CALL FOR COMPOSERS

Apply now for Cohort 2!

Submissions due Fri 5/31/24 at 11:59pm PDT

The New Canon Project, a partnership of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), Rising Tide Music Press (RTMP) and the American String Teachers Association (ASTA), invites Black and Latinx composers to apply to be part of the project. 24 composers will be supported by The New Canon Project over two years (2023-2025).

Cohort 1 was comprised of 10 composers (5 strings, 5 choral) participating during the 2023-24 season. For Cohort 2, we will select up to 14 composers (7 strings, 7 choral). Educators will read their works the ACDA and ASTA 2025 conferences, with partner schools presenting concert premieres.

ELIGIBILITY & PROGRAM INFORMATION

You might be a New Canon Project composer participant if:

1. REQUIRED: You identify as Black and/or Latinx

2. REQUIRED: You are 18 years old or older

3. REQUIRED: You are in your first decade of work (first published or distributed 2013 or later)

4. REQUIRED: Currently reside in the United States and will throughout the project; and,

5. You have five or fewer works in distribution; or

6. You have $2,000 or less in gross receipts annually from your composition sales; and/or

7. You are a K-12 educator who composes for your students and are interested in publishing your work for use beyond your own classroom.

Candidates only need to fully meet the REQUIRED criteria above. The other indicators, while not exhaustive, are provided to help you identify whether this opportunity is a good match for you. Questions? Email us newcanonproject@acda.org.

All participating composers will show:

1. Interest in composing new and/or arranged works for string and/or choral classrooms, with a focus on middle and high school ensembles.

2. Interest in working collaboratively and alongside established composers and pedagogues in the choral and strings professions to learn about writing for young voices and players.

3. Interest in having your compositions and/or arrangements workshopped in school classrooms, receiving feedback from current educators and their students.

4. Interest in inspiring a new generation of composers, particularly composers of color, through spreading your joy for composition with school-age children.

5. Comfort working with a developing project, including a willingness to share insights in how the project is going and ideas to make it better over time.

6. Support by becoming a member of your hosting organization, either ASTA or ACDA, upon selection for the project, if not already a member.

The New Canon Project will provide:

1. A mentor colleague to support the creation of the newly commissioned work. Mentors will work alongside composers and support them throughout the journey, including providing expertise regarding pedagogical needs, technical requirements and musicianship level of the young singer and/or string player.

2. The opportunity to workshop the work with a school site, whether in person or virtually, in partnership with the mentor.

1. The participating school educator will be available to talk through the piece before the workshop, provide guidance for the students during the workshopping process, and a post-workshop meeting.

3. Professional development opportunities for all Project partners, including composers and mentors for learning and sharing.

4. A platform for publication and distribution. Accepted works (vetted through Rising Tide Music Press advisors) will be published by Rising Tide Music Press, ASTA and ACDA. Additionally, works will be distributed by Hal Leonard’s self-publishing program, ArrangeMe. Composers will receive 50% royalties under this arrangement.

5. Compensation for project participation and the creation of the new work is $2500.00.

Interested in participating?

Simply submitting an application to The New Canon Project, applicants will automatically be eligible and invited to participate in the New Canon Project Workshop: year-round programming to support career development for Black and Latinx emerging composers, regardless of your selection to be a commissioned composer for the project. 

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE: Workshops will be held online on September 10, October 15, November 12, December 3 and February 11 (all sessions 7-9pm EST). Topics and registration details will be announced at a later date.