Audience Voices
WRITING & DRAWING CONTEST FOR AUDIENCE MEMBERS
We are excited to announce the 2022–23 Audience Voices Contest — a new initiative designed to capture the impact of music, as perceived by PUC concertgoers. This year’s contest, limited to writing and drawing entries, takes inspiration from our new “Healing with Music” series by asking participants to submit a reflection on one of two prompts:
- How has music served as a healing force in your life, or in the lives of those around you?
- How has your relationship with music changed since the start of the pandemic?
Entries were be evaluated anonymously by a panel of judges from across the Princeton University campus and town community. Winners will receive a free subscription to the 2023-24 Concert Classics Series.
You can peruse the winning entries below. Information about next season’s contest will be posted on this page.
Winning Entries
2022-23 Contest
CREATIVE WRITING CATEGORY
Grand Prizes – Eugenio Monjeau and Jacqueline Burkholder
Honorable Mention – Lorraine Goodman
DRAWING CATEGORY
Grand Prize – Janice Gossman
Honorable Mention – Amber Ameen
See Winning Submissions
Contest Policies
The contest is open to everyone! If you have any questions about the contest, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Prize
The winner(s) will be awarded a Concert Classics Series (8 concert) subscription to the 2023-2024 Princeton University Concerts season.
Submission Process
All submissions are due by the end of the day on Monday, January 2, 2023. The submission portal is now closed.
Submission guidelines are as follows:
- Participants are welcome to submit as many entries as they like.
- Entries must be submitted electronically in a PDF, JPEG, or Word document format.
- The author’s name must not be included anywhere within the submission, nor within the file name.
Entry Guidelines
Writing: Reflection on the prompt can take a number of forms—essay, blank verse, prose, poetry, narrative, etc. Submissions should be no more than 1000 words and speak to a broad audience. Participants may submit a brief personal statement with their submission, clarifying intention or providing any additional information that may be useful to the jury, such as the title of any referenced musical work(s).
Drawing: Drawing submissions can take a number of forms as long as they can be replicated in a 2D format. For this competition, drawing can be defined as the result of any device that makes a conscious and expressive mark on a surface. This can include pen, pencil, ink, chalk, marker, scratchboard, etc. The final size, surface, and format are up to you. A brief personal statement must accompany the submission, outlining the drawing’s intention.
Background
The Audience Voices Contest is inspired by an annual program for Princeton University undergraduate and graduate students, organized to connect students to the arts and celebrate classical music’s unique contributions. The winning student entries from previous contests are available for viewing on the Creative Reactions Contest page.
