McKnight Visiting Composer Residencies

The American Composers Forum is pleased to announce the 2023 McKnight Visiting Composers Residency Program. This program is made possible by the generous support of The McKnight Foundation.

2022 Participants

The curators who selected this year’s awardees were Forbes Graham (Boston, MA), Sarah M. Greer (Minneapolis, MN), Ritika Ganguly (Minneapolis, MN), Danny Clay (San Francisco, CA), and Jannina Norpoth (Brooklyn, NY).

Byron Au Young photo by Gaku Shiroma; Victor Márquez-Barrios photo by Tim Barcus

 

Program Description

• ACF will select two music creators for an artistic residency in Minnesota.
• Artists work with the ACF team to design and produce a residency that integrates with the Minnesota community in a unique way.
• Visiting composers spend approximately 30 days in Minnesota over an 18-month period, building relationships and working on projects.
• New work may be part of the residency, but the focus is on the exploration of an artist within a Minnesota community. ACF believes in the power of music creators to be storytellers, connectors, or catalysts through their art. This program invites artists to respond to or reflect on the unique qualities of people and communities in our home state.

Awards

• Up to two residencies of $10,000 will be awarded. All funds are distributed directly to the selected music creator across four installments. Awards are subject to state and federal income tax guidelines.
• Consultation, time, and resources from the ACF.

This year’s panel consists of:

Download the McKnight Visiting Composer Residency Program Guidelines HERE.

ONLINE APPLICATION DEADLINE: Tuesday, March 14, 2023 (11:59 PM Central)

Program Description

• ACF will select two music creators for an artistic residency in Minnesota.
• Artists work with the ACF team to design and produce a residency that is integrated with the Minnesota community in a unique way.
• Visiting composers spend approximately 30 days in Minnesota over an 18-month period, building relationships and working on projects.
• New work may be part of the residency, but the focus is on the exploration of an artist within a Minnesota community. ACF believes in the power of music creators to be storytellers, connectors, or catalysts through their art. This program invites artists to respond to or reflect on the unique qualities of people and communities in our home state.

Awards

• Up to two residencies of $10,000 will be awarded. All funds are distributed directly to the selected music creator across four installments. Awards are subject to state and federal income tax guidelines.
• Selected music creators will receive consultation, time, and resources from ACF.

McKnight Artist Fellowships & Residencies Community Values

The McKnight Foundation and the administering partners for the McKnight Artist Fellowships and Residencies are committed to creating and supporting an artistic community in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. The community of the McKnight Artist Fellowships and Residencies includes people who engage with the fellowships/residency program whether as applicants, fellows, panelists, contractors, collaborators, fellowships/residency administrators, and staff of the McKnight Foundation and partnering organizations.

For more information about the McKnight Artist Fellowships & Residencies Community Values, read this announcement.

Eligibility

• Music creators working in any style are encouraged to apply.
• You must be living outside Minnesota.
• You must have a US Social Security Number or US Tax ID.
• You are not staff, board, or immediate family of the McKnight Foundation or Fellowship administrative partners. The administrative partners are Minnesota Center for Books, Northern Clay Center, The Cowles Center, American Composers Forum, Pillsbury House Theatre, Indigenous Roots,Textile Center, FILMN°RTH, MacPhail Center for Music, The Playwrights’ Center, Highpoint Center for Printmaking, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, and The Loft.
• Recipients of 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 McKnight Visiting Composer Residency and/or McKnight Fellowships in any discipline are not eligible.

Selection Process

ACF staff review all applications for eligibility and completeness. A selection committee of four music creators and/or advocates who have been chosen for their familiarity with diverse musical approaches will review applications and select residency recipients. Panelists will review the works over two phases:

• Phase 1 – Independent Review: In this phase, panelists are assessing each applicant individually and not making comparisons to other applicants. Panelists will also score applicants based on the key evaluation criteria (see below)
• Phase 2 – Panel Process Via Zoom: In this phase, which includes the final stages in the selection process, panelists will provide an overall score, listen to applicants’ music together, and have conversations in which comparative judgements will be made among applicants.

