Classical Commissioning Program

Classical Commissioning: A Responsive Shift is a grant program administered by Chamber Music America (CMA), supported by the Sewell Family Foundation with additional contributions from the Aaron Copland Fund for Music, the Amphion Foundation, the Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University, and the CMA Endowment Fund. Established in 1984, CMA’s Classical Commissioning program has a long history of supporting the creation of new works in both Western European and non-Western classical and contemporary music. Nearly 300 works have been funded since the program began. This iteration, launching for the 2026 cycle, has been redesigned in direct response to the National Endowment for the Arts’ rescission of grant awards to ensembles and presenters in 2025, aiming to address the significant gap left by the loss of NEA funding. The purpose of this special cycle is to provide targeted support to ensembles and presenters most directly affected by the 2025 NEA funding rescission. CMA will provide resources to help these organizations sustain their artistic programming and operations while continuing to present and perform works by living American composers. Funding awarded through this grant may be used for general operating support connected to these performances and programs. This shift marks a more responsive approach that adapts to urgent sector needs and reinforces CMA’s commitment to ensuring the continued presence of contemporary classical music in the United States. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based ensembles and presenters who can demonstrate that their NEA funding was rescinded in 2025, verified through submission of an official termination letter. Applicants must also provide proof of 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and hold an active CMA membership at the organization level. Additional eligibility requirements include completion of any previous CMA-funded projects, if applicable, as well as no outstanding reports or financial obligations to CMA. All applicants must also agree to publicly acknowledge CMA support in programs and press materials. Ensembles must consist of two to ten musicians, perform primarily classical or contemporary music, and be led by a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Presenters must demonstrate that they primarily present Western European or non-Western classical and contemporary music. Ineligible requests include organizations focused primarily on opera, choruses, orchestras, solo recitals, music for dramatic works, or incidental music for other media such as dance or film. The grant period runs from December 1, 2025, through December 31, 2026. Awards will vary by applicant budget size, with approximately sixteen grants of $2,500 for ensembles with annual budgets below $249,999 and seven grants of $5,000 for organizations with budgets up to $750,000. Awards are disbursed in full upon signing the CMA grant agreement and submission of required materials. Funds are considered taxable income, and awardees are responsible for complying with all relevant federal, state, and local laws. Grantees must complete all reporting requirements, including a final report and scheduled phone calls, to remain in good standing with CMA. Applications must be submitted online through Submittable. The application deadline is September 18, 2025, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. CMA strongly recommends submitting at least 24 hours in advance of the deadline to avoid technical issues. The application process includes saving work as a draft, completing all required fields, signing, and dating the submission before final submission. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. An application workshop is scheduled for August 27, 2025, at 12:30 PM Eastern Time. Technical support is available through the Submittable Help Center. Applications will be reviewed by CMA staff and external panelists. Staff will first assess applicant eligibility and alignment with program goals. Panelists will evaluate applications based on the impact of CMA funding on the applicant’s ability to sustain and present music by living American composers within the chamber music format. Consideration will be given to the significance of the grant for each ensemble or presenter and the potential outcomes for audiences and artistic communities. Notifications of awards will be issued in November 2025. Applicants seeking more information may contact Susan Dadian, Director of Artistic Planning, at sdadian@chambermusicamerica.org. CMA’s mailing address is P.O. Box 22248, Brooklyn, NY 11202. This redesigned program reflects CMA’s mission to support chamber music practitioners and their work, ensuring that even amid federal funding challenges, ensembles and presenters can continue to thrive and contribute to the classical music landscape.

Submit at least 24 hours before deadline; save draft offline as backup