New Jazz Works

The commissioned work:  

• must be of substantial length (at least 10 minutes of composed music); this may be one extended work or shorter pieces that together form a larger work.  
• feature improvisation as an integral part of the composition.  
• be written for 2-10 musicians; the total number of musicians including the performing composer and guest artists must not exceed 10.  
• be scored for one musician per part.  
• result in a printed score, lead sheet, or other form of graphic notation or nontraditional documentation.   

If the commissioned work will be written as part of a multi-disciplinary project, it must also be able to be performed or presented as a stand-alone work.   

• Ensembles consisting of 2-10 musicians (including guest artists) may apply to this program.  
• The primary contact for the application or the ensemble must have current CMA membership status at the time of applying.   
• New Jazz Works funds musical artists only; non-musical artists are not supported by this program.  

An ensemble is eligible if:  

• it is a professional composer-led or collective jazz ensemble (student groups are not eligible).  
• it is based in the U.S., its territories or Indian country.  
• the leader is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.  
• it includes improvisation as an integral part of composition and performance.  
• it has no overdue financial or reporting obligations to CMA or for any CMA grants.  
• An ensemble or composer may be on an application in either CMA’s 2025 New Jazz Works program or the 2025 Classical Commissioning program, but not both.  
• ensure that the primary contact on the application is able to receive grant funds  (fiscal sponsorship is not eligible) 

Ineligible Requests: 

• Previously written works, works-in-progress, arrangements, opera, and/or incidental music are not supported by this program. 
• Additionally, CMA cannot consider the following applications:  
  • requesting funding for non-musical artists.  
  • requesting fees for student musicians.  
  • requesting funds for classes or workshops for music students.  
  • requesting funds for works that are written for big bands or an ensemble of greater than 10 musicians.
     

The composer: 

• may be either the bandleader or a member of the ensemble/collective.  
• is an individual, not a group.  
• must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.  
• must have fulfilled any outstanding obligations from prior CMA grants at the time of application. 
• Cannot be a composer on a current New Jazz Works, Classical Commissioning, or Artistic Projects grant 

• Current New Jazz Works grantees who have an active grant project in progress cannot apply for a New Jazz Works grant. 
• If the ensemble or commissioned composer has a current commissioning project under a with a current CMA grant, they cannot apply.  This includes grants in New Jazz Works, Classical Commissioning, or Artistic Projects 

All of the following expenses are allowed as long as they are directly related to the project. 

• Ensemble and guest artist(s) fees  
• Concert production costs (lighting, sound, cartage, etc.) 
• Streaming production costs 
• Direct promotion, marketing, and advertising expenses 
• Travel and hotel, per diem. 

A New Jazz Works grant is made up of four components: 

Composer Payment: $9,000
Ensemble Member Payment for U.S. World Premiere and additional concert: $1,000 per Musician ($2,000 for a duo through $10,000 for a decet)
Continued Life Funding: $15,000 (for future performances and recording; or future performances if the grantee is not making a recording)
Administrative Support Funding: $3,000

1. Composition and World Premiere
   This phase includes the creation of the new work, world premiere, and one additional performance. Funding includes a composer payment of $9,000 for composing the work, and an ensemble honorarium of $1,000 per musician (up to $10,000) for rehearsals and performance of the work, including the composer. The creation of the composition, premiere performance, and additional concert must be completed by December 31, 2025.

2. Continued Life of the New Work:
   Funding ($15,000) to support:
   •  2 additional public performances or 
   • 1 additional public performance of the work and a distribution-quality audio and/or video recording. 

In-person performances can take place in the U.S. and/or abroad, but at least 2 of the performances for the grant must be U.S.-based. All activities must be completed by June 30, 2028.

3. Administrative Support Funding
   Funding ($3,000) can be used at the grantee’s discretion for administrative support activities. Administrative support includes, but is not limited to, engaging a booking agent/manager/publicist, expenses associated with a commercial release of the commissioned work, copying costs, or other administrative costs. This includes administrative work done by the grantee. All activities must be completed by June 30, 2028.

At the time of application, the applicant must be a current CMA member.  

Uploads 

Audio Summary Table 

• Complete the Audio Summary Table in the application, and provide instrumentation, file length, and cue times to guide the panel’s listening for each submitted audio sample. 

