Classical Commissioning: A Responsive Shift
Grant Period: July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027 (2-year grant period)
Application Deadline: Thursday, September 18, 2025, 11:59 PM ET
Notification: November 2025
Application Opens August 19
Classical Commissioning: A Responsive Shift is funded by Chamber Music America, with generous support from the Sewell Family Foundation. Additional program support for the Classical Commissioning program is provided by the Aaron Copland Fund for Music, the Amphion Foundation, the Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University, and the CMA Endowment Fund.
Chamber Music America’s Classical Commissioning program began in 1984. Since then, CMA has funded nearly 300 new works providing grants to U.S.-based ensembles and presenters whose programming includes Western European and/or non-Western classical and contemporary music.
CMA is pivoting in response to the National Endowment for the Arts’ recent decision to rescind grant awards to ensembles and presenters across the country. (Read more: here.)
CMA’s 2026 Classical Commissioning program is being strategically redesigned to address this urgent gap, centering support around organizations and artists most impacted by the loss of NEA funding. CMA support through this grant may be used for general operating support for these performances/programs.
For the upcoming 2026 cycle, the Classical Commissioning program will specifically support ensembles and presenters:
- Whose funding has been rescinded by the NEA in 2025;
- That present or perform music by living American composers whose compositions are written in any of the musical styles associated with contemporary classical music;
- That work within a chamber music framework (2–10 musicians, one per part).
Grant awards will range based on budget size:
- Approximately sixteen grants of $2,500 for ensembles with budgets below $249,999
- Approximately seven grants of $5,000 for organizations with budgets up to $750,000
For more info contact: Susan Dadian, Director of Artistic Planning, sdadian@chambermusicamerica.org
Guidelines
All applicants must:
- Provide a copy of their 2025 NEA funding termination letter as proof of rescission
- Show proof of 501(c)3 status
- Be a CMA member at the Organization level
- Have completed any classical/contemporary CMA-funded project, if applicable
- Have no overdue reports or financial obligations to CMA
- Agree to acknowledge CMA in all programs and press materials
Ensembles
An ensemble is eligible if it:
- Is based in the U.S. or its territories (the leader/primary member is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident)
- Primarily performs Western European and/or non-Western classical and contemporary music
- Consists of 2-10 musicians, either as a fixed roster, or a flexible collective (duos must perform as equal partners and publicize themselves as a duo)
Presenters
A presenter is eligible if it:
- primarily presents Western European and/or non-Western classical and contemporary music
Organizations whose primary presentations or performances are:
- opera
- chorus
- orchestra
- solo recitals
- music for dramatic works (staged or un-staged)
- incidental music for other media (such as dance or video/film)
Grant awards will range based on budget size:
- $2,500 for ensembles with budgets below $249,999
- $5,000 for organizations with budgets up to $750,000
The grant period will take place from December 1, 2025-through December 31, 2026.
- 501(c)3 letter of determination
- 2025 NEA funding termination letter
Applications are due to Chamber Music America by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on Thursday, September 18, 2025. Award notifications are made in November.
CMA uses the online application platform Submittable. Go to cma.submittable.com to create a free Submittable account if you do not already have one.
- CMA recommends that you save your draft in an offline document as backup.
- To save the work you have done on your application, you must click SAVE DRAFT at the bottom of the form before exiting.
- You can return to your saved application to continue working on it by following the log-in instructions.
- The application will close promptly at 11:59 PM ET on Thursday, September 18, 2025. Late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications at least 24 hours in advance of the deadline to avoid any last-minute complications.
To submit an application:
- Go to cma.submittable.com and click on “Classical Commissioning.”
- Complete all required fields.
- When complete, sign and date your application.
- Click “Submit” to send application to CMA; you will receive a confirmation email.
CMA staff will evaluate applications for:
- The applicant’s alignment with the vision and goals of the Classical Commissioning grant program
- The impact a Classical Commissioning grant would have on the applicant’s ability to carry out their work presenting or performing music by living American classical/contemporary composers during the grant period
When evaluating applications, panelists consider:
- the significance of the funding for the ensemble/presenter
- the impact a Classical Commissioning grant would have on the ensemble/presenter ability to carry out their work presenting or performing music by living American classical/contemporary composers during the grant period
Grant funds can be considered taxable income; grantees must comply with all applicable city, state, and federal laws, ordinances, codes, and regulations affecting the project.
If awarded, grantees will need to complete all reporting to remain in good standing with CMA including:
- receiving and managing the grant funds
- filing the final report, reporting phone calls, and associated documents.
CMA makes agreements with and makes grant payments to the applicant entity and communicates with the primary contact listed on the application.
Grant funds will be disbursed as follows:
- 100% of the award to be disbursed after signing the CMA grant agreement and providing all required grantee materials
Grantees will need to complete all reporting to remain in good standing with CMA.