The competitions and opportunities listed here are usually non gender specific, but Women in Music offers this section as a service to inform and encourage women composers and musicians.
If you find this listing helpful, please consider giving a small donation to help the expenses of the website. There is a “donate” button on our Contact/Join page.
Disclaimer: This listing is for your information and does not imply an endorsement of any of the organisations listed.
COMPETITIONS Please send for full details to the appropriate organisers before
sending off your entries.
For contributors: please include a deadline date if possible.
INTERNATIONAL CLARINET ASSOCIATION
New clarinet works for 2 – 5 players which includes at least one member of the clarinet family. Can include other instruments, but should not be for just clarinet and piano. 5 – 15 mins. Completed after Jan 2022. Must not have been performed previously at the Clarinet Fest. Only one entry per composer. Anon entry. Send score by pdf and a midi recording in mp3. Prize of US$ 1,000 and performance at Clarinet Fest in Texas, July 2025.
WEB: www.clarinet.org
DEADLINE: 20 December 2024
NATIONAL YOUTH BRASS BAND OF GREAT BRITAIN (UK)
For composers aged 30 or under on 1 Jan 2025. Write a piece for brass band in standard instrumentation (see website of details). Must be new, unpublished and not publicly performed. Three winners and three runners-up will be chosen. Each winner will receive £750 and mentoring. Their works will be rehearsed and performed by the NTBBGB in concerts in 2025. Each runner-up receives £250. Send a short bio and score or audio file of your piece.
WEB: www.nybbgb.org.uk
DEADLINE: 31 December 2024
RENEE FISHER COMPETITION (USA)
A call for scores for new piano works to be premiered at the 2026, 2027 piano competitions. Four composers will be chosen to write new piano pieces for the performing competitions in 2026 and 7, and will receive a commmission fee of US$ 1,500. See website for admission info.
E: reneebfisher@nmsnewhaven.org
WEB: https://nmsnewhaven.org/renee-b-fisher-competition
DEADLINE: 11 January 2025
IWBC COMPOSITION COMPETITION
The International Women’s Brass Conference is calling for women composers to enter their competition. Prize of US$ 1,500. For a piece for euphonium – either solo or with piano and/or electronics. 5 mins or more. Must have been written after 1/1/2022. In addition to the cash prize they are offering up to $1,000 to cover travel and lodging for the winning composer to attend the conference held 21 – 24 May 2025 at the Hartt School in Hartford, CT, USA.
WEB: https://myiwbc.org
DEADLINE: 1 February 2025
OPPORTUNITIES
FINANCE FOR MUSICAL CHILDREN – YOUNG SOUNDS UK
For children aged 5 – 17 who live and study in UK. If you are an instrumentalist, composer, producer, singer or songwriter. You are eligible if the total income of parents/carers is less than £30,000 a year. You may be eligible for income up to £40,000 a year. The criteria is: musical talent nad financial need. The grants are between £100 and £2,000. For musical support such as instruments, eqipment, lessons, transport, exam fees etc.
WEB: www.youngsounds.org.uk/awards
DEADLINE: not known
RESISTER MUSIC AGENCY 515
Resister Music Agency has set up an agency called 515 that is specifically for women and gender minority composers. It is to create a platform to give women an opening, mainly for film and TV work. They provide guidance in artistic development and support for careers.
(NOTE: Women in Music does not usually publicise or endorse agencies, but this one, being for women, may have interest for our members.)
E: submissions@resistermusic.com
WEB: www.resistermusic.com
DEADLINE: open
FRANCIS ROUTH TRUST (UK)
This Trust Fund has recently revised its terms. It gives grants to British composers. They support new commissions but also 2nd+ performances of new music. Especially chamber music. Especially those composers who are not well known but deserve better exposure. Usually grants are up to £1000. They also support money needed for recordings, performances, typesetting etc. Fill in the short application form online to introduce yourself.
WEB: www.francisrouthtrust.org
DEADLINES: 2 deadlines each year: end of January and end of July
SINGER WANTS RECOMMENDATIONS OF VOCAL MUSIC BY WOMEN
A vocal student would like suggestions for a recital of vocal music from the female perspective. She is a soprano/high mezzo. Keen to discover new music.
E: niamhpragnelltoal@gmail.com
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR CLASSICAL MUSICIANSPDCM offers for composers include opportunities to work with professional orchestras in Eastern Europe or Asia. Can arrange for live concert performances, profesional studio recordings, CD recordings etc at reasonable prices. Some dates still available for this summer. Composers have the option of attending but are not required to do so.
