For Adventurous Programming Guidelines

2008 CMA/ASCAP Awards

2008 CMA/ASCAP AWARDS

FOR ADVENTUROUS PROGRAMMING

GUIDELINES

Completed applications are due at CMA’s offices by

Friday, October 5, 2007, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time (this is NOT a postmark deadline)

The CMA/ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming recognize ensembles, presenters and festivals demonstrating an extraordinary commitment to new music written since 1982. The program was established by Chamber Music America and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers and is administered by CMA. The 2008 awards ceremony will take place in January at CMA’s Thirtieth Anniversary National Conference in New York City.

WHO MAY APPLY?

All applicants must be:

· members of Chamber Music America at the Organization level;

· based in the United States.

Applicants’ programs must:

· feature a significant proportion of works written since 1982;

· be performed in events open to and advertised for the general public.

Note: First-prize award winners from 2007 may not re-apply in this awards cycle.

Ensembles:

· must have performed together professionally for a minimum of two years at the time of application;

· must have given at least 10 public performances prior to application;

· in the case of a duo, must perform regularly as two equal partners (rather than soloist and accompanist) and consistently publicize themselves as a duo.

Presenters or Festivals:

· must have produced chamber music for at least two seasons at the time of application (minimum of three chamber music concerts per season).

Note: A festival is defined as a series of concerts and related activities taking place within a concentrated period of time, approximately one to EIGHT weeks.

Performances of protected music must be licensed either through the presenter/festival or the ensemble.

APPLICATION FORMS

Application forms can be downloaded from the Programs section of the CMA website, www.chamber-music.org.

AWARDS

This year’s awards will be based on the applicant’s chamber music programming for the 2006–07 and/or 2007 summer season. Special Recognition applicants must show programming from the past two seasons (2005–06 and 2006–07).

To be considered, programming must:

· feature performances of works written since 1982;

· include performances open to, and advertised for, the general public.

Two awards will be given in the Ensemble, Presenter/Festival and Jazz categories. First-prize winners receive a $500 cash award. Both first- and second-prize winners receive a commemorative plaque.

Applicants may submit in only one of the four categories. Those applying in categories 1–3 should also select the relevant subcategory (listed below)

1. Chamber Ensembles

· New Music Ensembles (ensembles that present contemporary music exclusively); or

· Mixed Repertory Ensembles (ensembles that perform a mixed repertoire, including music composed since 1982.

2. Presenting Organizations and Festivals

· Presenters or Festivals producing 10 or more chamber music concerts per season; or

· Presenters or Festivals producing 9 or fewer chamber music concerts per season

3. Jazz

· Ensembles

· Presenters (including jazz festivals)

4. Special Recognition

An award in this category is given to an ensemble, presenting organization, or festival that has demonstrated a shift from traditional programming a shift from traditional programming to programs that include new music and/or jazz, with a new or increased emphasis on music written since 1982.

Review process

Application materials are evaluated by an independent panel of music professionals. The panel will evaluate the overall content and quality of the programming (such as commissions; world, national and local premieres; repeat performances of new works) and the applicant’s approach to making programming choices. At its discretion, the panel may withhold awards in any category.

Notification

Award recipients will be notified in December 2007.

CONSULTING SUPPORT

Applicants requiring assistance with the application process are encouraged to consult with CMA program staff.

STAFF CONTACT

Susan Dadian, Program Director

Telephone: (212) 242-2022, ext.13

Email:

Chamber Music America, the national service organization for the ensemble music profession, was founded in 1977 to promote artistic excellence and the economic stability of the field, and to ensure that chamber music, in its broadest sense, is a vital part of American life. With a membership of over 8,000, including musicians, ensembles, presenters, artists’ managers, educators, music businesses, and advocates of ensemble music, CMA welcomes members representing a wide range of musical styles and traditions. In addition to its funding programs, CMA provides its members with consulting services, access to health and instrument insurance, conferences, seminars and several publications, including Chamber Music magazine and a website, www.chamber-music.org.

ASCAP is a membership association of more than 300,000 composers, songwriters, and publishers of every music genre. Founded in 1914, ASCAP is the only U.S. performing rights organization created and governed by its composer, songwriter, and publisher members. ASCAP protects the rights of its members by licensing and distributing royalties for the non-dramatic public performances of their copyrighted works. ASCAP's licensees encompass all who want to perform copyrighted music publicly. ASCAP makes giving and obtaining permission to perform music simple and economical for both creators and users of music.

CMA/ASCAP – 2008

2008 CMA/ASCAP AWARDS

FOR ADVENTUROUS PROGRAMMING

APPLICATION

Completed applications are due at CMA’s offices by

Friday, October 5, 2007, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time (this is NOT a postmark deadline)

PLEASE REVIEW THE APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE COMPLETING THIS FORM.

CMA will not accept hand-written, faxed, or emailed materials.

Organization Name:
Organization/Ensemble Director:
Contact Name:
Title:
Address:
City, State Zip Code:
Telephone:
Fax:
Email:

CMA/ASCAP – 2008

Website:
Year founded:
No. of concerts performed or presented during the 2006-07 and/or 2007 festival season
For ensembles: please indicate the number of touring performances and
home-based concerts / touring performances
home-based concerts

CMA/ASCAP – 2008

Is the applicant a CMA Organization Member?
Yes No

CMA/ASCAP – 2008

Please apply for only one CMA/ASCAP Award. Check one category (and subcategory, if applicable) below:

Chamber Ensembles (check one subcategory)

New Music Ensemble

Mixed Repertory Ensemble

Presenters/Festivals (check one subcategory)

Presenter or Festival producing 10 or more chamber music concerts per season

Presenter or Festival producing 9 or fewer chamber music concerts per season

Jazz (check one subcategory)

Ensemble

Presenter

Special Recognition

NARRATIVE

Please address the following questions in no more than one page.

Chamber Ensembles, Presenting Organizations and Festivals, and Jazz applicants:

· Describe your programming goals and achievements for the 2006-07 and/or 2007 festival seasons.

· Discuss how you make programming choices (thematic, audience-specific, compositions by ensemble leader or members, etc.)

· Provide information about any strategies and techniques you use to introduce your audience to new music (audience-engagement activities in schools, residencies).

· Include information about your performance venues, if relevant to programming and audience-development efforts. Have you added new or different types of venues?

Special Recognition applicants:

Please describe the following:

· your repertoire and programming from the past two seasons;

· how the shift in programming (from traditional to new music) is an adventurous “stretch” for your organization;

· the decision-making process resulting in the inclusion of newer repertoire;

· strategies and techniques, such as audience engagement activities, used to introduce the audience to the newer repertoire. Please include single copies of feature articles, reviews, and any audience responses to this effort.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Submit FOUR sets of the following:

Application form

Narrative

Supplemental materials

Supplemental Materials

All Applicants:

Submit 8.5”x11” photocopies of complete season programs for 2006-07 and/or summer 2007. The past two years are required for Special Recognition applicants. (Collate the programs in chronological order by performance date.)

On each photocopied program:

· place an “X” to the left of ensemble works composed since 1982 and indicate date of composition;

· highlight commissioned ensemble works and premieres.

The name of the ensemble, venue and/or series and date must be visible on each photocopy.

Note: Do not include solo or orchestral works. Photocopies MUST be legible.

If the same program has been performed more than twice:

· provide copies of two of the programs

· attach a list of the remaining venues with dates of performances to one of the photocopied programs. (You need not submit a photocopied program of each performance.)

NOTE for Jazz Ensembles, if no printed programs are available, please provide the following:

· typed set lists indicating works performed (include composition date for each work), event date, and the specific venue and location for each performance (concert hall, club, gallery or any other alternate venue should be specified);

· advertisements and/or marketing materials;

· print or web-based published materials about the programs described on the set lists.

All Ensembles:

Provide a one-page summary of the history and mission of the ensemble, including a list of current personnel.

All Presenters and Festivals:

· Provide the organization’s mission statement and history (limit to one page).

· Include in your application only those events produced directly by your organization. Programs of rental events (i.e., concerts by ensembles that may rent your venue for their presentation) are not eligible for consideration.

Special Recognition Applicants:

Please include supplemental materials for the category (Ensemble, Presenter, or Festival) that applies to you.

CMA/ASCAP – 2008