Past curators have included: Marcos Balter, Susan Botti, Carlos R. Carrillo, Forbes Graham, Gavin Chuck, Ken Field, Douglas Geers, Carolina Heredia, Lovett Hines, Amy Knoles, Emily Koh, Elainie Lillios, Gilda Lyons, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Fang Man, Donovan Mixon, Osnat Netzer, Isaac Schankler, Marilyn Shrude, Samita Sinha, and Beth Wiemann.

ACF staff members who oversee the McKnight Visiting Composer Residency program do not contribute to the decision-making process or the selection of the McKnight Visiting Composer. The role of the staff is to provide clarity for the review process and to ensure that the curators’ review and the discussions proceed in accordance with the program guidelines.

Key Evaluation Criteria

ACF encourages applicants from the full range of musical approaches/perspectives, and is committed to supporting a diverse pool of artists who demonstrate compelling artistic work. Accordingly, awards for our programs will represent, as far as possible, artists and projects that are diverse in creative methodology, ethnicity, gender, geography, and race.

Curators will assess the:

• Creative potential, imagination, and effectiveness of the proposed project.
• Consistent quality of applicant’s previous work.
• Anticipated value of the residency project for the composer’s artistic work and ensemble and/or designated community.

Notification

The panelists’ decision is final and will be announced in July 2023. Results will be posted on ACF’s website and applicants will be notified by email. After the 2023 McKnight Fellowships for Composers and Visiting Composer Residencies are announced, all applicants will have the opportunity to set up a phone appointment with the Director of Artist Support for comments from the panelists.

How to Apply

The music creator applicant completes or uploads the following in the Online Application Form via the SlideRoom Application System. For an overview of SlideRoom, click HERE.

The online application can be found HERE.

1. Acknowledgement of McKnight Visiting Residency Composer Guidelines (Questions 1.1)

2. Composer’s Personal Information (Questions 1.2 – 1.14):

Name, Pronouns, Address, Phone, Email Address, Webpage

3. Questions Regarding Eligibility (Questions 1.15 – 1.16):

Questions to confirm your eligibility for this program.

4. Project proposal (Questions 1.17 or 1.18: Link to 5 – 6-minute video (Q1.17) or typed answer (Q1.18) 6,000-characters, including spaces)

The project proposal should include a detailed description of your residency activities while you are in Minnesota, including your interaction with the community you’ve chosen, why you seek to work in Minnesota, an explanation of the anticipated value of the residency for you and that community, and any other information you would like to present to the curatorial panel.

5. Past experiences that have prepared you for this residency (Questions 1.19 or 1.20: Link to 3 – 4-minute video (Q1.19) or typed answer (Q1.20) 4,000-characters, including spaces).

Provide information regarding your past collaborative experiences that have prepared you for this residency. Examples may include commissions, community engagement projects, mentorship experience, etc.

6. A list of potential organizational partners in Minnesota or types of organizations you might like to collaborate with for your project. (Questions 1.21)

After being selected, and prior to the start of a residency in Minnesota, the selected artists will work with ACF to secure collaborative partners that are aligned with their proposed residency and residency goals.

7. Three Work Samples (Questions: 1.22 – 1.50)

Provide three audio/and or video work samples totaling no more than 10-minutes of your original music. Keep in mind that work samples should support the criteria of the program and your project proposal. For each sample, you will have the ability to list cue start and end times so that you can provide a complete work, but please point the curators to specific areas of a longer work that you would like for them to review.

For each audio/and or video work sample, please submit any accompanying documentation/materials that will provide further insights into your creative process. Clearly describe the nature of your involvement in the creation of the piece in an uploaded document. If notated scores are part of your creative process, provide PDFs of scores (up to 10MB each) corresponding to the audio or video samples you submitted. Space is given for you to provide a web link for these materials. Curators will not have access to music notation, electronic music, graphic, video, or other specialized software.

