Commission
Guide to Commissioning
Commissioning a new work is a very exciting process! I am open to receiving commissions for all kind of events, ensembles, and requests.
Please feel free to contact me to discuss your commissioning request.
Recent Commissions
Dreams of the Fallen for solo piano, chorus, and orchestra. Commissioned by a consortium of orchestras including the Louisiana Philharmonic, the Dayton Philharmonic, the Virginia Arts Festival, the Rockford Symphony, and the Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey.
Untitled for the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay
Untitled for the 2014 MN All-State Women’s Chorus (Sigrid Johnson, conductor)
A set of three works commissioned by the Grammy-nominated Seraphic Fire vocal ensemble for their 2012 Christmas Concerts:
Sleep, Little Baby, Sleep
Fear Not, Dear Friend
Nada Te Turbe
The Soul, Like the Moon for the Baltimore- based Lunar Ensemble. An 8-minute work for soprano and chamber ensemble.
Mechanical Minds for the Baltimore Concerto Orchestra. A 5-minute fanfare for full orchestra.
As Rain to the Sea commissioned by Maestra Gemma New. A 9-minute work for soprano and orchestra.
Out of the Depths commissioned by Old St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Baltimore, MD. A 5-minute work for choir.
Rates
Commissioning rates depend on the size of the ensemble/instrumentation, length of the piece, and time allowed for creation. The finished piece can either be delivered by mail or by PDF through e-mail. Please contact me to discuss the rate that works best for your ensemble and/or organization.
Here are the industry guidelines set by Meet the Composer, an organization that offers support services regarding the creation of new music.
Note: All fees are negotiable.
Meet the Composer Commissioning Guidelines (Click to View)
| Instrumentation | Under 10 min. | 10-25 min. | Over 25 min. |
| Solo or Duo | $2,000-5,000 | $4,000-15,000 | $9,000-20,000 |
| Piano Solo or Duo with instrument or voice | $2,500-6,500 | $5,000-13,000 | $9,000-26,000 |
| Trio or Quartet | $4,000-10,000 | $6,000-22,000 | $12,000-32,000 |
| Chorus | $4,000-15,000 | $7,000-25,000 | $14,000-35,000 |
| Small Chamber or Jazz Orchestra or Band (10-22 players) | $7,000-14,000 | $10,000-26,000 | $17,000-31,000 |
| Large Chamber or Jazz Orchestra or Band (22-40 players) | $2,000-6,500 | $10,000-26,000 | $22,000-58,000 |
| Full Orchestra/BandConcerto or Chorus: add 20-30% | $9,000-24,000 | $14,000-60,000 | $28,000-100,000 |
| Copying and Printing Costs: 10-30% of commissioning fee. |
See here for more information (PDF): New Music USA Guide to Commissioning Music
Time frame
It is best to contact me at least 12-18 months before the piece is to be submitted to the performing ensemble. This allows sufficient time for planning, research, receiving permission for use of copyrighted texts (if need be), writing, editing, and score/part creation. Some exceptions can be made and I am open to a bit of a quicker turn around depending on the circumstance and length of piece/size of ensemble.
Residency/Attendance of the Premiere Performance
It is always an exciting experience to be a part of a new musical creation. Each time I write a piece, I am releasing a part of myself and putting it into the hands of other musicians for interpretation and fruition. I am very interested in serving a residency with the performing ensemble to give them an inside look at the creative process of the piece so that they can more fully create their own personal meaning to bring emotion and life to the music. As a music educator, I am also interested in allowing the ensemble to have time to question the composer and learn a bit about what goes into creating a new work. If your ensemble is that of an educational institution or you desire the opportunity for a creative learning experience along with the commission, I would love to help you plan compositional projects with your ensemble members for performance during the same event.
If you desire a residency with your ensemble and/or my attendance at the premiere, I ask that you cover the travel and lodging costs as well as a small stipend for a residency. Please let me know and I can factor these fees into the contract for the commission.
Dedication
As the commissioning party, you are entitled to dedication of the piece which will be written on the first page of the score and parts as well as cited in all programs and program notes. As a part of the commissioning process, we will discuss specifics on what the dedication should state.
Copyright
As the composer, I am entitled to the copyright for all of my pieces. As the commissioning party, you can request sole performing rights of the work for an allotted amount of time without performance by another ensemble.
Other Information
As a member of ASCAP, I report my premieres and all performances to that performing rights organization. Most concert halls pay a fee to ASCAP or BMI for performance of works by their registered members. I ask that your performance venue registers the performance of my piece with ASCAP because I receive a small payment from these performances.
I would appreciate a recording of the premiere performance for my own personal use. This recording will not be sold but rather used for my own reflection and promotional material.
To inquire about a commission: