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
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City Music Foundation support selected, exceptional musicians at the start of their professional careers with our CMF Artist Programme.
Read the Conditions of Entry, Application Requirements and Application Guidelines, then complete the form to apply.
CMF Artist Programme 2023 – application form
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Read these first:
Conditions of Entry
Application Requirements
Application Guidelines
Conditions of Entry
This Conditions of Entry is valid from March 2022 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 2022. Applicants currently undertaking, or intending to begin, part-time education are still welcome to apply.
- Applicants must be resident in the UK for the full two-year period, from 1st September 2022 to 31st August 2024, as a minimum.
- 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.
- All applicants must be able to attend the live auditions in central London on w/c 12th September 2022.
- If you have already benefited from CMF as a soloist, or as a member of an ensemble, you cannot apply.
- If you who have applied on a previous occasion, but been unsuccessful, you are very welcome to apply again.
- Applicants must not have a commercial management/booking agent at the time of applying.
- Applications must be completed online by Friday 22nd April, 17:00.
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
- String Ensemble
- Wind Ensemble
- Brass Ensemble
- Mixed Ensemble
- Vocal Ensemble
- Classical/Contemporary
- Classical/Baroque
- Jazz
- Folk
- World
Application Requirements
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
Application Guidelines
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.