Provide web links to your samples (SoundCloud, YouTube, Vimeo, Google Drive, etc.). Make sure web links you provide in this application remain active and unchanged until June 30, 2023. If you do not wish for your work samples to be made public, please make them unlisted so the committee will still have access.

• Work Sample 1 makes the most critical impression on the panelists, and should represent your most distinctive and compelling musical example. Panelists will listen to 3-5 minutes of this work in the first round. Indicate the start and end times for the cue for the first round in Questions 1.24 & 1.25: Works Sample 1 – First Round Cue Start and End Times.If selected for the second round and you wish the curators to listen to a different segment of your first sample, please indicate the section in start and end times for the cue for the second round in Questions 1.26 & 1.27:  Works Sample 1 – Second Round Cue Start and End Times.Example: An applicant could submit a 10-minute piece as their Work Sample 1. In the first round, the applicant could provide the cue start time as 0 (the beginning) and cue end time 5 min. If selected for the second round, the applicant has indicated a second round cue start time as 5 min and second round cue end time as 10 min.
• For Work Samples 2 & 3, panelists will listen to 2-3 minutes of each work in both rounds. Indicate the start and end times for the cue.

For each Work Sample, you will be asked to provide the Cue Start and End Times, Title, Duration, Year of Completion, Ensemble/Name(s) of Performer(s), and Instrumentation. You may also give other pertinent information you feel would be helpful to the panel, such as why you chose to submit this particular sample (3000-characters, including spaces).

8. Questions regarding social media, information sessions, and how you learned about this opportunity.  (Questions 1.51 – 1.53)

9. Acknowledgement of McKnight Artist Fellowship & Residencies Community Values (Questions 1.54)

10. Acknowledgement of Terms and Conditions (Questions 1.55)

By applying, you attest:

• You have carefully reviewed the 2023 McKnight Visiting Composer Residency application guidelines.
• To the accuracy of the information supplied in the application.
• Application materials submitted are the applicant’s sole and original work.
• Understand the purpose and conditions of the McKnight Visiting Composer Residency program and to your acceptance to them should you be selected as a fellow.
• You are eligible for the competition, and that you will notify the Director of Artist Support if you become ineligible prior to the conclusion of the competition.
• Providing false or misleading information on this application, or failing in any other way to comply with the rules will subject you to disqualification and forfeiture of the residency.
• You understand that your application must be completed by the online application deadline of Tuesday, March 14, 2023 11:59 PM (Central). ACF / McKnight Visiting Composer Residency program takes no responsibility for applications that are not in Submitted status at the deadline.

11. Music creator’s demographic information (2023 Demographic Information Form)

We frame our work with a focus on racial equity and include within that scope, but not limited to, diverse gender identities, musical approaches and perspectives, religions, ages, (dis)abilities, cultures, backgrounds, sexual orientations, and broad definitions of being “American.”

We request information about your identity to help us know more about the artists we are reaching.

Providing this information is optional.

What you share in the 2023 Demographic Information form as part of your SlideRoom application for this program will be included in your application and seen by curators. If you prefer to keep your answers separate/anonymous, please complete this form: https://forms.gle/kU5RCf4ZRo6zAqHC8.

