Recording Grants

Recording Assistance Grant

Purposes:

To assist talented performers in producing a professional quality CD for commercial distribution through storefront, web-based and download retail outlets that includes the music of composer/arranger, Sy Brandon.
To enable performers to have Sy Brandon compose a work specifically for them, if they so desire, that can be premiered by them and included on the recording.
To promote the CD by submitting it for review in professional journals and to select Public Radio Stations for broadcast.
To enable the performer to earn 60% on sales of the CD at their performances, through their website and to family and friends.

Benefits for the Performer(s):

Co-op Press, through its Emeritus Label, will assume the costs of artwork, reproduction, licensing, marketing and distribution.
Co-op Press and the performer(s) will decide by mutual agreement the repertoire that will be included on the CD. The length of the CD will be between 45 and 60 minutes. In cases where mutual agreement cannot be reached, Co-op Press has the final authority.
Co-op Press and the performer(s) will decide by mutual agreement whether the performance and recording quality is acceptable. In cases where mutual agreement cannot be reached, Co-op Press has the final authority.
Co-op Press will provide the performers with copies of music by Sy Brandon to be included on the CD free of charge.
Co-op Press will cover the cost of Sy Brandon's commission fee if a new work is to be written for the performers.
While no royalties will be paid to the performers for CD sales at the Co-op Press web site and through its distribution partners, the performer can earn $9 per CD that he/she sells to audience members, through the performers website, and to family and friends.
The artist is asked to make an initial purchase of 100 copies of the CD at $6 each from Emeritus Recordings (a 60% discount off the retail price) and to sell them at $15. Selling advanced subscriptions to friends of the artist could assist the artist in meeting this obligation.

Eligibility and Responsibilities:

The grant is a competitive program that is open to all accomplished classical musicians in the United States.
The grant proposal must contain plans to record one or more works (a minimum of 15 minutes total) by composer/arranger, Sy Brandon. The performer will agree to provide Sy Brandon with a rehearsal recording of his compositions at least two weeks prior to the recording session for the composer's input.
The performer will be responsible for providing Co-op Press with high quality digital recordings of the music to be included on the CD.
The performer will be responsible for providing Co-op Press with composer biographies, program notes, and contact information for licensing purposes for the music by composers other than Sy Brandon to be included on the CD.

Application Process:

There are four cycles each year. The deadlines for receipt of applications are January 1, April 1, July 1, or October 1. Notification of awards usually occurs within a month after each deadline.
Complete the application form available via download
Include biographical information about the performers.
Include a CD recording of at least three works that demonstrate the musicianship of the performers. The works do not need to be the works intended for the CD.

Criteria for Acceptance:

A panel of judges will base its decision on the following:

Completeness of the application.
Quality of the performance as demonstrated on the submitted CD.
Experience and reputation of the performers as demonstrated in the biography.
The number of compositions by Sy Brandon to be included on the CD
If the performers desire a new work to be composed by Sy Brandon for the CD, the performers' plans for rehearsing and premiering the work and for giving it future performances.

Recipients of Recording Assistance Grants Awarded in April 2005: