Apply to become a CMF Artist
City Music Foundation support selected, exceptional musicians at the start of their professional careers with our CMF Artist Programme.
Applications to the Artist Programme are currently closed for this year. If you’d like to apply in the future, be sure to read the Conditions of Entry, Application Requirements and Application Guidelines.
CMF Artist Programme – Applications are currently CLOSED
CMF Artist Programme 2024 – application form
Read these first:
As a CMF Artist you will be expected to:
- Sign an Artist Agreement – outlining financial support, and how and when it is to be paid or distributed
- Provide proof of how the funding is used during and at end of your project
- For funded projects, provide tickets for shows, copies of CDs, videos for CMF website as appropriate, for CMF to promote.
- Provide photos and details of funded activities for newsletters, website and socials
- Acknowledge CMF funding on your website(s), videos, CDs, commissions, programmes etc
All funding recipients (Large) may receive:
- Full (or part) funding administered by CMF (non-taxable)
- Inclusion and promotion on CMF website, social media, newsletters
- Individual photography and inclusion in the group photo of all large funding recipients
- Promotion as ‘CMF Artists’ to partner festivals and venues
- A single networking session with promoters, venues and festival directors
- A lunchtime concert performance at SMITF concert
- At least one additional CMF promoted recital
- Top quality one-to-one mentorship with an expert
- Advice and contacts from CMF Team where possible
- Invitation to an annual big CMF event/concert/fundraiser
- The CMF Musicians’ Handbook
Examples of how CMF may support an Artist:
- Concerts and concert tours
- Multi arts collaborations
- Commissioning
- CD recordings
- Video making
- Website building
- PR and marketing packages
- Artistic mentoring
- Outreach proposals
- Other suggestions deemed to be worthwhile by the evaluating panel
Round 1: online application
- Applicants must fill out and submit the online application form found on the CMF website. This form will ask you to upload your project proposal and also requires two video links. You will also need to nominate two referees.
- The funding application form will go live on the CMF website on Monday 8th January 2024
Project Proposal must include:
- How this project will help to further your career
- A timeline
- Everyone involved including all people, locations, sponsors etc
- A budget for your project proposal to include:
- Quote & estimates such as hires, fees, videographers, CD producers, publicity, marketing, overheads etc
- Other funding received/applied for
It is advised that you use the City Music Foundation form, which you can download as a Microsoft Word document here.
Audio/visual requirements (where applicable):
- Applicants must submit two audio/visual links
- Both of the links must be a visual recording of a live (unedited) performance
- These performances must be from different occasions (not two performances from the same event)
- All links must be from YouTube, Vimeo or Google Drive. Any links from other platforms or in file format will NOT be accepted
- The material should be of good visual and sound quality (it’s in your interest!)
- The material must have been recorded within the past 18 months (you’ll be asked to state when and where it was recorded)
Referee requirements:
- Please supply the name, telephone number, and email address of two relevant referees (teacher/performer/music industry professional)
- Should you advance to the live auditions, your nominated referees will be contacted and asked to complete a reference form about you, so please ask permission from your referees before including them in your application
Round 2: live audition
- The live interview and audition will consist of a 15-minute performance (where applicable) and a 15-minute interview. You will be sent more details if you are invited to attend.
