2026 Conference Marathon Application Guidelines
Application Deadline: Thursday, December 4, 2025
Chamber Music America’s 2026 National Conference will be held in Chicago, IL, August 20-23, 2026 and will feature a chamber music Marathon.
CMA Member ensembles are welcome to apply for a 20-minute performance slot during the Chamber Musica America Marathon held onstage at The Museum of Contemporary Art, near the CMA Conference site at The Drake Hotel.
The Marathon will be:
- attended by CMA Conference attendees (concert presenters, managers, composers, and colleagues)
- open to the public
If selected, the Ensemble:
- will be presented during the CMA Conference Marathon on Saturday, August 22, 2026.
- must be available for soundcheck on Friday, August 21, 2026 (required; no soundchecks will take place on Saturday, August 22, 2026).
Application guidelines are below.
Eligibility
An ensemble is eligible if it:
- consists of 2-10 musicians
- is a member of CMA
- has an ongoing core of musicians (soloists with accompanists are not eligible)
- has performed professionally as an ensemble for at least one (1) year
- can document at least five (5) public performances within the past two (2) years
- has no overdue reports or financial obligations to CMA
Not eligible for consideration are applications from:
- Individual artists
- More than one application for the same ensemble
- Student ensembles
- Ensembles whose primary musical focus is opera, choral works, and/or producing incidental music for other media
- Ensembles/organizations with outstanding (past due) obligations to Chamber Music America
Note: Dance performance does not fall within the Marathon program’s parameters. An exception would be tap dance, which has strong roots within jazz and carries a sonic element that contributes musically to a performance.
Application Fee
There is no fee to apply if the ensemble is a current CMA member.
Non-Members should contact membership@chambermusicamerica.org to join or renew.
The Application
Please note: You cannot save the application, leave, and return. Please have all materials ready to submit at one time.
The online application is available on CMA’s Membership portal.
- Complete the online form directly or draft your responses in an offline document as backup, then copy/paste your information into the online application. CMA recommends that you save your draft in an offline document as a backup. You cannot save your application and return to it later.
- The application will close at midnight on December 5, 2025. Late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted without written request. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications at least 24 hours in advance of the deadline to avoid any last-minute complications.
Work Sample Instructions
New this year – CMA will no longer accept audio files; video files will be required.
Each applicant must upload video sample links – either Vimeo or YouTube — to the online application. Applicants may include up to two samples for consideration.
Each Sample:
- Must be in a Vimeo or YouTube file and with no more than one composition per file
- Must not exceed three (3) minutes (or provide cue times for the panel to view)
- Must have been videorecorded within the past two (2) years
- May be full-length works, excerpts from larger works, or individual movements
- Must feature live performances only
- Should feature a single static shot of the ensemble with high quality video and sound (recommended)
- Should reflect what the ensemble stylistically plans to perform in the Marathon or be similar in style
- Should highlight the ensemble’s best material in the first minutes of the sample
- For mixed ensembles with varying combinations, at least one (1) sample must feature the same personnel and instrumentation as the proposed showcase musicians and must include a majority (more than half) of the musicians performing at the actual Marathon performance
- May only feature guest artists* if they are part of the proposed Marathon program. Do NOT include guests that are not part of your application.
- Do not use promotional videos, rather performance video only
*Guest artists are those that are not part of your regular ensemble.
Review Process
An independent panel of concert presenters versed in multiple ensemble music styles will review the applications and video samples to select the Marathon ensembles.
The panel will evaluate the application as follows:
Round One – Performance Videos:
The panel will review and evaluate the performance videos for:
- Artistry
- Ensemble presentation
Note: if selected, presenters will want to see the best quality of images and sound for their own promotional purposes.
Round Two – Promotional Materials and Programming:
Following the panel’s initial evaluation of samples, the panel will discuss the top-scoring ensembles’ promotional materials to select the finalists.
Applicants will be notified in January 2026.
Announcements of the Marathon Ensembles will be made in February, 2026.
Selected Ensembles
Once notified, the ensemble will have five (5) business days to sign and submit the Marathon performance agreement. If CMA does not receive a response in that time frame, the performance opportunity will be offered to another ensemble.
Marathon ensembles must register for the conference (special rates will be offered). Ensembles will be responsible for their travel and accommodation.
Expectations
Chamber Music America will:
- Administer and schedule all Marathon performances
- Administer and schedule sound checks
- Provide a grand piano, harpsichord, guitar amp, bass amp, drum set, music stands, chairs, PA system, microphones, and audio engineer
- Produce a Marathon program
- Publicize the Marathon performances through its Conference marketing materials including website, newsletters, and social media
- Invite Conference attendee presenters, artist representatives, and other music professionals to attend the performance
- Include Ensemble’s program information within the concert program
- Include an Ensemble spotlight in an issue of Chamber Music magazine
Marathon ensembles will:
- Be responsible for registering for the Conference (special rates will be offered)
- Be responsible for any necessary equipment not provided by CMA
- Be responsible for travel and accommodation expenses
- Be responsible for any additional conference advertising, promotion, or exhibit tables