Commissioned Composer

Each year CSMTA accepts applications for the Commissioned Composer Award. The deadline for the 2025 Commissioned Composer Award will be announced soon. Please read below for award information and eligibility. Contact the CSMTA Commissioned Composer Chair, Jennifer Linn for any questions.

Award information:

  • Premiere performance of a new work during the CSMTA State Conference at University of Denver's Lamont School of Music on October 18-19, 2025.
  • Award of $2000, to be presented upon the completion of the premiere performance
  • Subsequent submission of the commissioned work to the Music Teachers National Association competition for the Distinguished Composer of the Year award.
  • The winner of this award receives $5000 and has his/her work performed at the 2026 MTNA National Conference.

Eligibility:

  • Applicants for the 2025 award must be current or former residents of the state of Colorado; out-of-state students and those on temporary or long-term visas may apply.
  • Applicants must be current legal residents of the United States.

Application procedures:

  1. Composers will submit a CV along with scores and recordings of up to three compositions from their body of work.
  2. Submissions will be digital only: scores and CVs must be in PDF format, and recordings in MP3 format.
  3. All of the above should be uploaded to a folder in Dropbox or Google Drive, and a link to the folder be emailed to the 2025 CSMTA Commissioned Composer Chair, Mr. Jennifer Linn, jenniferalinn@yahoo.com, with “2025 CSMTA Commissioned Composer Application” in the subject line.
  4. The deadline for submissions is TBA. A committee will review all submissions, declare the commission in October, and notify applicants of the results. The Commissioned Composer will then present an intended composition model and instrumentation (for solo or small ensemble) to the committee.
  5. For the premiere performance, the composer is responsible for travel costs, and is responsible for securing performers and paying performers’ fees.
  6. Further details of procedure, timetable, and contract information inquiries may be directed to Jennifer Linn, jenniferalinn@yahoo.com.