Performance requirements:
- You will be asked to prepare 30 minutes of music, of which the panel will ask you to play roughly half
- The programme must contain at least three separate pieces
- At least one of the works must be from the standard repertoire for your instrument or ensemble type (including a jazz standard for jazz applications)
- Your programme should be well balanced and demonstrate your personal musical preferences and strengths, and if possible be relevant to the proposed project
- For soloists, at least one of the pieces must be performed from memory (please make clear which piece you’ll play from memory when you submit your programme)
- Individual movements of works will be accepted
- You must bring a copy of each piece of music for the advisors to use as a reference during your performance
- The full 30-minute programme must be submitted in advance
Interview requirements:
- The interview will be a discussion to delve further into your project proposal
- Be prepared to answer questions from our advisors about all aspects of your project proposal as well as any previous projects which may be relevant
- Bring colleagues and partners along to this interview if you feel this is appropriate
Accompanists/Equipment requirements:
- Applicants must provide their own accompanist where appropriate
- Collaborative pianists must bring someone to perform with
- A Steinway Model C (or equivalent) will be made available to all auditionees, as well piano stools, chairs, and music stands
- For jazz artists, please bring your own band members and equipment
- Power sockets will be available for amps and any other equipment
Section 1: Personal/Ensemble details
Please complete this section with up-to-date details for all categories. We will contact you primarily via email during the application process, so please do ensure that this is correct.
If you do not have a website or social media pages, please leave these sections blank.
If you are applying as an ensemble and you don’t have a group email address, please select a member of your group to be the main point of contact. In addition, please provide personal details for each member individually.
Section 2: Background
Please provide us with details of your educational history, any additional musical training or masterclasses you (or your ensemble) may have undertaken, as well as any prizes and performance history.
Please note that we do not accept applications from candidates who intend to start, or will be continuing, full-time education after 1st September 2024. Applicants currently studying or intending to begin part-time education are welcome to apply.
Section 3: Project Proposal
This is the key opportunity for you to propose your project to be funded by CMF. This should include all aspects of the project with full transparency.
It is advised that you use the City Music Foundation form, which you can download as a Microsoft Word document here.
Section 4: Video materials
Please note that we do NOT accept CDs/DVDs or electronic files (e.g. via Dropbox or WeTransfer).
If your links include your own original compositions, please list yourself as the composer.
If you are uploading a new video and do not want it to be publicly available, please do the following:
- For YouTube: make your video ‘unlisted’
- For Vimeo: select ‘only people with a password can see this video’ (there is a box on the application form for sharing the password)
Section 5: Referees
Please ensure that the contact details for your nominated referees are up-to-date; and that they are aware that you are applying.
Section 6: Confirmation and administration
By signing this, you agree to comply with the Conditions of Entry and agree to accept the decision of City Music Foundation as final.
These Conditions of Entry are valid from January 2024 until further notice.
Conditions of Entry
- There is no upper or lower age limit. CMF supports musicians early in their professional careers.
- Applicants must have finished full-time tertiary education by 1st September 2024. Applicants currently undertaking, or intending to begin, part-time education are still welcome to apply.
- Applicants must be resident in the UK for the duration of the project applied for.
- Applicants must hold a valid visa to work and earn in the UK for the full duration of the project applied for. This must be a full working visa and not a student visa (including Tier 4) attached to any institution or place of study.
- All applicants must be available to attend the live auditions in central London w/c 6th May 2024.
- If you have already benefited from CMF as a soloist, or as a member of an ensemble, you cannot apply.
- If you have applied on a previous occasion, but been unsuccessful, you are welcome to apply again.
- Applicants must not have a commercial management or booking agent at the time of applying.
- Applications must be completed online by 10am on Monday 25th March 2024.
Instruments, ensembles, and genres
CMF will accept applications from the following:
Solo applications, including but not limited to:
- Keyboard: piano (including collaborative), harpsichord, organ, accordion
- Strings: violin, viola, cello, double bass, guitar, harp
- Woodwind: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, recorders
- Brass: trumpet, french horn, trombone and allied instruments
- Percussion
- Singing: all voices
- Non-western instruments will be considered
Ensembles of up to five members, including but not limited to:
- String ensemble
- Wind ensemble
- Brass ensemble
- Mixed ensemble
- Vocal ensemble
Genres include:
- Classical/Contemporary Classical/Baroque
- Jazz
- Folk
- World
If you have any queries, particularly if you unsure about whether to apply as a soloist or as part of your ensemble (especially within the jazz genre), please do contact apply@citymusicfoundation.org
