The American Music Center, the Orpheus Chamber Ensemble, and the radio station WQXR are among organizations with new funding programs for music by rising composers. Expanding upon its existing Composer Assistance Program, the American Music Center has announced a new funding initiative for recording projects made possible with funds from the Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust and the Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University. Ten grants between $5,000 and $10,000 will be awarded to early- and mid-career composers for assistance in creating physical, digital, and streamed recordings of their works. The grant is open to composers, non-profit professional performance ensembles, and non-profit or commercial recording companies that are members of the American Music Center; the deadline to apply is July 15 (more information here). The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and the radio station WQXR have joined together to introduce Project 440, a commissioning program that will culminate with four world premieres during the orchestra’s five-concert Carnegie Hall series in 2011-12. Works by 60 emerging composers will be featured on the interactive WQXR website, and listener comments will be a guiding factor in choosing the four composers who will receive commissions. Intermediate rounds of selection will take place August 4 and September 7, and the four commission recipients will be announced October 12. Members of the nominating panel and selection committee include composers Michael Gordon, Fred Lerdahl, and Christopher Theofanidis; WNYC and WQXR producers Limor Tomer, Terrance McKnight, and John Schaefer; and Alarm Will Sound artistic director Alan Pierson; and Orpheus members Eric Bartlett, Maureen Gallagher, and Renee Jolles. For more information on Project 440, visit http://www.wqxr.org/series/project440/.
Posted July 7, 2010
