Commissioning Opportunities
The nation's first systemic program for building relationships between orchestras and composers, EarShot now encompasses ACO's full range of composer advancement initiatives. Multiple works are commissioned through EarShot readings and residencies each season by ACO and by partner orchestras nationwide.
In 2022, ACO received an award from the Sphinx Venture Fund to support the commissioning of eight orchestral works by Black and Latine EarShot composers for high school and youth orchestras by 2025.
EarShot Commissions
For more information on EarShot, including details on how to apply, visit the program page here.
Virginia B. Toulmin Orchestral Commissions Program
Brittany J. Green
Moni (Jasmine)
Guo
Karena Ingram
Chelsea Komschlies
Marina López
Meilina Tsui
The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program for women composers (formerly the Women Composers Readings and Commissions program) is an initiative of the League of American Orchestras, in partnership with American Composers Orchestra (ACO) and supported by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
The program is embedded in EarShot; recipients are selected from women and non-binary composers who have participated in EarShot Readings.
Since its inception in 2014, the Virginia B. Toulmin Orchestral Commissions Program has commissioned 22 new works. This season, the program expands to commission six composers to write for an unprecedented 30-orchestra consortium between 2022 and 2024.
The Sorel Award
As of February 2025, the American Composers Orchestra and American Composers Forum have announced a new joint initiative: The Sorel Award, a three-year opportunity for mid-career women composers that includes the workshopping and premiere of a newly-commissioned orchestral work, personalized professional development, active relationship-building, and booking support. One award will be offered every three years, and the inaugural recipient is composer Andreia Pinto Correia.
This newly endowed award is made possible with a significant grant from The Elizabeth and Michel Sorel Charitable Organization, Inc., and offers catalytic support for mid-career women composers in the U.S. Addressing the needs articulated by composers served by ACO and ACF, The Sorel Award is supported by the Sorel Endowment for Women in Music, honoring pianist, educator, and philanthropist Claudette Sorel, and the memory of her parents, Elizabeth and Michel.
Award activities include one co-commissioned orchestral piece (10-15 minutes), which will be workshopped through ACO’s EarShot CoLABoratory program and premiered by ACO at Carnegie Hall, or a similar venue; professional audio and video recording following the ACO performance to be commercially released, access to CoLABoratory Residencies; and an invitation to contribute an essay and/or interview to be featured on ACF’s Anatomy of a Commission series on I CARE IF YOU LISTEN. Over three years, Andreia will work with both organizations and Visconti Arts to assess and elevate her profile, develop relationships, and optimize the award to cultivate a greater portfolio of opportunities. ACO will include her commissioned work in its EarShot Publishing catalog, administered in partnership with Boosey & Hawkes, providing additional promotional support towards subsequent performances. She will have ongoing full access to the two partners’ suite of expertise and services, including 1:1 strategy sessions, marketing help, contract questions, fundraising guidance, and project support.
Score Submissions
We strongly recommend that composers submit their orchestral scores to our open calls for EarShot each season. If you would like to submit a score outside of these calls for consideration, you may do so using this form.
**Please note: we do not have the capacity to review physical scores; we will only accept PDF scores via this form. We will be in touch only if the score is a good fit for an upcoming season.
If you would like to learn more about how to introduce yourself and your work to orchestras and other potential collaborators, we encourage you to watch the following digital professional development sessions:
Creating a Meaningful Relationship
Orchestra Programming