The Emerging Black Composers Project (EBCP), launched in 2020, is a transformative initiative that seeks to uplift early-career Black American composers and showcase their music. Offered through the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) in partnership with the San Francisco Symphony, this project spans a decade and is designed to foster creativity, career development, and visibility for Black composers in the classical music world.
Each year, composers are invited to submit their work for the chance to receive a significant prize: the Michael Morgan Prize, which includes a $15,000 award, a commissioned new work, and a world premiere performance with the San Francisco Symphony. Additionally, winners benefit from mentorship opportunities with prominent figures in the classical music world, including Edwin Outwater, the music director of SFCM, and Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, the SF Symphony’s resident conductor of engagement and education. The project also offers invaluable career support and further investment from SFCM faculty and musicians, providing young composers with the tools they need to build sustainable careers.
In 2023, the prize was renamed the Michael Morgan Prize in honor of the late Michael Morgan, who was instrumental in co-founding the EBCP and served as its first chair. Morgan, a celebrated conductor, passed away in 2021, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the classical music community. The rebranding of the prize serves as a tribute to his vision and commitment to supporting underrepresented composers.
The project, which is set to run for a full ten years, aims to commission ten works in that time frame, though it is anticipated that this goal will be exceeded. The inaugural commission, awarded in 2021, went to composer Trevor Weston, with subsequent commissions going to Sumi Tonooka, Shawn Okpebholo, and Jonathan Bingham. The 2022 winner, Jens Ibsen, had his composition Drowned in Light premiered in 2023 by Esa-Pekka Salonen and the San Francisco Symphony as part of the California Festival: A Celebration of New Music. Most recently, in 2023, Xavier Muzik was awarded the Michael Morgan Prize, with his new work scheduled for premiere in the 2024/2025 season.
For the 2024 cycle, the EBCP will focus on composers under the age of 35, further emphasizing its commitment to nurturing young talent. The selection process remains anonymous, with an esteemed panel of judges including Daphne Burt, Kalena Bovell, Valérie Sainte-Agathe, Jeff Zeigler, as well as Trevor Weston, Edwin Outwater, and Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser among others.
Through its support and celebration of Black composers, the Emerging Black Composers Project is not only enriching the classical music landscape but also helping to diversify the voices heard within it.
Dates
Application opens 11/1/2024.
Application
How to apply
Black American composers (U.S. citizens or permanent residents) age 35 or under who have completed a degree program in composition or music performance, or have equivalent experience, are encouraged to apply.
Applicants must submit a resume along with three scores and recordings of past or current compositions reflective of their work by 11:59 PM PT on February 13, 2024.
Have questions?
Please reach out to Abbey Springer at aspringer@sfcm.edu
The Emerging Black Composers Project is underwritten by Michèle and Laurence Corash.
