Apply to become a CMF Artist

Conditions of entry

1. There is no upper or lower age limit. CMF supports musicians early in their professional careers.
2. Applicants must have finished full-time tertiary education by 1st September 2022. Applicants currently undertaking, or intending to begin, part-time education are still welcome to apply.
3. Applicants must be resident in the UK for the full two-year period, from 1st September 2022 to 31st August 2024, as a minimum.
4. Applicants must hold the correct visa to work in the UK for the full two-year period. This must be a full working visa and not a student visa (including Tier 4) attached to any institution or place of study.
5. All applicants must be able to attend the live auditions in central London on w/c 12th September 2022.
6. If you have already benefited from CMF as a soloist, or as a member of an ensemble, you cannot apply.
7. If you who have applied on a previous occasion, but been unsuccessful, you are very welcome to apply again.
8. Applicants must not have a commercial management/booking agent at the time of applying.
9. Applications must be completed online by Friday 22nd April, 17:00.

Instruments, ensembles, and genres

• 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

• String Ensemble
• Wind Ensemble
• Brass Ensemble
• Mixed Ensemble
• Vocal Ensemble

• Classical/Contemporary
• Classical/Baroque
• Jazz
• Folk
• World

Round 1: online application

• Applicants must fill out and submit the online application form found on the CMF website. This form includes a short written statement and also requires two audio/visual links as proof of your capabilities as a performer. You will also need to nominate two referees.

Audio/visual requirements:

• Applicants must submit two audio/visual links
• Both of the links must be a live (unedited) visual recording of two different pieces
• These recordings must be from different occasions (not two pieces 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 a 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 nominated referees before including them in your application

Round 2: live audition

• The live audition will consist of a 15-minute performance and a 10-minute interview
• You will be sent more details about the live audition if you are invited to attend one

Performance requirements:

• You will be asked to prepare 30 minutes’ worth of music, of which the judging 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
• At least one of the pieces must be performed from memory (please make clear which piece you’ll play from memory when you submitting your programme)
• Individual movements of works will be accepted
• You must bring two copies of each piece of music for the judges to use as a reference during your performance
• The full 30-minute programme must be submitted in advance

Interview requirements:

• The interview will cover your musical aspirations and your commitment to a career as a performer

Accompanists/equipment requirements:

• Applicants must provide their own accompanist, where appropriate
• 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, as well as any additional musical training or masterclasses you (or your ensemble) may have undertaken.
• Please note that we do not accept applications from candidates who intend to start, or will be continuing, full-time education after 1st September 2022.
• Applicants currently studying, or intending to begin part-time education are welcome to apply.

Section 3: Being a CMF Artist

• This is your chance to tell us what you want to get out of being a CMF Artist. Tell us where you want to be in five years’ time; where and what you want to be performing; what skills you want to acquire; what contacts you want make, etc.
• There is a limit of 300 words.

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 all of the conditions of entry and agree to accept the judges’ decision and that of City Music Foundation as final.