New Jazz Works Guidelines

Since 2000, Chamber Music America has awarded 277 original jazz works grants. The New Jazz Works program provides grants to jazz ensembles based in the U.S., its territories, and Indian country supporting the creation, performance, and recording of new jazz works. The new work may be composed by the ensemble leader or a member of the ensemble/collective. 

The Board of Directors of Chamber Music America has made diversity, inclusion, and equity a primary focus of the organization’s work. CMA’s goal in this program is, through the panel review process, to arrive at a final slate of grantees that is representative of the field in terms of race and gender, as well as the aesthetic range of jazz. Read CMA’s Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity.

The New Composition

The commissioned work: 

• must be of substantial length; 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 a stand-alone work for performance.  

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 band or an ensemble of greater than 10 musicians. 

Grant Components & Funding

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
Continued Life Funding: $15,000
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 (up to $19,000) includes a composer payment of $9,000 for composing the work, and an ensemble honorarium of $1,000 per musician 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 50% or more of the total performances for the grant must be U.S.-based.All activities must be completed by June 30, 2027.
   
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, 2027.

Panel Review Process

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. 

Grant Award and Payment

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. 

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.

The Application

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. 

• Complete the online form directly or draft your responses in an offline document as backup, then copy/paste your information into the online application.  
• 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, April 4, 2024. Late or incomplete

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 5 minutes of a single work on each file. Works longer than 5 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 4 samples must be submitted – 2 from the composer and 2 from the ensemble.
  • Audio 1 and 2: Composer Samples must each feature a single original composition or excerpt from that composition for a small ensemble by the composer on the application.
    • These samples need not 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.
  • Audio 3 and 4: Ensemble Samples must each feature a single work or an excerpt from that work performed by the applicant ensemble or a majority of its members.
    • These samples need not be original compositions.

Score Upload for Audio 1

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

To Submit an Application:

• Go to https://cma.submittable.com and Select New Jazz Works
• Enter required information in all text boxes and tables.
• Prepare your score and audio sample attachments.
• Save audio samples as indicated below:
  • For composer audio samples
    • Applicant Composer Name-Audio 1; Applicant Composer Name-Audio 2
  • For ensemble audio samples:
    • Applicant Ensemble Name-Audio 3; Applicant Ensemble Name-Audio 4
• Save the score file as follows
  • Audio 1 score: Applicant Ensemble Name-Score
  • Acceptable file type: pdf
• Upload attachments to application.
• When complete, sign and date the application.
• Click SUBMIT to send application to CMA; you will receive a confirmation email.

Begin Your Application

Program Information | Application | Application Workshop RSVP (Thursday, February 15, 2:00 PM ET via Zoom)

Program Support: José R. Feliciano, Director of Grant Programs, jfeliciano@chambermusicamerica.org
Technical Support: Submittable Help – For Submitters | Submittable

Application Deadline: April 4, 2024, 11:59 PM ET

Late submissions are not accepted. Incomplete applications are ineligible. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications 24 hours in advance of the deadline to avoid any last-minute complications.