Music commissioning grants enable composers to thrive.
The U.S. values its musical heritage and has a number of organizations dedicated to supporting contemporary composers and new American music. Music commissioning grants are available for composers and ensembles performing the work of new composers, from private institutions as well as from state or city organizations.
Chamber Music America
Chamber Music America (CMA) offers commissioning grants for new chamber works, including for classical, contemporary and world music. Ensembles must be CMA members that are based in the U.S. and have two to 10 members. They must have been performing for a minimum of two years and be able to document at least 10 public performances and three different programs within the past five years.
The grants can be applied to the composer's fee, rehearsal costs and copying costs. As of 2010, requests for the composer's honorarium can range from $5,000 to $20,000, depending on the length of the proposed work and the number of musicians involved. The rehearsal honorarium can be $1,000 per ensemble musician for rehearsal and performance. Requests for copying costs may be up to $1,000. If the grant is accepted, a minimum of three public performances are required.
Chamber Music America
305 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10001
212-242-2022
chamber-music.org
Meet the Composer
Meet the Composer offers its Commissioning Music/USA program to fund composer's fees and copying costs. Grants can range from $10,000 to $20,000.
You must give proper credit to the MTC and its granters in all your publicity communications and include their logo as much as possible. A final report is required from the organization, the composer and the choreographer and librettist, if applicable, no longer than 60 days after the final required performance. More details are available by direct inquiry.
MTC was founded in 1974 as a project of the New York State Council on the Arts and has expanded its scope to the whole country. It is one of the main commissioners of music, dedicated to supporting composers and new music.
Meet The Composer, Inc.
90 John Street, Suite 312
New York, NY 10038
212-645-6949
meetthecomposer.org
The Barlow Endowment for Music Composition
The Barlow Endowment for Music Composition is based out of Brigham Young University in Utah. It funds the composer's fee only. Composers can apply for a commission for a new work only and grants are not restricted to any musical style. The deadline is June 1 of each year. Two recent scores must be sent along with the application, one of them no older than five years. Recordings are also encouraged, in the form of a CD with a playlist. When applying, composers will include an estimated time of completion of the composition as well as anticipated performance dates. The Barlow Endowment does not have specific requirements in the number of performances or time lapse between completion of composition and performance. Grants can be up to $45,000.
The Barlow Endowment also offers commissioning grants for composers belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints or for those willing to compose Latter-Day Saints subject matter.
Barlow Endowment for Music Composition
A-501 Harris Fine Arts Center
Brigham Young University
Provo, Utah 84602
801-422-2818
mckinley.byu.edu/barlow
