CMA Awards $550,395 in 42 Grants to the Small Ensemble Music Field

New York, NY—Chamber Music America (CMA), the national network for ensemble music professionals, has announced the distribution of $550,395 through three of six grant programs to support the work of 42 ensembles and presenters across the contemporary and traditional jazz, classical, and folkloric genres. 

The 2024 grantees, reflecting a broad spectrum of sounds and stages, were selected after an adjudication process by independent peer panels in December 2023. Individual awards, from $8,580 to $20,000, will be used to support projects in communities across 15 cities in 10 states.

“CMA’s first round of 2024 grantees encompass a wide range of performance styles, cultural traditions, and new musical innovations,” said CMA’s Chief Executive Officer Kevin Kwan Loucks, “I am thrilled to see these new projects develop with CMA’s support.”

The grant programs— Artistic Projects, supported by the Howard Gilman Foundation; and Ensemble Forward, supported by the New York Community Trust, Presenters Consortium for Jazz supported by The Doris Duke Foundation; —and grantees, are outlined below. 

Artistic Projects 

Supported by the Howard Gilman Foundation 

Grants totaling $300,000 have been awarded to 18 New York City-based projects comprising performances, recordings, new compositions, and residencies, among other artist-generated ideas. The projects funded through this program represent the artistic visions, concepts, and priorities of the applicants, regardless of musical genre or style. 

The 2024  Artistic Projects grantees are: 

• BlackBox Ensemble 
• Caballito Negro 
• Duo Kayo 
• Elio Villafranca & The Jass Syncopators 
• Excelsis Percussion Quartet 
• Exponential Ensemble  
• Glass Clouds Ensemble  
• Isham Park Restoration Program 1970 Inc (IPRP 1970 INC) 
• Jay Rodriguez Sierra  
• Parthenia Viol Consort 
• PUBLIQuartet 
• Quintet of the Americas 
• Sirintip 
• Sofia Rei 
• String Noise Sounds 
• SydeBoob Duo 
• Syrian Music Preservation Initiative 
• The Western Wind Vocal Ensemble, Inc. 

Ensemble Forward 

Supported by The New York Community Trust 

Grants totaling $99,990 have been awarded to nine New York City-based ensembles to engage with an established chamber music mentor. 

The 2024 Ensemble Forward grantees and coaches are: 

• Ensemble Phoenicia with coach Kinan Azmeh 
• Glass Clouds Ensemble with coach Mari Kimura 
• Ondine Quartet with coach Todd Phillips 
• Riverside Brass Quintet with coach John Rojak 
• Shutterspeed Duo with coach Todd Reynolds 
• Sputter Box with coach Lucy Shelton 
• Telos Consort with coach Ken Thomson 
• Unheard-of Ensemble with coach David Bloom 
• Voyager Reed Quintet with coach Mark Dover 

Presenter Consortium for Jazz 

Supported by The Doris Duke Foundation 

Five grants totaling $150,405 have been awarded to 15 presenters that work together in groups of three to engage a jazz ensemble for concerts in their respective communities. 

The 2024 Presenter Consortium for Jazz  grantees are: 

Arts for Art; Ars Nova Workshop; & CapitalBop presenting Matthew Shipp Trio & Mendoza Hoff Revels 

Northwest New Mexico Arts Council; gallupARTS; & Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance presenting Anderson Quartet; Julia Keefe Trio; & Indigie Femme 

The 222; Redwood Jazz Alliance; & Earshot Jazz Society of Seattle presenting Ryan Keberle & Catharsis  

Jazz House Kids; Isham Park Restoration Program (IPRP) 1970 Inc.; & Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts presenting Steve Turre Sextet   

The Dance Hall; Portland Conservatory of Music; Next Stage Arts presenting Christine Correa Ensemble

Chamber Music America, the national network of ensemble music professionals, was founded in 1977 to develop, strengthen, and support the chamber music community. With a membership including musicians, ensembles, presenters, artists’ managers, educators, music businesses, and advocates of ensemble music, CMA welcomes members representing a wide range of musical styles and traditions. In addition to its funding programs, CMA provides its members with consulting services, access to instrument and other insurances, conferences, seminars, and its quarterly publication, Chamber Music magazine.   

The mission of the The Doris Duke Foundation is to improve the quality of people’s lives through grants supporting the performing arts, environmental conservation, medical research, and child well-being, and through preservation of the cultural and environmental legacy of Doris Duke’s properties. 

Howard Gilman believed in the power of the arts to transform lives. The Howard Gilman Foundation honors his legacy by supporting the most robust, innovative, and promising performing arts organizations in New York City.

A public charity, The New York Community Trust connects past, present, and future generous New Yorkers with vital nonprofits working to make a healthy, equitable, and thriving community for all. It is a public grantmaking foundation dedicated to improving the lives of residents of New York City, Westchester, and Long Island.