New Jazz Works: Commissioning and Ensemble Development

1. New Jazz Works: Commissioning and Ensemble Development Deadline: March 8, 2013 Notification: June 2013

2. Let’s help you • learn about New Jazz Works, • meet eligibility requirements, • strategize on submitting a strong application, • understand the panel process.

3. What is New Jazz Works? New Jazz Works is a grant program that is a component of the Doris Duke Jazz Ensembles Project. Made possible by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

4. New Jazz Works provides support to professional U. S. Jazz ensembles for • the creation and performance of a new work, • activities that extend the life of the work, • business skill enrichment for ensemble leader, and • free registration and travel subsidy to a CMA national conference.

5. New Jazz Works gives priorityto projects that • represent new creative territory or • significant growth for the bandleader/ensemble.

6. An ensemble is eligible if it • is a professional composer-led or collective jazz ensemble, • is based in the U.S. or its territories, and the leader is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, • consists of 2–10 musicians,

7. Eligibility, cont’d. • includes improvisation as an integral part of its composition and performance • is a CMA Organization-level member • has no overdue reports or financial obligations to CMA, and • has waited 12 months from completion of a previous New Jazz Works grant.

8. An ensemble may apply in either • New Jazz Works or • Classical Commissioning programs, • but not both.

9. Similarly, a composer • may appear on only one application to either program (not both), and • may not have any outstanding obligations to CMA.

10. The composer • may be either a performing member of the ensemble or a guest, • is an individual (not a group), and • must be a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S.

11. New Jazz Works: Creation and Presentation Core component funds • the creation of a new work, • the work’s world premiere, and • one additional performance.

12. Core provides up to $16,000 for the • composer fee of $6,000, and • $1,000 per musician for rehearsing and performing the work within the Core period.

13. Continued Life supports the ensemble with up to $7,500 for activities such as • concerts and touring • clinics and community visits • conference showcasing • promotion • recording

14. Better Business supports the ensemble leader with up to $3,000 for activities such as • attending meetings and conferences, • taking classes, and • working with mentors and consultants.

15. CMA National Conference • complimentary registration for the ensemble leader, and • travel/hotel subsidies for ensemble leaders who live more than 200 miles from New York City.

16. The CD-R Work Sample • must be in CD-R format, and • may contain edited recordings of studio or live performances and of published and/or commercially released music.

17. The CD-R Work Sample cont’d. • Tracks 1 and 2 must feature up to 5 minutes of music performed by the applicant ensemble or a majority of its members, and • track 3 must feature up to 5 minutes of one work by the composer. A printed score, lead sheet, or other graphic representation relating to this work is needed.

18. Written application and review • CD-R work sample sheet (referred to during full listening review) • project description (referred to during composer listening review) • ensemble and composer descriptions (read in final panel round) • score (referred to in final panel round)

19. Project description Put your artistic ideas into words. Some suggestions: • what is your inspiration for the work? • how is this new creative territory for you? • describe its structure • if applicable, why is the ensemble planning to work with guest musicians?

20. Completing your application • 1 stapled application form with an original signature • 8 additional copies of the stapled application • 1 CD-R work sample • 1 printed score, lead sheet, or other graphic representation relating to the work on Track 3 of the CD-R Work Sample

21. Completing your application cont’d • If working with a guest composer, 1 copy of the Letter of Intent between ensemble and composer • 1 document verifying the U.S. citizenship or permanent residency status of the ensemble leader, or ensemble’s 501(c)(3) designations as described in the guidelines • 1 document verifying the U.S. citizenship or permanent residency status of the composer, if different from the band leader

22. Panel notes • The panel is made up of five jazz musicians who meet for three days in New York. • CMA uses a simple scoring system of 10 (excellent), 4 (good to very good), 1 (non-competitive). • The panel moves a select number of applications from one round to the next. • In the final round, they choose approximately 10 grantees.

23. CD-R Work Sample review criteria • artistic excellence and distinctiveness as an indicator of the leader’s ability to shape a small jazz ensemble • composer’s skill and originality in composing/arranging chamber jazz music

24. Written application review criteria • originality of the proposed work • degree to which the project represents a new direction and/or significant growth for the ensemble

25. Closing Tips • The panel reviews your audio first, and your text second (if your application moves to this round). • A strong CD-R work sample determines if your application will move through the two listening rounds to the overall review in Round 3.

26. Closing Tips cont’d. • In your written application, be sure to answer the questions asked. Keep it simple and clear. Do not repeat yourself. • Remember that musicians are the sole evaluators of your application. Prepare your application with this in mind.

27. What is Jazz? CMA leaves that up to the applicant to determine and the panel to evaluate. Good luck with your application!

28. Questions, concerns? Contact • Jeanette Vuocolo, program director, CMA Jazz, (212) 242-2022, ext. 5081 www.chamber-music.org