Submissions are due in…
The Pan-Handlers are hosting Minnesota’s first steel band arranging competition!
Check out the details below for more information on how submit your arrangement and win $500!
What’s instruments should I write for?
You should include one part for each of the following instruments:
- Lead/Tenor Pan (C4-E6)
- Double Second Pans (F3-Bb5)
- Cello Pans (C3-D5)
- Bass Guitar (4 strings, standard tuning)
- Drum Set
- Auxiliary Percussion (1 player) that can include any of the following:
- 3 congas, bongos, tambourine
- Cowbell, brake drum, splash cymbal
- High and low jam blocks, shakers
What all should I submit?
- PDF of score
- PDF of all parts
- Combined or separate
- MP3 of full arrangement
- MIDI instruments are okay
- (Optional) MusicXML file
How challenging should I make my arrangement?
The difficulty of your arrangement should be around a Grade 3. Click the button below to check out some examples of music we currently play to get an idea of the difficulty we’re looking for.
The director and assistant director of the Pan-handlers will judge each arrangement on how well it is fit for our setlist, the orchestration of the pan parts, the groove and variety of the rhythm section parts, the engraving of the score and parts, the difficulty level of the arrangement with what or players are able to perform, and the overall creativity of the arrangement.
How should I pick what tune to arrange?
You can arrange any tune (or mash-up of tunes) that you want, but whatever you choose should fit within the existing Pan-Handlers set list. Take a look at the set list below to get an idea of what kind of music we play and where your arrangement will go in the set. Please avoid arranging anything that we currently play or anything on the list of tunes we have played in the past.
When is this due?
Your arrangement should be submitted no later than Saturday, February 15th, 2025 at 11:59 PM.
The winner will be announced on March 8th, 2025.
Now for the big question – what do I get if I win?
The selected winner of the 2025 Pan-Handlers Arranging Competition will win the following:
- $500 cash prize
- Pan-handlers t-shirt
- Your arrangement will be added to our standard set list for the 2025 performance season
- We will include your arrangement in our live album recording at Lake Harriet on (Date TBD) – You will receive a CD copy of this album upon completion
- You will be promoted via social media by Chops, Inc. and via announcements at regular performances by the Pan-handlers throughout the 2025 season.
Still have questions? Reach out to olin@tincups.org.
Feel free to share with any and all arrangers in your life!
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Chops, Inc. will assume all costs associated with performing and distributing the winning arrangement. The winning arranger retains ownership of the intellectual property rights to their arrangement. However, they grant Chops, Inc. a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free license to perform, record, and distribute the arrangement in any format, including all physical and digital media.
