In the Prize Ring

Modern composers usually complain that art is long and cash is short. But a ready way for a young composer to keep body and soul in a decent kitchenette apartment is to act like the girl who wants to be Miss America: enter all the contests.

Scores of musical contests (set up by foundations, wealthy individuals, schools) offer prizes that include cash fees, scholarships, performances, recordings, or expenses for study abroad. One of the classiest contenders in this musical prize ring is Ramiro Cortes. 21. Born in Dallas of Mexican parents, he took up music seriously when the conductor of his high-school choir took an interest in his compositions. His first prize was a Charles Ives scholarship to the Indian Hill Music Workshop, at Stockbridge, Mass., three summers ago.

Furious Flights. Other awards followed quickly: a scholarship to the Yale School of Music, a $150 National Federation of

Music Clubs prize for a string quartet. In 1953, Ramiro switched to the University of Southern California, the next semester won a tuition scholarship, the Harvey Gaul Prize, Philadelphia's Eurydice Chorus award and a $500 BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) prize for a woodwind trio. He also set to work on an orchestral piece called Sinfonia Sacra, submitted it to the annual George Gershwin Memorial Contest. The judges: Conductor Dimitri Mitropoulos, Musicologist Carleton Sprague Smith, Composers Aaron Copland, Morton Gould and Peter Mennin.

After three months with the 45 entries (all sent in anonymously), the judges picked Sinfonia Sacra, by Ramiro Cortes.* Last week, in Manhattan's Carnegie Hall, Conductor Mitropoulos played Cortes' work with the Philharmonic-Symphony. Its first movement (Kyrie) was a slightly stolid development of an oId Mexican tune in slow tempo; its second (Sanctus) was as reedy and antique sounding as a drafty baroque organ; its finale (Dies Irae), driven by busy motoric rhythms, included some fine furious flights of imagination and a paraphrase of an ancient Gregorian Dies Irae.

Next Bout. Explained Contest Judge Smith: "There were strong assets in the work; it was absolutely clear what the boy wanted to do, and the sacred nature of the piece appealed to the committee as a change from some of the radical things we have had."

Composer Cortes happily collected his prize--including, in addition to the coveted Philharmonic performance, $1,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to New York. Already working out for his next bout, he is writing an orchestral work that he intends to submit for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra award.

* Among previous winners: Peter Mennin, Harold Shapero, Ulysses Kay.

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