EMERGING COMPOSER COMPLETION GRANTS

ARTZenter Institute in cooperation with San Francisco Contemporary Music Players is pleased to announce the “Emerging Composer Completion Grants.”

These grants are designed to cultivate the creation of new works for chamber orchestra and will be awarded to emerging composers, for works-in-progress.

Our Emerging Composer Completion Grants are available to young composers across the United States currently enrolled in a degree-granting program of study in music composition.

ARTZenter
will offer eight individual Emerging Composer Completion Grants
in three annual cycles.

Changes to the Emerging Composer Completion Grants

  • ARTZenter will now offer Emerging Composer Completion Grants three times annually.
  • For each cycle, up to 8 finalist composers will receive $3,000 completion grants and be asked to submit a completed composition by a specified date.
  • From this group of finalists, 4 winning composers will be invited to participate in a 2-day rehearsal session at San Francisco’s Herbst Theatre. The 4 winning composers will receive a $600 airfare/travel stipend and hotel accommodations in San Francisco.
  • The session will culminate in a world premiere performance of the 4 winning works at Herbst Theatre.
  • Two additional composer finalists will be offered $750 travel allowances if they are interested in attending the rehearsal session/concert as auditors.

ELIGIBILITY

  • Composers who are currently enrolled in an academic program of study in music composition in the United States.
  • Able to submit a final score by the requested date
  • Available to attend the scheduled rehearsal workshop/open work-in-progress reading sessions prior to the scheduled performance.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Round 2: June 15, 2025: Up to 8 finalist composers will be notified by July 15, 2025. The 4 winners will be notified by August 31, 2025. Rehearsals/concert will occur on January 6-7, 2026.

Round 3: August 15, 2025: Up to 8 finalist composers will be notified by September 15, 2025. The 4 winners will be notified by October 31, 2025. Rehearsals/concert will occur on June 8-9, 2026.

Performed works will be recorded. Composers may utilize the recordings for educational purposes or to seek other performance opportunities.

HOW TO APPLY

Please apply by uploading all materials utilizing the https://artzenter.org/apply/ portal.

  • The opening (50-75 measures) of the applicable Work-in-Progress for chamber orchestra with MIDI realization.
  • A completed 10-15 minute composition and audio/video recording.
  • A short essay describing the composer’s broad artistic vision (maximum 250 words).
  • A short description of the composer’s creative ambition in the proposed work as submitted (maximum 250 words).

For questions about this application please get in touch with Richard Aldag, Executive Director at richard@artzenter.org