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CMA Announces Commissioning Grants Totaling $475,000 for 21 Ensembles

Chamber Music America has announced the recipients of its 2016 commissioning programs, supporting the creation of new works for small ensembles. CMA will distribute a total of $475,000 to 21 ensembles through two of its major grant programs: New Jazz Works, supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation; and Classical Commissioning, supported by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Written By

NewMusicBox Staff

Logo of Chamber Music America listing genres of music they represent: classical, jazz, contemporary, world, and early music

Chamber Music America (CMA) has announced the recipients of its 2016 commissioning programs, supporting the creation of new works for small ensembles. CMA will distribute a total of $475,000 to 21 ensembles through two of its major grant programs: New Jazz Works, supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation; and Classical Commissioning, supported by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The ensembles selected this year reflect the diverse array of styles performed by small ensembles in the U.S. today, ranging from western classical to Cuban jazz to category-defying new music. Several feature instrumentation that bridges the gap between traditional classical and jazz ensembles, and between Eastern and Western musical traditions. Independent peer panels selected the grantees in each program in May.

NEW JAZZ WORKS

A total of $277,000 was awarded to nine jazz ensembles to support the creation of new works by professional U.S.-based jazz artists and to help assure that these compositions will be heard through live performances and recordings.

Christopher Jentsch and the Jentsch Group No Net (Brooklyn, NY)
Instrumentation: flute/alto flute, clarinet/alto clarinet/bass clarinet, soprano/tenor saxophones, trumpet/flugelhorn, trombone, guitar, piano, bass, and drums, plus conductor
Composer: Christopher Jentsch

Jane Ira Bloom and the Jane Ira Bloom Quartet (New York, NY)
Instrumentation: soprano saxophone and live electronics, piano and keyboards, bass, and drums
Composer: Jane Ira Bloom

Jen Shyu and Jade Tongue (Bronx, NY)
Instrumentation: vocals/gayageum/moon lute/piano, bass, drums, trumpet, clarinet/flute/saxophone, and string quartet
Composer: Jen Shyu

Jim Black and the Jim Black Trio (Brooklyn, NY)
Instrumentation: drums, piano, and bass
Composer: Jim Black

Michele Rosewoman and New Yor-uba (New York, NY)
Instrumentation: piano/vocals, bata/congas, bass, drums, trumpet/flugelhorn, soprano/alto/tenor saxophones, trombone, and tuba
Composer: Michele Rosewoman

Pascal Le Boeuf and Imagined Reality (Brooklyn, NY)
Instrumentation: piano, drums, bass, alto saxophone, woodwinds, tenor saxophone, violin, viola, and cello
Composer: Pascal Le Boeuf

Patrick Zimmerli and the Patrick Zimmerli Quartet (New York, NY)
Instrumentation: tenor saxophone, piano, bass, drums, percussion, and marimba
Composer: Patrick Zimmerli

Rob Reddy and Bechet: Our Contemporary (Brooklyn, NY)
Instrumentation: soprano saxophone, trumpet, trombone, violin, cello, guitar, bass, and drums
Composer: Rob Reddy

Rudresh Mahanthappa and Indo-Pak Coalition (Montclair, NJ)
Instrumentation: alto saxophone, guitars, tabla, and drums
Composer: Rudresh Mahanthappa

CLASSICAL COMMISSIONING

Twelve grants totaling $198,100 provide support for U.S.-based professional classical and world music ensembles and presenters for the creation and performance of new chamber works by American composers.

Altius Quartet (Boulder, CO)
Instrumentation: string quartet
Composer: Michael Ippolito

Art of Élan with the Formosa Quartet (San Diego, CA)
Instrumentation: string quartet
Composer: Lei Liang

Beijing Guitar Duo (Baltimore, MD)
Instrumentation: two guitars
Composer: Chen Yi

Carpe Diem String Quartet (Lafayette, CO)
Instrumentation: string quartet
Composer: Reza Vali

Ekmeles (New York, NY)
Instrumentation: vocal ensemble (two sopranos, alto, tenor, baritone, and bass)
Composer: Christopher Trapani

Haven Trio (Corinth, TX)
Instrumentation: soprano, clarinet, and piano
Composer: Jon Magnussen

Kenari Quartet (Bloomington, IN)
Instrumentation: saxophone quartet
Composer: Corey Dundee

Mobius Percussion (Brooklyn, NY)
Instrumentation: percussion quartet, with live processing
Composer: Jacob Cooper

Sō Percussion (Brooklyn, NY)
Instrumentation: percussion quartet
Composer: Paul Lansky

TAK Ensemble (New York, NY)
Instrumentation: soprano, flute/bass flute, clarinet/bass clarinet, violin, and percussion, plus live electronics
Composer: Mario Diaz de Leon

Wild Rumpus (San Francisco, CA)
Instrumentation: soprano, flute, trombone, violin, bass, electric guitar, percussion, and piano/synthesizer
Composer: Dan VanHassel

Yarn/Wire (Ridgewood, NY)
Instrumentation: two pianos and two percussion
Composer: Alex Mincek

More details are available on the website of Chamber Music America.

(—from the press release)