The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center plays a leading role in the field of chamber music through its extensive concert season in New York, its national tours, its many recordings and national radio broadcasts, and its multi-faceted educational programs. Dedicated to the belief that the future of chamber music lies in nurturing the very highest quality of performers and in cultivating new audiences, the Chamber Music Society offers programs designed to bring the art of chamber music to audiences from a wide range of backgrounds, ages, and levels of musical knowledge.
As part of the Chamber Music Society’s commitment to the highest excellence in performance and training, Chamber Music Society Two was developed for outstanding young performers in the early stages of major careers. In addition to the required artistic excellence, artists today must be able to articulate and communicate the importance of their art form in a variety of settings. Chamber Music Society Two is a three-season residency offering high-profile Lincoln Center performance opportunities and practical training for the development of the professional skills needed on and off the stage. Ensembles on the roster perform independently and in collaboration with other of our artists depending on repertoire chosen during each season.
Professional opportunities in which CMS Two ensembles may be actively involved:
Ensembles selected for the program will be compensated for all activities. Specific schedules are developed each season by mutual agreement between CMS and the ensembles.
The CMS Two Ensembles program is open to ensembles of three or more instruments for which there exists substantial original repertoire from a variety of periods written specifically for the instrumentation of the particular ensemble. Applying ensembles must provide evidence of an active career or serious commitment to pursuing one. Prior performance experience and a broad range of repertoire are desirable. Ensembles should not be contemplating personnel changes within the period of CMS residency; CMS reserves the right to terminate residencies in the case of personnel changes. While no age limits exist, CMS is looking for ensembles at the beginning of their careers who are eager to develop their skills in the CMS environment.
Based on application materials and submitted recordings, selected ensembles will be invited to audition live, before a panel of judges, performing solo repertoire and collaborating with CMS musicians in chamber works. Applicants must be available for both days of the live auditions to be considered for the program. These will take place at Lincoln Center on May 19 and 20, 2009. Information on live round repertoire requirements can be found here.
Step 1: Prepare an ensemble profile and save it as a PDF if you are able, or as a separate word document.
Step 2: Collect resumes/biographies for each of your ensemble members.
Step 3: Prepare a goal statement and save it as a PDF if you are able or as a separate word document. Your goal statement should address the following questions:
Step 4: Go to the online application form (posted at the end of these instructions) and fill out the form. The form requests:
If you do not complete the form at one sitting, information you’ve already added will be automatically saved. You may logout and later return to finish your submission. Once you finish the form, you will be prompted to upload the PDFs of your resume and goal statement.
Step 4: Review your work, then hit the “submit” button.
Step 5: Mail your CDs, DVD, letters of recommendation and members’ resumes and to
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
ATT: CMS Two
70 Lincoln Center Plaza
New York, NY 10023
IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU USE OVERNIGHT OR REGISTERED MAIL.
Your references may email their recommendations directly to us at CMSTwo@ChamberMusicSociety.org. You may also email your members’ individual resumes to this address.
All applicants will receive a confirmation via email that their completed application has been received.
Deadline for receipt of all materials: Monday, March 2, 2009.
CLICK HERE FOR THE APPLICATION.
If you are invited to audition live at CMS your ensemble must be available to be here on May 19 and 20. You must prepare a program of at least 60 minutes in duration including works from three contrasting historical periods representative of the standard repertoire for your ensemble’s instrumentation. Please prepare all movements of multi-movement works. All auditioning ensembles should submit their proposed audition program for approval by Friday, May 1.
After an initial round of auditions, finalists will be asked to return for a second audition on May 20. In addition to the initial program, you must also prepare the following to be performed with CMS artists:
CLICK HERE FOR THE APPLICATION.
Ask additional questions by emailing us.