Grants for Student Composer/Performer pairs

The GCNA is pleased to offer a grant program to commission student composer-and-performer pairs to compose and premiere new works for carillon.

Grants of $1,000 are awarded to two collaborative composer-and-performer pairs for the composition and performance of new works for the carillon. Each award is shared evenly between the composer and carillonneur ($500 each). Payment is made upon completion of the project.

Check back soon for information about the application procedure for the next grant cycle. (For archived information about last year's application procedure, click here.) 

Compositions/Performances from the 2022-2023 Grant Cycle

The Franco Committee selected the following two student composer/performer pairs to receive grant funding to collaborate to compose and premiere a new work for carillon:

• James Cox (performer) & Lola Constantino (composer), both at Princeton University
• Carson Landry (performer) & Grace Ann Lee (composer), both at the University of Michigan

The two pairs collaborated over several months to compose and premiere a new work for carillon.

The premiere performances were recorded and are available below.

"Breathe now" 

• Composed by Grace Ann Lee
  
• World premiere performed by Carson Landry (link to member profile) on May 4, 2023, at Kirk in the Hills, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Link to the world premiere on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kgufJa2clfI

Notes from the composer: On November 10th, 2022, my grandfather passed away in Korea. My parents booked the ticket to visit him and be with my grandmother during his last few days. However, as I was in the middle of the first semester of my doctorate degree in the US, I could not visit him. It was challenging to process grief by myself; everything felt numb. One of my close friends told me I should try not to be alone, so I went into the originally scheduled carillon pre-composition workshop with Carson and just listened. As I listened to the carillon traveling through distance across the campus, I felt an enormous amount of comfort. It felt as though the carillon was telling me, Breathe now. I dedicate this piece to Carson Landry, my dear carillonist friend, and my grandfather, who has been the inspiration behind this piece.

(The second composition/performance will be posted shortly!)

Compositions/Performances from the 2021-2022 Grant Cycle

As a result of the inaugural application process, the Franco Committee selected the following two student composer/performer pairs to receive grant funding to collaborate to compose and premiere a new work for carillon:

• Emily O'Mahoney (performer) & Ethan Sifferman (composer), both at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
• Claire Janezic (performer) & Jacob Leibowitz (composer). Claire is at the University of Rochester and Jacob is at the Manhattan School of Music.

The two pairs collaborated over several months to compose and premiere a new work for carillon.

The premiere performances were recorded and are available below.

"Wonder Onward" 

• Composed by Ethan Sifferman
  
• World premiere performed by Emily O'Mahoney (link to member profile) on May 15, 2022, at University of California, Santa Barbara, Storke Tower
• Score available for download here

Link to the world premiere on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RucPzEPNP8E

Listen on SoundCloud for a higher quality audio recording.

Notes from the composer: Life is full of new beginnings and old memories. As we progress through our own journeys, we consistently trade old hobbies and friends with new passions. Although moving on can be hard, it is a guarantee of living. Often it can be fun to wonder what your life will look like in several years, but always remember to enjoy the present, because soon it will just be a distant memory. “Wonder Onward” was written amidst me and Emily completing the final months of our undergraduate degrees. We both are looking forward to exploring new horizons, but feel bittersweet about leaving our home. We dedicate “Wonder Onward” to all those who find themselves reminiscing on their past but also hold a wonderful excitement for their future. “Wonder Onward” was written and premiered at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Storke Tower. The piece is a celebration of the symbol of home and belonging that the tower brings to all UC Santa Barbara students. Because the 175 foot tall campanile is visible everywhere on campus and is featured on all University merchandise, thousands of students and alumni recognize the landmark as a symbol for such an important era of their lives. This piece is meant to honor Storke’s symbolic impact as well as unite all those who have found a home at the most beautiful university of all time.

"Fractured Chronology"

• Composed by Jacob Leibowitz
• World premiere performed by Claire Janezic (link to member profile) on May 29, 2022, on the Hopeman Carillon at the University of Rochester

Link to the world premiere on Facebook: https://fb.watch/dzR9h6nG1U/

The performance begins with the hour chimes, then the first movement at 15 minutes past the hour, the second movement at 30 minutes past the hour, and so forth. There are four movements.

Notes from the composer: Fractured Chronology is a celebration of the Hour. The piece’s structure is based on civilization’s global organization of time (what we refer to when we ask the date and time from a friend), as opposed to the more typical (in music) independent discrete units of time (ex. what we mean when we say something will only take 5 minutes) It does this by basing itself off the quarter hour framework of the Westminster Chimes. One of the four movements is played every quarter of an Hour. No matter how you spend the time before and after each movement, I hope that when you pause to listen to each movement, that the music will tie your disparate experiences into something greater.

Applications for the 2022-2023 Grant Cycle

[archived, for information only]

Dates & Deadlines

• Application materials must be received on or before September 30, 2022.
  
• Grant winners will be announced by October 31, 2022.
  
• Completed score due to the Franco Committee by March 1, 2023.
  
• Video recording of the premiere performance due by June 1, 2023, which may be posted on the GCNA’s website and/or social media channels.
  

Eligibility

All applicants (composers and performers) must be enrolled as full- or part-time students at an accredited North American college, university, or conservatory with a traditional carillon, as defined by the GCNA, in the vicinity. There are no restrictions with regard to compositional style, and the composer need not be a carillonneur. Existing works are ineligible for submission. Membership in the GCNA is not required.

Application Procedures

Each composer-and-performer pair will submit one joint application. Application materials must be submitted to franco@gcna.org. Each completed application will include the following:

1. A completed application form. (Tip: use the Fill & Sign feature in the free Adobe Reader or another PDF program to fill and sign the form electronically.)
2. One sample score demonstrating the composer’s best work in any genre. An optional sample recording of the score may also be submitted. 
   
3. A short statement of no more than 250 words by the composer, describing the proposed work and how working with a carillonneur will facilitate its creation. 
   
4. A short statement of no more than 250 words by the performer, describing how their specific partnership will enhance the compositional process and the performance. The performer should also indicate their level of access to a carillon. 
   
5. A sample carillon recording by the performer, between 5 to 10 minutes in length, demonstrating their performance abilities. Repertoire performed may be in any style. 
   
6. A concise list of collaborative conduct agreements between the composer and performer (5-10 bullet points). Sample agreements to help you think of your own: 
   

Selection

In addition to creative vision, applications will be judged on evidence of a sound working relationship between the composer and performer. It is expected that each composer and performer will already be familiar with their partner’s goals and skills, and that they both embrace the challenges and opportunities of working as a duo.

Publication

The Franco Committee, upon receiving the score, will determine whether the GCNA will publish the score in the 2023 collection of new music. Composers agree to grant full copyright and licensing of the work to the GCNA, in accordance with the terms of the GCNA’s standard copyright assignment and publication agreement. If the GCNA declines to publish the score, the score will remain the property of the composer.

Questions? Contact the Franco Committee at franco@gcna.org