Feb 22

Feb 22 NEWS: Canadian Art Song Project Mentorship Programme

In early January, Canadian Art Song Project (CASP) announced the Chung-Wai Chow and John Wright Art Song Mentorship Programme for Composers. In addition to seeking applications from those with some formal graduate training from composition programs, and/or other emerging freelance composers who wish to advance their skills in the writing of Art Song, the organization also welcomes applications from composers from non-traditional or non-classical backgrounds.

This new program is aimed at composers and songwriters at any stage in their career (beyond undergraduate study) who are interested in writing Art Song for the first time, or who want to enrich their understanding of how to approach writing in this genre.

Two grants of $2000 will be awarded in each of the next three years. The successful applicants will be expected to create three Art Songs, roughly 10 to 12 minutes in total, within 8 months of the agreed upon start date. As part of the program, the applicant will be paired with a recognized Canadian Art Song composer who will act as a mentor throughout the process. The mentors will provide guidance and support.

CASP is especially interested in providing an opportunity to traditionally disadvantaged composers and artists to broaden the scope of lived experience to this repertoire. To this end, they strongly encourage applications from artists who are female, non-binary, trans, Black, Indigenous, people of color, and other artists from traditionally underrepresented populations. This program is open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.

The application package is available on the CASP website. Please follow the instructions outlined on the website to submit an application. Candidates are asked to include an application form, a one-page professional resume, two letters of support, and a one-page project proposal.

The deadline for submission is February 28, 2021.
Results will be announced in April 2021.

February 22, 2021

Sparks and Wiry Cries

Named in reference to a poem by Paul Goodman, Sparks & Wiry Cries began in 2009 as a podcast and online magazine with a vision to contextualize art song in the sharing of recordings, interviews, and articles by prominent artists and scholars. In 2012, the Casement Fund, Ltd. encouraged co-founders Martha Guth and Erika Switzer to expand their vision and curate an art song recital series based in New York City. In 2015, Sparks received its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and grew to include the songSLAM competition and a commissioning program. Today, through our international songSLAMs. sparksLIVE events and Art Song Magazine, we are actively engaging in current conversations through insightful publishing, programming, and commissioning.