Performance Plus Grant

Overview

About the Program

Chamber Music America’s Performance Plus program recognizes the contributions and diversity of perspectives that U.S.-based gender minorities and women bring to the field of jazz. The program provides grants to U.S.-based gender minority and women-led jazz ensembles to engage an experienced jazz Mentor for six Mentoring sessions with the goal of further developing the ensemble’s performance. The Mentoring sessions will culminate in a recording session resulting in a high-quality demo for use by the jazz ensemble.

In January 2016, the Board of Directors of Chamber Music America (CMA) began discussing the issues of diversity, inclusion, and equity as they relate to the organization’s membership, grants, awards, and other programs. It quickly became clear that CMA had virtually no quantitative data about the racial composition of its membership, grant applicants, or grantees. Further, anecdotal information suggested that music professionals from ALAANA communities (African/Black, Latinx, Asian/South Asian, Arab/Middle Eastern, and Native American) were underrepresented as CMA grantees, at its conferences, and in its publications. This led to continuing discussions at subsequent Board meetings and the realization that a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity was an essential next step.

As a result, the Board of Directors has made diversity, inclusion, and equity a primary focus of CMA’s work. We are committed to examining all aspects of the organization’s systems, programs, services, and communication mechanisms to fully understand and represent all chamber music traditions and the people who create, perform, and present those traditions.

Grant Components And Funding

A Performance Plus grant is made up of the following components:

* Ensemble Mentoring Sessions Payment: Funding of $200 per ensemble musician for each of the six coaching sessions with the Coach. (Total of $2,400 for a duo to $12,000 for a 10-member ensemble). Ensemble members must be present for the sessions. Sessions must be completed by March 31, 2026

* .Artist-Mentor Payment: Payment of $500 for the Coach for each of the six coaching sessions with the ensemble. Sessions must be a minimum of 90 minutes. (Total of $3,000 for six mentoring sessions.)

* Demo Recording: Funding ($6,500) must be used for recording a demo of only the works rehearsed in sessions with the coach. Demo recording must be completed by September 30, 2026.
* Consultations with CMA Staff: For example, if you are a quartet
* $200 x 6 mentoring sessions x 4 musicians = $4,800 ensemble payment
* $500 x 6 mentoring sessions = $3,000 mentor payment
* $6,500 demo recording payment

* Your Grant = $14,300

See FAQ for further details

Eligibility

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* The Ensemble
* Only ensembles may apply to this program. An ensemble is eligible if it:
* it is a professional gender minority and women-led jazz ensemble consisting of 2-10 musicians that includes improvisation as an integral part of composition and performance. (The ensemble bandleader must be a gender minority or woman-identifying professional jazz musician);
* it is based in the U.S., Indian Country, or U.S. territories;
* the ensemble bandleader is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident;
* the ensemble bandleader or the ensemble have no overdue reports or financial obligations to CMA
* the bandleader must be a CMA member at the individual membership level or the ensemble must be a CMA organization-level member at time of application;
* The Coach
* The coach must be an accomplished jazz bandleader with demonstrated experience in performance, composing, arranging, instruction, and recording;
* They must be a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S.
* must be willing to mentor the ensemble and bandleader on technical aspects or composing, arranging, instruction, ensemble cohesion, and other aspects related to success in the jazz music industry.
* must work with the ensemble for six sessions totaling 540 minutes or a total of nine hours Each session should be minimum of 90 minutes. (This can look like six 90-minute sessions or it could look like three 3-hour sessions or something in-between depending on the schedule that the bandleader, ensemble, and artist-mentor agree to.)

Ineligibility

* Current primary contacts/bandleaders for New Jazz Works and Artistic Projects grants cannot apply.
* If you are currently funded through CMA’s commissioning programs (Classical Commissioning or New Jazz Works), you may not apply to Performance Plus

Application Details

2025 Performance Plus Program
Application Deadline:
February 6, 2025
11:59 PM, E.T.
Notification: April 2025
A component of the Doris Duke Jazz Ensembles Project, Performance Plus program is funded by the Doris
Duke Foundation.

About Performance Plus
Performance Plus program
Chamber Music America’s
recognizes the contributions and diversity of
perspectives that U.S.-based gender minorities and
women bring to the field of jazz.
The program provides grants to U.S.-based gender minority and
women-led jazz ensembles to engage an experienced jazz artist-
mentor for six mentoring sessions with the goal of further
developing the ensemble’s performance. The mentoring sessions
will culminate in a recording session resulting in a high-quality
demo for use by the jazz ensemble.

About Performance Plus
The bandleader and primary contact for the
application must be a woman or gender-minority
individual.
Artist-Mentors must be selected and confirmed
before the application is submitted.

Funding Priorities
Chamber Music America gives priority to projects that
demonstrate how the applicant will use the grant funding to:
Create opportunities for the ensemble to engage with
•
current and new audiences
Work with the artist mentor to create a recording that
•
showcases the work of women and gender-minority-led
jazz ensembles
Mentorship and professional development opportunities
•
for women and gender-minority individuals in the jazz
music field
Create more access to jazz music
•
Foster a sense of respect and appreciation for jazz music.
•

What are the funding amounts and
what is the grant period?
Grants will fund up to 100% of the eligible expenses starting at $11,900 for
a duo and up to $21,500 for a dectet.
All Performance Plus grant projects must take place during the grant
period between April 1, 2025 and September 30, 2026.
A Performance Plus grant is made up of three components:
Ensemble Member Payment: $1,200 per musician ($2,400 for a duo and
•
up to $12,000 for a dectet)
Artist-Mentor Payment: $3,000
•
Demo Recording: $6,500
•
Please Note: Grant funds are taxable income; grantees must comply with all applicable city, state, and
federal laws, ordinances, codes, and regulations regarding the reporting of grant funds.

