Become an EarShot Partner

Overview and Partnership Benefits

EarShot is the nation’s first ongoing, systematic program for cultivating relationships between orchestras and emerging composers. A national network of new music readings and composer development programs, EarShot identifies fresh voices reflective of the rich stylistic and cultural diversity present in communities across the country. The program is completely customizable; activities are focused to serve each orchestra’s programmatic goals and community-defined vision.

EarShot is a program of the American Composers Orchestra, in partnership with American Composers Forum, the League of American Orchestras, and New Music USA.

EarShot creates opportunities for partner orchestras to:

Discover Rising Talent – ACO’s broad and inclusive recruitment efforts identify and cultivate a strong talent pool aligned with each orchestra’s programming goals and priorities
Develop New Audiences – ACO staff works hand-in-hand with partner orchestras to design educational programming and community-focused events as an extension of EarShot readings
Engage Your Donors – EarShot creates new opportunities for philanthropic support, including readings, commissions, educational programs, and cultivation events
Extend Your Reach – At a fraction of the cost of building an in-house recruitment and readings program, ACO has a proven track record of identifying composers whose work expands the definition of American orchestral music

EarShot Highlights

In 2018, EarShot reached over 2,000 new community members through multiple neighborhood performances at Grand Rapids Symphony, integrating the orchestra and participating composers with the highly visible ArtPrize festival.
In 2018, Earshot curated a showcase of orchestral works by emerging women composers for the Philadelphia Orchestra. It resulted in all six composers being commissioned.
In 2019, EarShot supported the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion by facilitating a call for scores and recruitment strategy that cultivated a robust pool of Black American composers, with educational programming integrated into the readings experience.

Case Studies

Houston Symphony Orchestra

Built new relationships with seven Hispanic/Latinx composers

Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Reached 500 students and 40 adult educators in one day

Grand Rapids Symphony

Engaged 2,000 new audience members in partnership with ArtPrize

Outcomes

Each reading generates 8-12 high level orchestral works from emerging composers, aligned with programmatic priorities.
Composer-orchestra relationships extend beyond the EarShot readings. On average, 1-2 works by participating EarShot emerging composers are programmed on a future concert by partner orchestras; many orchestras commission new works from one or more of the participant composers.
Past participants indicate that EarShot is a defining moment in their early careers, jumpstarting relationships with professionals in the field and building artistic and civic practice skills towards future commissions and residencies.

Program Components

Each reading generates 8-12 high level orchestral works from emerging composers, aligned with programmatic priorities.
Composer-orchestra relationships extend beyond the EarShot readings. On average, 1-2 works by participating EarShot emerging composers are programmed on a future concert by partner orchestras; many orchestras commission new works from one or more of the participant composers.
Past participants indicate that EarShot is a defining moment in their early careers, jumpstarting relationships with professionals in the field and building artistic and civic practice skills towards future commissions and residencies.

Alumni

Selected composer alumni include:

Julia Adolphe
Andy Akiho
Lembit Beecher
Courtney Bryan
inti figgis-vizueta
Saad Haddad
Robin Holcomb
Jonathan Bailey Holland
Niloufar Iravani
Hannah Lash
Nicole Mitchell
Dawn Norfleet
Gity Razaz
Carlos Simon

For more, visit our EarShot composer alumni page here.

Partner Orchestras

Recent partners include:

Aguascalientes Symphony Orchestra
Berkeley Symphony
Buffalo Philharmonic
Colorado Symphony
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Grand Rapids Symphony
Fort Wayne Philharmonic
Jacksonville Symphony
Nashville Symphony
New York Philharmonic
San Diego Symphony
Houston Symphony
Oregon Symphony
Tucson Symphony

Diversity

EarShot recruits and selects emerging composers that reflect the rich stylistic and cultural diversity present in the communities our partner orchestras are privileged to serve.

In the 2019-2020 season, participants were:

58.5% Cisgender Men
35.5% Cisgender Women
6% Transgender and Nonbinary
34% Asian
29.5% Hispanic and/or Latinx
21% White
17.5% Black
5% Indigenous

EarShot Includes:

A proven program design, including a detailed production schedule and optimal timeline created in collaboration with the partner orchestra
Facilitation of EarShot composer applications including: call for scores and active recruitment; receipt, acknowledgement, and processing of submitted materials; assembly and administration of review panel
Network of diverse composers and organizational partners to assist with composer recruitment
Selection and payment of mentor composers to coach EarShot composers before and during the readings
A professional music engraver, to facilitate production of professional parts
Professional development workshops with established industry leaders
Quality recording of at least one reading made available for each composer’s personal reference (in compliance with section VII.C. of the 2020 IMA)
Marketing materials, including composer bios/images, EarShot logos and funding credits
Travel and lodging for 1-2 ACO staff, up to three mentor composers, and up to six participant composers
Public speaking training for participant composers, culminating in an onstage discussion and audience Q&A after the final reading
Collaboration with orchestra staff in engaging donors and planning events for supporters and community partners
Post-reading access to support for commissioning and consortia

Partner Orchestras Provide:

2 or more orchestral services
Conductor and venue for readings and feedback sessions
Input from the partner orchestra’s Artistic Director and/or conductor on final composer selection
Library support for dissemination of parts and scores
Musician mentors for feedback and prep sessions
Opportunities to connect with audiences, donors, and community members, i.e. donor events, educational programs, or community-focused programs.
Commitment to commissioning one of the final participant composers for a future performance

ACO accomplishes its work in collaboration with the League of American Orchestras, American Composers Forum, and New Music USA, each of whom assists with recruitment, publicity, and program design.

Questions & Information

For more information and program pricing, contact Garrett McQueen, Director of Artist Equity: 212.977.8495 ext 252; or garrett@americancomposers.org