APPLY TO colaboratory

EarShot Composer Incubator
APPLY TO COLABORATORY

APPLY TO COLABORATORY

OVERVIEW


Deadline: September 21st, 2025 at 11:59 EST
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CoLABoratory is designed to help artists and orchestras explore points of inquiry that lead to new orchestral possibilities.


EarShot CoLABoratory Residencies advance the work of composers whose practice is experimental and/or rooted in musical traditions underrepresented in the orchestral repertoire. During this 18 to 24 month period, CoLABoratory provides a generative environment for composers from any and all musical backgrounds to create definition-expanding works for orchestra. Instead of a call for scores, this is a call for ideas to be developed in partnership with the orchestra through an artist-led process.

Fellowships include: 
  • Collaborative sessions with orchestra musicians to workshop musical ideas and foster co-learning over the course of  12 - 24 months.
  • Readings and public performances of the resulting work.
  • Opportunities for the composer to engage in artistic curation, educational programming and community-focused program design.
  • Recruitment of partner orchestras to drive future performances and consortium commissions.
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ELIGIBILITY

  • U.S. applicants must be either a U.S. citizen or non-citizen lawfully and permanently residing or studying full-time in the United States. DACA recipients are eligible to apply. Mexican, Canadian, Central American, and South American applicants must be a citizen or non-citizen lawfully and permanently residing or studying full-time in their respective countries.
  • There are no age restrictions for CoLABoratory.
  • Composers previously selected to participate in CoLABoratory are ineligible. 

For more information on EarShot CoLABoratory Residencies and previous participants, click here.
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DEADLINE

  • Call for Ideas/Score Closes September 21st, 2025 at 11:59 EST.
  • Incomplete, illegible, or late applications will not be considered.  

If Selected:

  • Composers receive a $10,000 commission to create a new orchestral work.
  • Composers/artists must be available and ready to attend the required workshopping sessions, feedback meetings, and professional development workshops. 
  • Travel and artist fees will be provided. Childcare and/or accommodations for physical disability and neurodiversity will be provided upon request.
  • Composers/artists (in collaboration with ACO artistic staff) will provide professional, legible orchestral parts and scores prepared according to guidelines established by the Major Orchestral Librarians Association.
  • Composers/artists will submit self-portraits/headshots and a short biography for media purposes. 
  • Composers/artists agree that their music and CoLABoratory activities will be videotaped and/or audio recorded for archival and promotional purposes with no additional licensing fees due to ACO or its partners.

SELECTION CRITERIA

  • Artistic vision with the potential to expand orchestral possibilities and cultural impact
  • Quality of work samples in any form that best represents your artistic practice and demonstrates a connection to your proposed idea
  • Potential for artistic inquiry and experimentation during workshops

APPLICATION LINK

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

QUESTIONS & INFORMATION


For questions or comments on EarShot or the call for scores, please contact LaRob K. Rafael, Director of Composer Advancement: larob@americancomposers.org