E: Director.pdcm@gmail.com
DEADLINE: open
CALL FOR SONGS FOR VOICE AND PIANO
The Christman Opera Company are calling composers who are women, people of colour and/or LGBTQIA+. They are looking for songs, arias, and/or songcycles for voice and piano. Could also be small vocal ensembles (eg duets, trios etc). They will match vocal works with appropriate singeers who will record them – with pre-recorded accompaniments if necessary. Then they will be released on YouTube and social media. They will be released one by one when ready. Composers retain rights and COC will not claim any profits. On current register of singers they have 5 sops, 2 mezzos, 1 tenor, 1 baritone. Send via E address:
E: christmanopera@gmail.com
DEADLINE: Ongoing
ROYAL PHILHARMOPNIC SOCIETY (UK)
A useful website which lists organisations and opportunities, including funding.
WEB: www.royalphilharmonicsociety.org.uk/composers
DEADLINE: Ongoing
FRANCO-BRITISH FUND FOR CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
Diaphonique assists in supporting French contemporary classical music in Britain and British contemporary classical music in France. Projects which involve works composed by living British or French composers of the last 30 years. Financial support can cover concerts, tours, promotion, commissions of new works, composer residences, workshops, scholarships. Application made by organisations and producers, not by the artists. Priority given for non-profit organisations.
E: info@diaphonique.org
WEB: www.diaphonique.org/en
DEADLINE: Ongoing
SINGERSPRO
An online directory for professional singers.
WEB: www.singerspro.com
DEADLINE: Ongoing
CONTEMPORARY CHOIR SCORES
ThatNewMusicLibrary is a new online site for unpublished choral scores. The scores will be heavily promoted to college libraries. The site will be password-protected and will be referred by editors with an established reputation in new music. Subscribers to the site will pay a fee, and the composers get 40%, distributed according to time subscribers spent viewing. Music will be protected from being copied or duplicated in any way.
Chris Brubaker E: chris@thatnewmusiclibrary.com
WEB: www.thatnewmusiclibrary.com
www.thatnewmusicwebsite.com
DEADLINE: Ongoing
SYLVIA WADDILOVE FOUNDATION
Provides grants to charities for educational projects, music composition and performances and other things unrelated to music. Grants available to small charities with turnover less than £500,000 annually, especially charities that will carry out the project themselves, who rely on volunteers and who can demonstrate a successful history of projects. The Trustees meet to consider applications in Jan, April, July and Oct. Applications need to be submitted before the last week in the month before the next meeting.
WEB: www.pwwsolicitors.co.uk/charitable-applications/charity-details/the-sylvia-waddilove-foundation-uk
DEADLINE: ongoing
HILDEGARD PUBLISHING COMPANY
Hildegard Publishing Company (USA) are launching a series called “Voices of Tomorrow” featuring women composers under 21 years. They are on the lookout for further compositions, so young women are encouraged to send material to the editorial committee for consideration. Would teachers please alert promising students.
E: earmsby@hildegard.com
WEB: www.hildegard.com
DEADLINE: Ongoing
WEB PROJECT
All women are invited to contribute to a new web project called “Make your own Herstory”
WEB: www.makeyourownherstory.org
DEADLINE: Ongoing
SOUND SENSE FOR COMMUNITY MUSICIANS
Sound Sense is a professional organisation representing musicians working in the community, helping people make music. If you run workshops or music sessions this is the organisation for you. Free insurance covering planning and carrying out community music activities. Can get criminal record checks at a competitive rate; a respected UK journal of community music; free advertisements on the website and jobs and funding info.
E: membership@soundsense.org
WEB: www.soundsense.org
DEADLINE: Ongoing
MUSIC SOUND FOUNDATION
This foundation is dedicated to improving music education and it focuses on youth. It is accepting applications for:
Schools (non-specialist) to fund music education.
Music students in full-time education to fund instrument purchase.
Music teachers for courses and training.
WEB: www.musicsoundfoundation.com
DEADLINE: Ongoing
MUSICIANS BENEVOLENT FUND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AWARDS
Professional musicians from all musical backgrounds are invited to apply for the new MBF Professional Development Awards of up to £5000. Funding can be used for projects which will inspire musical creativity and develop skills, explore new directions and extend professional knowledge. Musicians who earn their living by performing, creating or teaching can apply at any stage of their career after the first 5 years. Projects can last for a few weeks, up to a year.
WEB: www.mbf.org.uk/professionaldevelopment
DEADLINE: unknown
SEARY CHARITABLE TRUST
This trust has been set up to promote, improve, develop and maintain public education in and appreciation of the art and science of music in the UK in all its aspects. Amongst other things it offers a variety of scholarships, bursaries, exhibitions or maintenance allowances, tenable at any school, university or other educational establishment approved by the Trustees, to persons
resident in the UK in respect of their musical education. If you think that the Trust may be able to assist you, please apply to the Secretary at:
Cranbourne, 14 Castle Ave, Dover, Kent CT16 1EZ. So far, awards have ranged between £500 and £10,000. The Trustees meet to adjudicate on applications about 3 times a year.
Info: gnharby@onetel.com
DEADLINE: Ongoing
VISBY INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR COMPOSERS, SWEDEN
VICC is a working and meeting place for all composers. Composers can apply for residencies in the centre in Gotland, Sweden. All info and how to apply is on the webstie. Can download application form.
