YOUTH ORCHESTRA COMMISSIONING INITIATIVE

As organizations prepare for teaching and conducting online this year, this project is a space where composers and youth orchestras can join together to create new musical works specifically designed for remote performance.

Among the goals of this initiative is addressing the systemic exclusion of women and composers of color from the standard classical repertoire. It is our expectation that the new music produced under this initiative will be composed primarily by women and people of color. 

Another goal of this initiative is to create new music written specifically for this socially distanced environment. Many of the initial compositions in this project have been written intentionally to be recorded separately and assembled as a video performance. We are tasking the composers to consider the advantages (certain rhythmic interplay easier to coordinate) and disadvantages (rhythmical nuance nearly impossible) of this format.

When a youth orchestra joins they commit to commissioning at least one new composition, which is then added to our music library. All members will have access to this library where they can connect with composers and rent any piece for only $20.

Check out our contract template to commission new music, see what has already been written and meet the composers who are creating music for today’s youth orchestras.