1. Please share the words you use to more fully communicate who you are and your experiences:
2. Which of the following regions do you identify with in terms of race, ethnicity, and nationality? (check all that apply)
   • Multi-racial or Multi-ethnic descent
   • Native American, Alaskan Native or Indigenous peoples
   • African descent/Diaspora
   • Southern African descent
   • Central African descent
   • East African descent
   • North African descent
   • West African descent
   • Caribbean descent
   • North American descent
   • Central American descent
   • South American descent
   • Central Asian descent
   • East Asian descent
   • South Asian descent
   • Southeast Asian descent
   • Middle Eastern/Southwest Asian descent
   • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Island descent
   • Latinx descent
   • European descent
   • Decline to State
   • Prefer to self-identify (use open field in next question)
3. Open field for question above, which of the following regions do you identify with in terms of race, ethnicity, and nationality?
4. Please note specific race, ethnic, region, national group, and/or tribal/band affiliations with which you identify. Examples: Dakota-Shakopee Mdewakanton, Honduran, Azeri/Persian, Puerto Rican, Nigerian, Hmong, Thai, Scots-Irish, Russian Jewish descent, Laotian, Chicano, Italian, Rural/Remote resident, Yupik, Haitian and Creole, Norwegian, decline to state, I don’t know, etc.
5. Which best describes your current gender? (Check all that apply)
   • Female
   • Gender non-conforming
   • Gender fluid
   • Male
   • Non-binary
   • Two Spirit
   • Decline to State
   • Prefer to self-identify
6. Open field for question above, which best describes your current gender?
7. Do you identify as transgender?
   • Yes
   • No
   • Decline to state
8. Do you consider yourself as: (Check all that apply)
   • Heterosexual or straight
   • Gay
   • Queer
   • Lesbian
   • Pansexual
   • Bisexual
   • Demisexual
   • Asexual
   • Same Gender-Loving
   • Decline to state
   • Prefer to self-identify (use open field in next question)
9. Open field for question above
10. Are you part of the disability community?
    • Yes
    • No
    • Decline to state
11. Are you part of the neurodivergent community?
    • Yes
    • No
    • Decline to state
12. How many years have you been creating original music?
    • 1 – 5 years
    • 6 – 10 years
    • 11 – 20 years
    • 21 – 30 years
    • 31 – 40 years
    • 41 – 50 years
    • more than 50 years
    • Decline to state

Additional Information

• Entries must be submitted electronically via the link below on or before 11:59 PM Central on Tuesday, March 14, 2023.
• Late applications will not be considered.
• Entries submitted by mail or means other than the provided online application process will not be eligible for consideration.

Resources for Unlisted Links:

SoundCloud: Click HERE

Vimeo: Click HERE

YouTube: Click HERE

Google Drive: Click HERE

Questions

The American Composers Forum encourages applicants to contact ACF staff to ask questions and discuss potential applications. For questions regarding McKnight Visiting Composer Residency program contact Carolina Heredia, Director of Artist Support, at [email protected].

2021 Participants

2021 panelists were composers Carlos R. Carrillo (Urbana, IL), Lovett Hines (Philadelphia, PA), Emily Koh (Norcross, GA), Isaac Schankler (Pasadena, CA), and Samita Sinha (Jackson Heights, NY).

J.E. Hernández photo by Spencer Young ; Anne Leilehua Lanzilotti photo by Blaise Hayward Studio

2020 Participants

2020 panelists were composers Carolina Heredia (Columbia, MO), Donovan Mixon (Evanston, IL), and Beth Wiemann (Maynard, MA).

Nathan Hall photo by Sten Melin; Angélica Negrón photo by Catalina Kulczar

2019 Participants

2019 panelists were composers Gavin Chuck (Chicago, IL), Elainie Lillios (Bowling Green OH), and Gilda Lyons (Rhinebeck, NY)

Sergia Barer photo by KI Concerts; Danny Clay photo by John Fisher

 

2018 Participants

2017 Participants

2016 Participants

 

2015:  Clarice Assad and Wayne Horvitz
Panelists: David Dzubay, Aruán Ortiz, Zeena Parkins

2014:  Robin Eschner and Pamela Z
Panelists: Amir ElSaffar, Stacy Garrop, and Daniel Trueman

2013:  Chris Coyle and Jin Hi Kim
Panelists: Anne LeBaron, Nicole Mitchell, Sven-David Sandstrom

2012:  Hugh Livingston and Charles Peck
Panelists: Nancy Galbraith, Graham Reynolds, Huang Ruo

2011:  William J. Lackey, Kanniks Kannikeswaran
Panelists: Linda Dusman, J.D. Parran, Jack Perla

