How to Apply

IMPORTANT UPDATE! Please be sure to refresh your screen before viewing this site. Please note that for the 2023 Commissioning Program, all applicants must submit final application materials on or before February 1, 2023.

ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY. Please read the Commissioning Procedure for further information and specific application instructions.

  1. Read the program guidelines described in the Commissioning Procedure. Please note that late or incomplete proposals are unlikely to be funded.
  2. Complete the required application form. This form must be typed.
  3. Send an Application Email (on or before February 1, 2023) to KoussevitzkyFoundation@loc.gov. Include the following items in this email:
    • Subject line of the email should read: “Application for [Name of Composer].”
    • Application Form. This form must be completed and typed. It should be attached to the email as a PDF file or as a Word file.
    • Music scores. See Commissioning Procedure for music submission requirements. Submit each score as a PDF attachment to the application email. Each score must be clearly identified with last name of composer and title of composition and submitted as a separate attachment.
    • Links to audio files. See Commissioning Procedure for instructions on the submission of audio files. Links to audio files must be included in the body of the application email.
  4. It is important that your email addresses remain current during the entire application and review process.
  5. Your application will not automatically be acknowledged. If you wish to confirm receipt of your application email, please contact KoussevitzkyFoundation@loc.gov.

The Koussevitzky Music Foundation
Commissioning Procedure

The Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundation in the Library of Congress will consider applications from performing organizations from any country for the commissioning of composers of any nationality.

The performance period for works submitted under the February 1, 2023 deadline may begin with the 2023-2024 Concert Season (not before September 2023). Performances are not expected until two years following the completion of the commissioned work, however, so the period may extend through several future seasons.

Although there is no set date for the announcement of commissions, successful grant recipients typically are notified by August following the application deadline.

PLEASE NOTE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR 2023: The Application Email should be sent on or before February 1, 2023 to: KoussevitzkyFoundation@loc.gov.

This commissioning program is designed primarily for orchestras and chamber groups that have a record of excellence in the performance of contemporary music. Other types of ensembles with records of excellence in the performance of contemporary music may also be eligible; please inquire with the Foundation.

Commission fees for works for chamber groups range from $10,000 to $15,000. The Koussevitzky Foundation will fund the entire commission fee in the case of a work for a chamber group. The Foundation will fund up to $20,000 for a symphonic work, of which the submitting performing organization must provide at least 50% of the amount funded by the Foundation as a minimum matching grant. The performing organization may raise the matching funds from any source available, provided that the dedication to the foundation, which is required to appear on the score of each commissioned work, is placed in first position of all dedications or acknowledgments appearing on that score; the foundation must be credited in first position on all publicity and program listings, as well. The commissioned works will be performed by the sponsoring organizations. The composer’s original manuscript (or, if no manuscript exists, original computer score in hard copy) will be deposited with the Library of Congress as part of the Music Division’s permanent collection. We recommend that a copyright notice be placed on the submitted item.

A performing organization may propose only one composer for a joint commission each year. PLEASE NOTE: Beginning in 2010, the Foundation accepts applications only for composers who have received no more than one prior Koussevitzky Commission, provided that the prior commission was not awarded within the past ten rounds of the program. Please see the Recent Grants page of this web site for a list of commissions awarded during the last ten commission rounds. Please consult the Foundation if there are questions regarding a composer’s eligibility.

We accept applications for composers of any nationality. United States citizenship is not required for consideration, nor is the sponsoring performing organization required to be based in the United States.


APPLICATION SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:

All applications must contain materials as described in the following list. ALL MATERIALS FOR 2023 ARE TO BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY. Please read instructions for detailed directions.

1. APPLICATION FORM

  • Use the required application form available on this web site to apply for a commission. This form must be typed. Email the completed application form as an attachment to KoussevitzkyFoundation@loc.gov with the subject line: “Application for [Name of Composer].”
  • If it is necessary to send multiple emails, please make sure that each message contains the composer’s name in the subject line.

2. COMPOSER INFORMATION

  • Please provide the following information on the Application Form AND in the body of the Application Email: composer’s name, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address.

3. COMPOSER BIOGRAPHY

  • Include biographical information about the composer. In the body of the Application Email, please include a link to the composer’s website or other source for biographical information, if available. If no link is available, please attach information in the form of a résumé or other short biographical summary.

4. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION DETAILS

  • Please include a link to the performing organization’s website, if available. If no link is available, please attach information about the organization, including a listing of the performing organization’s appearances over the past two seasons.

5. PROPOSED WORK

  • In addition to information provided on the Application Form, please include in the body of the Application Email information detailing the proposed instrumentation of the planned work and its anticipated duration. Further details concerning the work may be included, if such information is known.

6. COVER LETTER

  • Please include a cover letter from the performing ensemble or submitting organization. This letter may be incorporated in the body of the Application Email or sent as a separate attachment, and should include:

7. SCORES AND AUDIO FILES

  • Submit scores of up to three recent representative works of the composer:
  • Submit audio files of at least two of the scores submitted with the application. Submitted files must be of the same compositions as the scores included with the application:
  • All audio files submitted must be operational and accessible to the review panel during the period from February 1, 2023 to June 30, 2023.

Incomplete applications are unlikely to be funded.

Rev. July 2022


Required Application Form

The application form for the Foundation’s Commissioning Program is available online in Word and PDF format:

Word – You can download this file and it should open as a word-processing document in either the Windows or Mac versions of Microsoft Word. This will allow you to complete the form in your word processor.

Portable Document Format – You can download the application to your computer as a PDF file where it can then be viewed and printed using Adobe’s free Acrobat Reader.

Note: If you have trouble downloading the Word or PDF files, Windows users try clicking on the link with the right mouse button and selecting “Download to disk”; Mac users try clicking on the link while holding down the “Control” key and selecting “Download to disk”.

If you need Acrobat Reader, download it here.