5th ANNUAL QUEENS NEW MUSIC FESTIVAL
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
RAM seeks 5 concert proposals for the 5th annual Queens New Music Festival, May 19-22, 2016
DEADLINE: Wednesday, December 30, 2015, 11:59pm; winners will be announced in January 2016
The members of Random Access Music are pleased to announce a call for proposals from new music ensembles for the 5th annual Queens New Music Festival on May 19-22, 2016. Random Access Music seeks five proposals from new music ensembles or individual artists dedicated to performing new music to participate in the Queens New Music Festival for performances on May 21 & 22, 2016.
In May 2016, we will present live concerts of new music by some of the best ensembles and individual performers from New York and around the country by offering performance space and logistical help to ensembles and individual performers that would like to help RAM further the mission of bringing new music to new audiences. Any ensemble that specializes in performing new music for the concert hall will be considered.Any other genre or style will be considered as well. The only requirement is that the proposed program must be music written in the last 50 years or by a living composer. Five proposals will be selected by the panel of judges, which consist of the members of Random Access Music.
We’re looking forward to hearing from you!
Guy Barash, David Broome, Stephen Cabell, Kate Dillingham, Laura Falzon, David Fetherolf, Seth Gliman, Gilbert Galindo, Amir Khosrowpour, Nadav Lev, Thomas Piercy, David Schober, B. Allen Schulz, Frances White
Composer and Performer Members of RAM
Details and guidelines
When, where, what, how?
WHEN: The Festival will take place over four days: May 19-22, 2016. This call is for concerts only occurring on May 21 & 22, 2016. The weekend concerts featuring proposal winners will take place on Saturday, May 21 at 3pm, 5pm, and 8pm; and Sunday, May 22 at 3pm and 5pm.
WHERE: All concerts featuring the proposal winners will take place at the Secret Theatre Main Stage, 44-02 23rd Street, Long Island City, NY. The Secret Theatre Main Stage is a 3000 square foot facility with a 36’x18′ stage area, and it is located just 3 blocks from the PS1 art museum and just a 4 block walk (or less) from the N, Q, R, E, V, G and 7 trains. Long Island City has a burgeoning arts scene, with the Fisher Landau Center for Art, the Dorsky Gallery, the Noguchi Museum, the SculptureCenter, the Flux Factory, and a dozen other flourishing arts groups and venues all located nearby. In fact, the Queens New Music Festival will occur at the same time as the Long Island City Arts Open. The Secret Theatre will provide box office services for the concerts, as well as light refreshments for purchase by the audience.
WHAT: RAM is accepting proposals from all groups and all genres of concert hall new music. Proposals with electronic and digital instruments/equipment will be accepted. Multi-media proposals are encouraged. However, performers will be responsible for their own lighting, stage, and sound management – RAM does not guarantee stage managing, audio, or lighting services. The venue provides a house sound system which currently includes access to a 12 channel mixer, speakers, limited cables, and limited microphones. Note: the venue may not be able to accommodate all your technical needs. It is required that you provide your own equipment if you require more than what the venus provides. Performers will receive at least 1 hour of tech rehearsal time earlier in the week and will have 30 minutes to set up their gear for performances. Please take the 30 minute set up time seriously as these provisions will be strictly enforced. The theater will not be available for storing equipment before or after your performance.
HOW: The agreement between RAM and the performing ensembles will stipulate that all ticket sales will be divided equally between RAM and the performers (50/50). RAM will provide the venue, marketing, and logistical support for each ensemble. No performers’ fees will be offered by RAM. No travel fees will be offered by RAM.
How to submit a proposal
Please email all materials to [email protected] with the subject line, “2016 QNMF Proposal.”
THE PROPOSAL: All proposals must be submitted via email to [email protected] with the subject line, “2016 QNMF Proposal.” If the email does not have the subject line, “2016 QNMF Proposal” and if it is not sent to [email protected], your proposal will run the risk of being overlooked and become ineligible. The proposal should be no longer than 2 pages, must be submitted as a PDF document, and must include the following information:
- Name of the ensemble or individual artists
- Names of ensemble artistic personnel, with an internet link to a bio/resume of the performing ensemble (internet links to the ensemble’s individual artist’s bios are appreciated, but not required) along with any press coverage or press reviews
- A short description (1 or 2 paragraphs) of the proposed concert, including the titles of the works to be performed. Programs must be at least 1 hour in duration, and no more than 90 minutes–including set changes, applause, etc. Any genre is eligible. However, “concert hall”/”classical” ensembles are the primary focus of the festival. Ensembles specializing in jazz, rock, world, improvisational, or any other style should carefully explain how their program transcends the typical boundaries of their respective style or genre and how the proposed program interacts or expands upon the traditions from the new music world and/or the classical music world as a whole. This description is the primary criterion for our judges. Please present the idea/theme/approach of your proposal clearly and with the understanding that the judges may not be familiar with your ensemble.
- 2-3 internet links to audio clips or videos of the performing ensemble. If links are not available, please submit 1 or 2 MP3 clips of representative performances–no more than 10 megabytes grand TOTAL
- Email address and name of contact person
- Any dates that cannot be scheduled by your ensemble from May 21-22, 2016. (Tech rehearsals will take place from May 16-20, 2016. If a rehearsal is not necessary, please let us know.)
- 1 paragraph detailing recent concert attendance. Please include the size of any established audience, or an honest and reasonable estimate of the size of the audience that might attend your performance in Queens. We are familiar with typical new music audiences in all the boroughs of NYC, so do not feel the need to embellish here. This is also an important criterion.
Preference will be given to proposals with a well-planned program and to performers who show past success or strong future potential to build an audience for new music concerts. Ensembles who have performed in one of our previous festivals are welcome to apply. However, the proposal should be substantially different from your previous performance.
PROPOSAL DEADLINE:
Wednesday, December 30, 2015, 11:59 PM. Proposals winners will be announced in January 2015.
We look forward to hearing from you!
