Funding Guide

Composition

Funding opportunities for composers

Composition

Students should consult websites and literature produced by the individual funding organisations for complete and up-to-date information & for relevant application forms.  

ANTONIO VIVALDI ORCHESTRA 1st  INTERNATIONAL COMPOSITION CONTEST
The Contest is open only to compositions for string orchestra. All composers born after December 31, 1979 from any Country of any continent may take part in the contest. The competition is open to all forms of musical expression and aesthetic taste. Compositions must be unpublished, they must not have won in other contests and they must not have appeared on YouTube or on any other website. They may have been already played in public.
Contact  the Artistic Direction for any further information e-mail: orchestravivaldi@gmail.com

THE BLISS TRUST
The Trust funds a scholarship for a composer or student of composition wishing to develop his or her career in the USA, either at a conservatoire or university or through a period of private study with a particular composer. For details see website: The Bliss Trust
The Bliss Trust, in conjunction with PRS for Music Foundation, provides Composer Bursaries for composers seeking funds to assist their professional development in the field of classical music. For full details see the PRS Foundation website.

THE BRITISH MUSIC COLLECTION – NEW VOICES
New Voices is an annual support scheme raising the profile of some of the most exciting composers in the UK today.
Website: www.britishmusiccollection.org.uk

BRITTEN-PEARS FOUNDATION
For Benjamin Britten, a quiet place to compose was absolutely essential. He was fortunate enough to achieve this for most of his life, spending his last two decades at The Red House, down a quiet lane on the outskirts of Aldeburgh. Today, the Britten-Pears Foundation is entrusted with a number of properties – two on The Red House site, and one nearer the town centre – that they are happy to offer to composers and other artists for the purposes of a peaceful, creative retreat. The properties are suitable for individuals, or for 2 (or more) people. To find out more, please see the Britten-Pears Foundation website Useful Information page.

CoMA OPEN SCORE PROJECTS
CoMA (Contemporary Music for All) was established in 1993 to encourage and provide opportunities for amateur musicians of all abilities to take part in contemporary music making. CoMA works with UK conservatoires to provide training for composition students by giving them the opportunity to write for CoMA ensembles. For further information email: info@coma.org or telephone 020 7739 4680. www.coma.org .

THE CHELTENHAM MUSIC FESTIVAL SOCIETY
The Society supports the Cheltenham Music Festival by commissioning new works. For more details please see contact music@cheltenhamfestivals.com or look at www.cmfsoc.org.uk.  The Cheltenham Festival Composer Academy is open to early-career composers and 12 successful applicants spend a week at Cheltenham during the Music Festival workshopping their pieces, attending festival premieres and taking part in professional development seminars.

THE DUISBURG TRANS­CULTURAL COMPO­SITION SCHOLAR­SHIPS AND AUDIENCE AWARD
The Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra is offering composition scholarships for new transcultural works for the first time. Composers from all over the world can apply. They will be commissioned by a jury to develop a new work for symphony orchestra with a genuine transcultural approach. This will be done in workshops, starting in Spring 2023. This work may include a traditional folkloric solo instrument of any cultural origin. Interested composers can apply with a detailed sketch of about 2 minutes length. Applications should be sent before 28 November 2022, by email to: kompositionspreis-duisburger-philharmoniker@posteo.de

THE FIDELIO CHARITABLE TRUST
the Fidelio Charitable Trust was established in 2008 in support of the Arts in the United Kingdom. The Trustees aim to help individuals and groups who would not be able to carry out a project or activity without financial support, particularly those who are at an early stage in their careers. This might include support for a musical composition. See website: The Fidelio Charitable Trust

THE FULBRIGHT COMMISSION
The US/UK Fulbright Commission offers opportunities for students to study, lecture, or pursue research in any academic field. For, UK citizens the US-UK Fulbright Commission offers a variety of grants and places on special programmes to the US. Scholars are selected through a rigorous application and interview process and receive a high level of support. For further information email programmes@fulbright.org.uk or telephone 020 7498 4010 www.fulbright.org.uk 

THE GESUALDO SIX COMPOSITION COMPETITION
Composers are invited to submit a new work for The Gesualdo Six’s second Composition Competition. A prize fund of £1000 is available.  This competition is open to all composers, divided into two age categories: 21 years and under, and 22 years and above.   There is no entrance fee.  Full competition details, including submission pack, are available on our website: https://www.thegesualdosix.co.uk/?s=COMPETITIONS Further information: https://duisburger-philharmoniker.de/erweiterte-texte/transkomp/

DR. HAROLD SMART COMPOSITION COMPETITION
The Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) run a Competition in memory of Dr Harold Smart. Details of the next competition will be made available online at  http://www.rscm.com. For any queries, contact the Publications Department at press@rscm.com or Tel. 01722 424845.

HINRICHSEN FOUNDATION
The Hinrichsen Foundation provides support for the performance of contemporary music, which may include commissioning of new work, non-commercial recording or even publication.The Trustees will occasionally provide funds for research projects not being conducted under the aegis of an academic institution.
For further details email: hinrichsen.foundation@editionpeters.com or visit www.hinrichsenfoundation.org.uk

THE HOPE SCOTT TRUST
The Hope Scott Trust was set up by the late Mrs Hope Scott to help promote Music and the Visual Arts in Scotland. The Trust allocates a proportion of its resources to help musicians with commissions or grants for musical events. Preference is given to applicants who are Scottish by birth, or live permanently in Scotland. For information see website: www.murraybeith.co.uk/services/trusts/hope-scott-trust.html

THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF BASSES
The 2016 ISB/ David Walter Composition Competition. A Double bass composition competition in 3 categories. Deadline is 1st June. For further information email: info@ISBworldoffice.com

INTERNATIONAL CONSONANT CHAMBER MUSIC COMPOSITION CONTEST
Open to publishers and composers of any nationality and age, the deadline for registration is 31st July 2021.  For more details please visit http://clma.nonprofitmusic.org/

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
At each ISCM World Music Days Festival an international jury is constituted from the ISCM membership. They assign an award to a composer under the age of 35, whose work is performed in the festival. The winner gets a money prize and a commission for a new piece to be performed in a future edition of the ISCM World Music Days. For further information visit www.iscm.org

THE MICHAEL TIPPETT MUSICAL FOUNDATION
The single priority of the Michael Tippett Musical Foundation is the development of group music making, especially involving young people in projects incorporating composition and creative ideas. Because of the Trust’s link with a major composer, the Trustees wish to see composition as central to projects put forward for support. These can include applications from organisations for group projects working with young composers, perhaps at postgraduate or early professional level, offering innovative ways for young composers to develop their talents and experience through engaging with group musical activity. Grants awarded will be made towards creative musical activity, not instruments or equipment. Projects might be first-time initiatives or the development of existing projects and must be based in the UK. Grants may be between £500 – £4,000. The average grant is around £2,000. For further details see website: The Michael Tippett Musical Foundation

THE NATIONAL CENTRE FOR EARLY MUSIC
The National Centre for Early Music is the home of two prestigious competitions. The NCEM Young Composers Award is presented annually by the National Centre for Early Music and BBC Radio 3.  For further details visit https://www.ncem.co.uk/composersaward2020/ General Enquiries 01904 632220 or email info@ncem.co.uk

NEW NOTES MAGAZINE
New Notes Magazine published by SPNM https://www.spnm.org.uk/ is a good source of information/opportunities for young composers and also announces one off and regular composition competitions.

PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA MARTIN MUSICAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND
The Martin Musical Scholarship Fund, administered by the Philharmonia Orchestra Composition Award has helped young musicians since 1968.  For further details telephone the Philharmonia Orchestra on 020 7921 3904 or go to www.philharmonia.co.uk

PRS FOR MUSIC FOUNDATION
Composers’ Fund The Composers’ Fund recognises the need for composers to have direct access to funding at pivotal stages in their career. It invites composers to make the case for support of any activity that would enable them to make a significant step change in their career. Grants of up to £10,000. Suitable for: Composers with a strong track record in their field who are at a point in their career where access to funding could help move forward their career.
Bliss Trust Composer Bursaries Grants of up to £750 for professional development for composers of contemporary classical music, awarded in partnership with The Bliss Trust. Suitable for: emerging contemporary classical composers.
Adopt a Composer Pairing an amateur ensemble – from choirs and orchestras to harp ensembles – with an emerging composer to work and collaborate together for a year, the Adopt a Composer programme, is funded by PRS for Music Foundation, run by Making Music in partnership with Sound and Music and in association with BBC Radio 3.
The Open Fund supports the development of outstanding songwriters and composers of all genres and backgrounds and at different stages of their career. Support is available to any music creator or organisation whose project fits with all three of our funding priorities: To support the creation, performance and promotion of outstanding new music in any genre; To enable the UK’s most talented music creators to realise their potential; To inspire audiences. Grants of up to £5,000.
For further information on these schemes see website: PRS for Music Foundation

RED NOTE
Music Festival annual Composition Competition takes place in the United States.  The deadline is 1st November.  This competition has been running for ten years and there are approximately 500-600 entries.  There is no age limit or nationality guideline. Ensembles vary, but typically the competitions are works for chamber ensemble, choir, and either orchestra or wind ensemble.  For more information please see the website: http://finearts.illinoisstate.edu/red-note/competition/

ROYAL PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY
Established in 1813, the society seeks to enrich and celebrate musicians through grants, commissions and performance opportunities for composers and performers to find their voice.  For further details of opportunities please visit https://royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/composers.  Telephone 020 7491 8110 or email admin@royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk.

THE RVW TRUST
Founded by Ralph Vaughan Williams, the principal areas in which the RVW Trust currently makes grants are: Assistance to British composers who have not yet achieved a broad national or international reputation; Support for post-graduate students of composition taking first masters degrees at British institutions – up to 5 Vaughan Williams Bursaries, of £4,000 each, will be awarded each year, at the discretion of the Trustees; Assistance towards the performance and recording of music by neglected or currently unfashionable 20th and 21st century British composers; Support for national organisations which promote public knowledge and appreciation of 20th and 21st century British music; Occasional support for education projects in the field of music
All enquiries should be made to the Secretary and Administrator, Hannah Vlček info@rvwtrust.org.uk Website: www.rvwtrust.org.uk

SOUND AND MUSIC
Sound and Music which styles itself “the national charity for new music” runs a number of schemes to help and promote composers. For full details of the assistance available, please see the website Sound and Music

THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF MUSICIANS
The Lord Mayor’s Composition Prize is administered and funded by the Worshipful Company of Musicians to provide a biennial prize for classical composition.  The Composition Competition is ONLY open to UK citizens who are under the age of 35 at the closing date for entry. Further information is available on the Musicians’ Company website: www.wcom.org.uk.
The Dankworth Prize for Jazz Composition was established by Art Mead in 2007, and has been administered by the Musicians’ Company, generously sponsored by the Wavendon Foundation, since 2011. There are two prizes for original jazz compositions:  £1000 for a composition for Big Band and £1000 for a composition for Small Ensemble (7-9 players).  Entrants must be aged 28 or under on the date that their entry is submitted.   Further information is available on the Musicians’ Company website: www.wcom.org.uk.

Please inform the Trust of any mistakes or omissions by email to admin@munstertrust.org.uk

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