Classical Commissioning Program
Chamber Music America, the national network of ensemble music professionals provides grants through the Classical
Commissioning Program to professional
U.S.-based presenters and ensembles whose programming includes Western
European and/or non-Western classical and contemporary music.
Grants are provided for the commissioning and performance of new works by American composers.
The program supports works
scored for 2–10 musicians performing one per part, composed in any of
the musical styles associated with contemporary classical music.
Commission fees range from
$5,000 to $20,000. Applicants must be Chamber Music America members at
the Organization level. The new composition must be performed by the
ensemble a minimum of three times in the U.S.
Composers Equity Project
Since 1983, only 80 of the 229 commissions made through CMA’s Classical Commissioning program have been composed by
women or ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab, and Native American) composers.
The Board of Directors of
Chamber Music America has made diversity, inclusion, and equity a
primary focus of the organization’s work. (Please read CMA’s Statement
of Commitment.)
CMA’s goal in this program is, through the panel review process, to
award a majority of the grants to applicants who apply with women and
ALAANA composers.
In the 2019 cycle, 12 of the
13 grants were made to ensembles commissioning new works from women and
ALAANA composers. See the 2019 grants press
release for the awardees.
Composers George Lewis, Tyshawn Sorey, Jessie Montgomery and Trevor Weston received commissions in 2019 grant cycle. Other commissioned composers from recent rounds include
Alvin Singleton, Billy Childs, David Sanford, Valerie Coleman and Jeff Scott.
CMA has created the Composers Equity Project, a database of
ALAANA, women and gender non-conforming composers that is accessible on CMA’s website. Applicants are encouraged to use this resource and become familiar
with potential composers for a commission.
Composers will continue to be
added to this list regularly. ALAANA, women, and gender non-conforming
composers who wish to be included in future versions of this list may submit their
information to CMA.
Classical Commissioning Deadline
The Classical Commissioning deadline is Friday, April 3, 2020 at 9:00 PM (Eastern). Applications must be submitted online.
Click here for
program information.
Please contact Susan
Dadian, program director, CMA Classical/Contemporary for further information.
CMA’s Classical Commissioning Program grants are made possible by generous funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
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