passionate French waltz song with romantic female vocals and acoustic instruments.

Love to see you fly – Super positive pop song with groovy guitars, clappable rhythm, motivational male vocals.

You can listen to the full album here on the Twelvetones website:  TWPM 058 Songbook 9

Listen to the montage on Soundcloud: Songbook 9

For any musical questions, please feel free to contact us!