McKNIGHT VISITING COMPOSERS

Each year, the Visiting Composer Program underwrites a Minnesota residency of at least eight weeks for two out-of-state composers. While in residence, the visiting artist collaborates on a project with Minnesota performing, presenting, and community organizations. The program encourages interaction with a variety of audiences, including rural populations and students. The selection process favors projects that promise to have considerable impact on the host community. Previous composers have led instrument-building workshops, created school music dramas, collaborated with the restaurant workers' union, and constructed an installation in a remote cave.

The program is intended to reward imaginative project design and artistic achievement. It is not a commissioning program, although the creation of new work may be an element of the residency. Specific partner organizations need not be determined at the time of application, unless the success of the project depends on the assistance of a particular organization.

Applications, which include a detailed description of the proposed residency activities, are reviewed by a three-member panel (in conjunction with the McKnight Composer Fellowships). Visiting composers complete their projects within 18 months of receiving the award.

For further information on McKnight Composer Fellowships contact Wendy Collins at wcollins@composersforum.org or (651) 251-2824.

Past recipients

1994 : Warren Burt, Australia
1995 : William Banfield (Ind.), Dan Senn (Wash.)
1996 : Brent Michael Davids (Ariz.); David Revill (England)
1997 : Ermir Dergjini (Albania); Pamela Z, (CA)
1998 : Ron George (Calif.); Richard Johnson (Mass.)
1999 : Brenda Hutchinson (Calif.), Susan Rawcliffe (Calif.)
2000 : Beth Custer (Calif.), Fred Ho (N.Y.)
2001 : Kenny Endo (Hawaii), Annie Gosfield/Roger Kleier (N.Y.)
2002: Steven Rosenthal (Hawaii), Janek Schaefer (U.K.)

Established: 1994
Awards to Date: 15
Award amount: $14,000
Who may apply: Forum composer members residing outside Minnesota
Application deadline: March
Announcement date: May