2010: Ellen Fullman, David James Nielsen
Panelists: Fernando Benadon, David Conte, Mary Jane Leach

2009: Eve Beglarian, Ryan Ingebritsen
Panelists: Derek Bermel, Jennifer Bilfield, Newman Baker

2008: Jeff Herriot, William Neil
Panelists: Mark Applebaum, Margaret Leng-Tan, David Stock

2007: Billy Fox, Evan Solot
Panelists: Susie Ibarra, Matthew Levy, Steven Stucky

2006: Sidiki Conde, Stuart Hyatt
Panelists: Milford Graves, Belinda Reynolds, Neil Rolnick

2005: Todd Hammes, Susan Haugh
Panelists: Eleanor Hovda, Robert Moran, Roger Kleier

2004: Michelle Nagai, Ushio Torikai
Panelists: Jason Hwang, Alex Shapiro, Kevin Stahlheim

2003: Oliver Lake, John Morton
Panelists: Fred Frith, Anthony deMare, Ileana Perez Velazquez

2002: Steven Rosenthal, Janek Schaefer
Panelists: Joel Chadabe, Melissa Hui, David Cleary

2001: Kenny Endo, Annie Gosfield & Roger Kleier
Panelists: Chinary Ung, Eve Beglarian, Philip Bimstein

2000: Fred Ho, Beth Custer
Panelists: Bill Brooks, Tamar Diesendruck, Adolphus Hailstork

1999: Brenda Hutchinson, Susan Rawcliffe
Panelists: Ellen Christi, Allen Strange, Regina Baiocchi

1998: Ron George, Richard Johnson
Panelists: John Duffy, Fred Ho, Judith Shatin

1997: Ermir Dergjini, Pamela Z
Panelists: Sebastian Currier, Anne Deane, Gustavo Matamoros

1996: Brent Michael Davids, David Revill
Panelists: Orlando Garcia, James Tenney, Augusta Reed Thomas

1995: William Banfield, Dan Senn
Panelists: Warren Burt, Fran Richard, Lois Vierk

Welcome to the McKnight Artist Fellowships community!  The McKnight Foundation and the administering partners for the McKnight Artist Fellowships are committed to creating and supporting an artistic community in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity.  The community of the McKnight Artist Fellowships includes people who engage with the fellowships program whether as applicants, fellows, panelists, contractors, collaborators, fellowships administrators, and staff of the McKnight Foundation and partnering organizations.

As a community, we commit to creating and maintaining relationships that are free from harm, prejudice, and harassment.  Community members agree to communicate directly and transparently regarding issues of conduct that could negatively impact the well-being of participating members and organizations.

In the case of an accusation, legal action, or conviction, the McKnight Foundation and its fellowship program partners may gather and assess relevant information.  If deemed necessary, the McKnight Foundation and its fellowship program partners may take administrative action up to and including the recommendation of participation in reconciliation or restorative justice processes; disqualification of an application; the termination of a contract; and the recall and/or termination of a fellowship.

This community will be what we make it and our aim is to collectively create an experience in which all artists and members of the McKnight Artist Fellowships community thrive.

For more information about this statement, read this announcement.

Carolina Heredia, Director of Artist Support, will conduct two 60-minute 2023 McKnight Visiting Composer Application Information Sessions online to go over the application process. During the information session, Carolina will review all guidelines and walk through the application process in SlideRoom. Throughout these sessions there will be time to ask questions regarding the application process and its various components. These sessions will be offered online via Zoom.

Video tutorials on how to use the Zoom online meeting system can be found HERE.

2023 McKnight Visiting Composer Residency Program Information Session Dates and Times via Zoom

• Thursday, February 9 | 2:30 – 3:30 PM Central | Register HERE for this date.
• Saturday, February 18 | 3:00 – 4:00 PM Central | Register HERE for this date.

If you need one-on-one assistance on your application contact Carolina Heredia, Director of Artist Support, at [email protected] to schedule a meeting via phone or Zoom. Please do so before completing the application online.