Music Academy of the West

Application

DEADLINE TO APPLY: November 15, 2021 at 11:59 pm Pacific

Before submitting materials, applicants are strongly encouraged to schedule a Zoom advising appointment with the program administrator, Casey Molino Dunn, Music Academy’s VP of Innovation & Program Development: https://MAW-AEA.as.me/Advising. This is an opportunity to gain additional perspective about the application review process and discuss your submission.

All applicants will receive updates about their submission by early December.

The Alumni Enterprise program:

• incubates and accelerates innovative projects led by Music Academy alumni;
• seeds the music industry with bold, new ideas while simultaneously advancing alumni projects and careers;
• supports entrepreneurship in areas including, but not limited to, artistic expression, audience development, community engagement, education, social justice, and technology.

Awards range from $2,500 to $20,000 USD. Funding levels are based on a project’s scope and scale. In addition to funds, winners will sharpen their business skills through the Innovation Residential in late February 2022 on the Music Academy campus. Costs for travel, accommodations, and training sessions are included as part of the Alumni Enterprise Award package. A pairing with an Industry Mentor provides additional education and networking opportunities.

26 alumni have received Alumni Enterprise Awards over the past four years, for a total of $320,000 to support innovative projects. Learn more about each winner and their work below.

The Alumni Enterprise Awards are generously supported by the Ladera Foundation.

• This annual grant program is open to ALL Music Academy of the West alumni.
  • Applications submitted on behalf of multiple individuals or ensembles must have at least one Academy alum in a leadership role.
  • Regardless of any past submissions or previous grants from the Music Academy, alumni can apply every year (and, each year, can submit applications for multiple projects).

• Successful proposals align with or challenge the Academy’s mission to make a unique and enduring contribution to the world of music by:
  • Advancing the development of the next generation of great classically trained musicians, and/or
  • Cultivating discerning, appreciative, and adventurous audiences.

• Completed applications must include a project title and categorization, a project narrative, a timeline for implementation, a proposed budget, and value and impact metrics that describe the vision and breadth of the initiative. Application: https://enterpriseawards.getacceptd.com

• Awardees are expected to carry out their proposal within the 2022 calendar year. The project can certainly have a life beyond 2022, but award funds are distributed in early 2022 and must be used that calendar year.

• Alumni Enterprise Awards are not granted for projects simply asking for funds to support one musician’s private lessons, audition expenses, or tuition costs. Any requests related to purchasing equipment or instruments must significantly impact a community.

Successful applications clearly and convincingly describe:

• WHAT the project entails (including its potential for impact);
• WHO is involved in the project and WHO it serves;
• WHY this undertaking is needed, important, innovative, and timely, and thus WHY this project should receive funding;
• WHEN, WHERE, and HOW the proposal will come to fruition in 2022.

Before submitting materials, applicants are strongly encouraged to schedule a Zoom advising appointment with the program administrator, Casey Molino Dunn, Music Academy’s VP of Innovation & Program Development: https://MAW-AEA.as.me/Advising. This is an opportunity to gain additional perspective about the application review process and discuss your submission.

The deadline to apply is November 15, 2021 at 11:59pm Pacific. All applicants will receive updates about their submission by early December.

Questions regarding the Alumni Enterprise Awards may be directed to Music Academy’s Innovation Institute: [email protected].

Send us your up-to-date contact information to receive 2022 award application details as they are announced.

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