FNMC Composer Mentorship Program
The Flute New Music Consortium is thrilled to announce the FNMC Composer Mentorship Program. This exciting new initiative will provide a U.S.-based BIPOC or LGBTQ+ composer with a $1,000 stipend, regular mentorship from FNMC community members, and high-quality recordings from live performances of the resulting works.
HOW TO APPLY:
This mentorship program is open to composers who identify as BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+ and currently reside in the United States. Interested composers should provide a PDF of two scores and accompanying audio (MIDI is acceptable!) that demonstrate their overall compositional style. At least one of the works should demonstrate the composer’s woodwind writing.
Applicants will submit a 2-3 minute video introducing themselves. What brought you to composition? What composer(s) is/are your biggest inspiration(s)? What excites you most about writing for the flute? We’d like to get to know you a bit.
Applicants will be asked for the names, emails, and phone numbers of two personal references who can speak to their professionalism, communication, and organizational skills. Please let the references know to expect an email from us during the evaluation process.
Finally, composers should submit a brief written description of an idea for a solo flute work.
This mentorship program does not have an age limit, but is intended to provide support for composers who are in the early stages of their profession. As such, previous FNMC commissions or composition competition winners are not eligible.
Application Deadline: Dec. 1, 2020
Stipend: $1000
Expectations: Composers in the FNMC Mentorship program will complete two pieces over the course of the 12-month program. During the first six month period, they will have monthly meetings with their FNMC mentor, workshopping a work for solo flute. After the six month workshopping period has ended, the work for solo flute will be scheduled for performance by the flute mentor. A live recording of the performance will be provided to the composer.
During the second six month period, the composer will have monthly meetings with a second FNMC mentor, workshopping a work for flute and one other instrument. (Instrumentation must be approved by the FNMC mentor.) After the six month workshopping period has ended, the work will be scheduled for performance by the flute mentor, and a live recording of the performance will be provided to the composer.
Additionally, the composer will receive one virtual private lesson each with FNMC Commissioned Composers Samuel Zyman and Carter Pann.
Both resulting works will be shared with all FNMC members, with performance rights for one calendar year from completion. The performance rights will not be exclusive to FNMC members, but this will permit FNMC members to give the work additional performances during the one- year window. The composer should continue to engage performances of the work as they see fit. FNMC will retain rights to record both works for six years without further compensation; as with performance rights, this permits FNMC to further promote the work through FNMC-organized recordings. The composer may still organize recordings of the work at their own discretion.
Should the work eventually be published, it should bear the inscription, “Commissioned by the Flute New Music Consortium.” All recordings resulting from the FNMC Mentorship program should credit the performing flutist by name. Every effort will be made to include the resulting works in FNMC-organized conference and festival performances. The composer’s name and likeness may be used in FNMC promotional materials.
Questions? Email to Dr. Elizabeth Robinson.
