CONTINENTAL HARMONY

Throughout the year 2000, Continental Harmony linked composers with communities in all 50 states for community-designed and -managed commissions, resulting in a nationwide "musical quilt."

The project's overwhelming success shows that this is an important way to extend the reach of new music and provide new markets for composers' work. The next round of Continental Harmony has begun, with projects again planned for all 50 states.

Host communities will be chosen by a panel. Forum staff assist these communities in developing a plan for the commission and residency by considering the occasion, the available performing forces, potential community participants, possible residency activities, and the important aspects of local life which they hope a composer will express in music. Composers from across the country apply to the various community organizations with how they would approach the proposed commission and residency. Selection committees in the host sites will choose the composer with whom they wish to work.

For the latest on Continental Harmony, visit www.ContinentalHarmony.org.

For more information on Continental Harmony, contact Patricia Shifferd at pshifferd@composersforum.org or (651) 251-2818 or Carey Nadeau at cnadeau@composersforum.org or (651) 251-2814.

Continental Harmony is a leadership initiative of the American Composers Forum and the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional funding provided by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, and Marshall Field's Project Imagine with support from the Target Foundation.

Number of projects/composers served in 2000: 58
Composer stipends: $7,500-15,000