Ensemble Eligibility
An ensemble is eligible if:
it is a professional gender minority and women-led
•
jazz ensemble consisting of 2-10 musicians that
includes improvisation as an integral part of
composition and performance. (The ensemble
bandleader must be a gender minority or woman
professional jazz musician);
it is based in the U.S., Indian Country, or U.S.
•
territories

Ensemble Eligibility
(continued)
the ensemble bandleader is a U.S. citizen or
•
permanent resident;
the ensemble bandleader or the ensemble have no
•
overdue reports or financial obligations to CMA
the bandleader must be a CMA member or the
•
ensemble must be a CMA member at time of
application;
Current primary contacts/bandleaders for New Jazz
•
Works and Artistic Projects recording grants cannot
apply.

Ensemble Eligibility
An ensemble is eligible if:
it is a professional gender minority and women-led
•
jazz ensemble consisting of 2-10 musicians that
includes improvisation as an integral part of
composition and performance. (The ensemble
bandleader must be a gender minority or woman
professional jazz musician);
it is based in the U.S., Indian Country, or U.S.
•
territories

Choosing an artist mentor
The Artist-Mentor:
must be an accomplished jazz bandleader with
•
demonstrated experience in performance,
composing, arranging, instruction, and recording;
must be a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S.
•
will mentor the ensemble and bandleader on
•
technical aspects or composing, arranging,
instruction, ensemble cohesion, and other aspects
related to success in the jazz music industry
Must work with the ensemble for six sessions
•
totaling 540 minutes or nine total hours (each
session should be minimum of 90 minutes)

What types of mentorship have artist-
mentors provided past ensembles?
Sharing their knowledge of jazz history, songwriting, and
•
their lived experiences with the music industry
Insight on how the ensemble might better emphasize a
•
unified stylistic direction
Insight on how individual members might highlight
•
differentiated styles
Insights on improvisation and arrangement; For example, are
•
improvised sections appropriately structured, and do
scatting phrases and instrumental lines align harmonically?
Insights on group cohesion; For example, are the rhythm
•
section players achieving a cohesive and synchronized
tempo?

What is the goal of working with the
artist-mentor?
Gain new insights through learning from the artist-mentors
•
knowledge of jazz history, songwriting, and their lived experiences
with the music industry
Working with the artist-mentor should help the bandleader and
•
ensemble overcome artistic challenges and elevate their work to a
new level
Working with the artist-mentor should help the bandleader and
•
ensemble with planning the recording session
Working with the artist-mentor should help the bandleader
•
consider marketing/business planning connected to the release of
the recording

Does CMA provide artist-mentors?
No, CMA does not provide artist-mentors.
If needed, applicants can consult with CMA
staff for recommendations. Applicants are still
responsible for choosing their artist-mentor.

Grant Components and Funding
1.Ensemble Mentoring Sessions Payment
• Funding of $200 per ensemble musician for each of the six mentoring
sessions with the Artist-Mentor. (Total of $2,400 for a duo to $12,000 for
a 10-member ensemble). Ensemble members must be present for the
sessions. Sessions must be completed by March 31, 2026.
2.Artist-Mentor Payment
• Payment of $500 for the Artist-Mentor for each of the six mentoring
sessions with the ensemble. Sessions must be a minimum of 90 minutes.
(Total of $3,000 for six mentoring sessions.)
3.Demo Recording
• Funding ($6,500) must be used for recording a demo of only the works
rehearsed in sessions with the mentor. Demo recording must be
completed by September 30, 2026.
4. Consultations with CMA Staff

For example, if you are a quartet
$200 x 6 mentoring sessions x 4 musicians = $4,800 ensemble
•
payment
$500 x 6 mentoring sessions = $3,000 mentor payment
•
$6,500 demo recording payment
•
Your Grant = $14,300

Grant Application Timeline
Application due: February 6,
•
2025 at 11:59pm EST
Notification: April 2025
•
Grant period: April 1, 2025
• –
September 30, 2026
Mentoring sessions complete
•
by March 31, 2026
Demo recording complete &
•
final report due by September
30, 2026

The written
application
Ensemble contact, demographic, personnel information
•
Mentor information
•
Grant Request Summary
•
Why the ensemble has chosen the artist-mentor. Why is
•
their experience relevant to your ensemble and ensemble
leader's work?
What is your plan for working with the artist-mentor?
•
Outcome- Why and how the artist-mentor working sessions
•
will be beneficial to the ensemble’s artistic development at
this stage in its career.
Timeline for mentoring sessions and studio recording
•

Audio Upload
• Two ensemble audio samples are
required and must be uploaded
to the online application.
• Samples should be up to 5
minutes each and feature works
for small ensemble (2-10
musicians).
• Samples must feature
either the full ensemble or at
least 50% of its musicians. A
duo must submit
works with both partners*
• Audio Summary: Instrumentation,
track length, and cue times are
required to guide the panel’s
listening.

Audio upload (cont’d.)
Samples should be representative
•
of the ensemble’s performance within the last
two years
Longer works may be edited and/or excerpted
•
Soloistic works are not recommended
•
Samples do not need to be of studio quality
•
but should be clear
May contain music from a
•
live concert, studio/home recording, and/or CD
or online recording.
Only mp3 and/or m4a file types are accepted
•

Create a free Submittable
account or log-in to your existing
Submittable account
Type directly into the online
To Apply form or draft your application in
an offline document and copy
your responses into the online
application
Click SAVE DRAFT on bottom of
application.

Only online applications
via Submittable are
accepted
Upload items in
To Apply accepted file formats in
the application
Ensemble
Name –
Label Audio Files
Audio 1
as follows: Ensemble
Name –
Audio 2