WEB: www.centreforcomposers.org
Ongoing
ROSA TRUST
Set up in June 2008, Rosa is a new charity which aims to help women and girls turn their ideas into reality. It champions and invests in exciting initiatives to improve the lives of all women and girls in the UK. At the moment Rosa is still growing, with the intention of distributing grants in 2009. In the meantime, you can sign up for their e-newsletter at www.rosauk.org.
FINZI SCHOLARSHIPS
Grants with total value of up to £12,500 will be given this year for projects within the UK or overseas lasting, on average, 3 – 8 weeks. The scholarships aim to give opportunities for broadening horizons and must have a musical foundation. Candidates must be aged 25 – 70 and resident in the UK at the time of the application.
WEB: www.geraldfinzi.org
DEADLINE: Ongoing
MICHAEL TIPPETT MUSICAL FOUNDATION GRANTS
The trustees have decided to focus on group music making, especially involving young people. Application in writing, with short introductory letter with a project description and budget. The letter should identify the organisation and indiviuals applying and the sum requested. Include aims of project, project leaders, range and number of participants, and project plan, schedule and venue(s). Plans for monitoring and evaluation should be included. Budget needs to show full estimated expenditure and anticipated income from all sources, including applications to other bodies. Give names and contacts for two referees who are willing to support the project. Grants of £500 – £4000.
Contact: Gwyn Rhydderch, The Michael Tippett Musical Foundation, 50 Broadway, London SW1H 0BL
WEB: www.tippettfoundation.org.uk
DEADLINE: Continuing deadlines
INSTRUMENT LOANS
Interest free loans for musical instruments from Arts Council England.
Take it Away W: www.artscouncil.org.uk/takeitaway
WELCOME TRUST ARTS AWARDS
The Arts Awards are the Welcome Trust’s new funding scheme to support arts projects which engage with biomedical science. They are looking for projects which stimulate interest and debate in biomedical science, and foster high-quality collaborative partnerships across the arts, science and/or education. The Awards provide funding for a range of projects. Small to medium-sized projects of up to £30,000 have several deadlines each year. Large projects of above £30,000 have once a year deadline. The scheme is open to artists, scientists, film-makers, teachers, arts workers etc. Applicants must be based in UK or Republic or Ireland and the activity must be based in either of those 2 countries. Application forms and guidelines are available on the website. Advice can be given about the eligibilty of your project, and should be sought well before each deadline.
E: arts@wellcome.ac.uk
WEB: www.wellcome.ac.uk.arts
DEADLINE: See web, and ongoing.
CALL FOR SCORES
THe ensemble Either/Or based in USA regularly call for scores for particular instruments or combinations. Either/Or is a new music group which focuses on the European avant-garde and American experimentalists and emerging composers. Always interested in new scores. Please send scores by PDF and recordings by compressed mp3/aac. Include: name, address, birthdate, Email, short bio and history of the piece submitted. Only 2 scores per composer.
E: eitherorsubmit@gmail.com
WEB: www.eitherormusic.org
DEADLINE: Ongoing
PRSF/BLISS TRUST GRANTS
The PRS Foundation are offering support for professional development for talented new composers. Their scheme is aimed at the contemporary classical sector in the UK. Special one-off grants of up to £500 to help with costs for promotional recordings, travel, study at summer schools, commissioning costs, or computer equipment.
View guidelines and download application form: www.prsfoundation.co.uk
Ongoing.
BELLAGIO STUDY AND CONFERENCE CENTER
The Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Study and Conference Center, located in northern Italy on Lake Como, is accepting applications for its artist residencies and workshops. Four of each take place each year. Scholars, artists and others may apply. Applicants can be citizens of any country and work in any discipline, providing they have significant and substantial publications, compositions, or other accomplishments to their credit. Composers who apply should anticipate their work at the Center resulting in publication or performance. Deadlines are throughout the year. More information is available by email.
EMAIL: bellagio@rockfound.org
THE BRITTEN-PEARS FOUNDATION
The Britten-Pears Foundation provides grants towards the furtherance of
music by living composers. Grants are awarded to performing groups
and/or concert promoters for live performances, commissions and
recordings. Funding for new commissions is focused on less well-known
and/or young composers. Musical education projects are also eligible
for funding, especially those which deal with new music. In addition,
limited funds have been made available to local community projects.
Website:http://www.brittenpears.org/?page=about/foundation/grants.html
PRS FOUNDATION FOR NEW MUSIC
A number of bursaries and scholarships are available for classical composers professional development, or for PhD studies in composition.
WEB: www.prsfoundation.co.uk/funding
DEADLINE: various
GUIDE TO ARTS FUNDING IN ENGLAND
The purpose of the guide is to help artists and art organisations navigate the way around the arts funding system in England.
www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/publications/3597.aspx
Women in Music gratefully acknowledges the work of composer Jennifer Fowler in providing the Comps & Ops section.
Last updated: 12 December 2024