Audio Uploads 

• Submit audio featuring only small ensemble music (2-10 musicians) including guest artists. 
• Samples should demonstrate the composer’s strongest compositions and ensemble’s performance level and must feature either the full ensemble or at least 50% of its musicians. 
• Include contrasting works, if possible. 
• Soloistic works are not recommended. 
• Samples that prominently feature guests/soloists not involved in the proposed commission are not recommended. 
• A duo must submit works with both partners 
• Only mp3 and m4a files types are accepted. 
• Submit up to 4 minutes of a single work on each file. Works longer than 4 minutes, must be edited and/or excerpted to highlight specific sections. 
• Each audio sample must feature scored and improvised sections. 
• Samples do not need to be of studio quality but should be clear and representative of the ensemble’s performance. (Please be advised: Poor recording quality affects the panelists’ ability to judge the application.) 
• A total of 2 samples must be submitted – 1 from the composer and 1 from the ensemble.
  • Audio 1: Composer Sample:
    • Up to 4 minutes of music that demonstrates excellent jazz arrangement including demonstration of improvisation skills as well as strong composition skill and technique 
    • Must feature a single original composition or excerpt from that composition for a small ensemble by the composer on the application. 
    • The sample does not need to be performed by the applicant ensemble. 
    • *The Audio 1 Composer Sample must be accompanied by a relevant section of the printed score, lead sheet, or graphic notation. 
    • Save using the name: [Applicant Composer Name]-Audio 1 

• Audio 2: Ensemble Sample 
  • Up to 4 minutes of music that demonstrates the ensemble’s technical skill executing the arrangement and excellent group cohesion 
  • Must feature a single work or an excerpt from that performed by the applicant ensemble or a majority of its members (more than 50%) 
  • The sample does not need to be an original composition. 
  • A duo must submit a work with both partners 
  • Save using the name: [Applicant Ensemble Name]-Audio 2 

Score Upload for Audio 1 

• Upload the Score for Composer Sample 1 to the online application. Acceptable file type: pdf only. 

Applications are due to Chamber Music America by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on Thursday, February 27, 2025. Award notifications are made in June.

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, February 27, 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 “New Jazz Works”  
• Complete all required fields, including text boxes, the Funding Request, and Audio Sample information.   
• Prepare your audio samples and score sample.  
• Save audio files as using the name: [Applicant Composer Name]-Audio 1 for the composer audio and [Applicant Ensemble Name]-Audio 2; acceptable file types: mp3, m4a.   
• Upload the audio file and score sample  
• When complete, sign and date your application.  
• Click “Submit” to send application to CMA; you will receive a confirmation email. 

New Jazz Works applications are reviewed by an independent panel of jazz music professionals; CMA staff and board do not participate in the deliberations (Representative list of previous CMA panelists).  

The panel reviews audio samples presented anonymously. This process conceals the names of the composer, ensemble, and ensemble members, as well as the titles of the audio samples and score submitted for the evaluation process.  

The panel will review:  

• Composer audio samples for originality in compositional technique and skill in arranging for jazz ensembles.  
• Ensemble audio samples for the technical and artistic strength of individual instrumentalists to understand the composer’s arrangement(s).  
• Ensemble audio samples for cohesiveness of the ensemble in performing scored and improvised music.   
• The audio summary table in the application form serves as a guide for the panelists. 

Audio Review 

• Audio submissions should demonstrate a match or connection between the music-making described in the planned activities and the ensemble’s music-making as demonstrated in the audio sample and written description.

If awarded, the member of the ensemble serving as the primary contact for the grant is responsible for:  

• acting as the contact for CMA on behalf of the ensemble.  
• providing government issued documentation as proof of their U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status.  
• receiving and managing the grant funds.  
• maintaining CMA membership through the entire grant period.  
• filing the required reports and associated materials.  

Grantees will need to complete all reporting to remain in good standing with CMA  

Grant funds are taxable income; grantees must comply with all applicable city, state, and federal laws, ordinances, codes, and regulations regarding the reporting of grant funds.  

CMA collects data on race and ethnicity in connection to grant programs and applications; membership; and surveys with partner organizations, like funding partners. As such, CMA has developed a set of standards for keeping, collecting, and presenting data on race and ethnicity that aim to provide consistency in collecting and using this type of data. 

These standards have been developed in accordance with data collection standards by other groups such as CMA’s funders, federal agencies, and agencies that track race and ethnicity data. 

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