City Music Foundation (CMF) is a charity with a mission to ‘turn talent into success’. The 2021 round of their mentoring scheme is now open for applications from professional musicians, normally at the beginning their careers in in classical, jazz, folk and world music, both soloists and ensembles. The deadline is Friday 30th April, 6pm. Application link below
DETAILS
- This a part time, two year programme.
- The programme will begin Autumn 2021 and anyone of any age can apply
- Successful applicants to the scheme will be mentored in both artistic and career development with regular workshops in place
- The scheme helps with promotion through videos, websites, securing airtime on radio and meetings with agents and promoters
- Present and past CMF artists include violinist Elina Buksha, the Ligeti Quartet, contemporary jazz group Nérija, mezzo-sopranos Lotte Betts-Dean and Helen Charlston, jazz double-bassist Misha Mullov-Abbado and accordionist Bartosz Glowaki
- CMF organises concert series involving CMF Artist, including performances at St Bartholomew the Great, the Guildhall Art Gallery, the clock tower at St Pancras and the Wallace Collection.
- The first round of auditions will take place in early June and the second rounds will be mid-September
TWO JAZZ MUSICIANS WRITE ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE AS CMF ARTISTS
- Drummer/ percussionist Pedro Segundo was a CMF artist from 2014-2016 and spoke of what he gained from the scheme, “CMF allowed me to curate something from beginning till end at a time I needed the most help. I had first hand access to all the different areas in the music industry from mailing lists, taxes, promoters and audiences. I couldn’t be more grateful for my time with CMF. They pushed the boundaries of my creative possibilities and nurtured my career development. CMF happened at a very important moment in my career as my freelance life was already on a roll between jazz, classical and an array of musical worlds in between. It made me slow down and truly believe in my potential as a creator and self-managing artist. I still look back at all the skills I gained from this opportunity. Forever grateful.”
- Saxophonist Alex Hitchcock, who joined the scheme in 2017, explains how CMF helped him with his career, “CMF did two main things for me. First, CMF’s Artist Manager gave me great advice and was a really valuable sounding board for ideas. She helped me to deal with logistics but also musical questions and sorted a couple of legal things too. Also, they funded my first recording, as well as some really good PR for that. I had just left college and was trying to kick off my band, and wouldn’t have been able to do that without their funding at a crucial point. I have a lot to be grateful for!”
OTHER NEWS ABOUT CMF
- CMF and Barts Heritage are working in a developing partnership (FEATURE ARTICLE)
Note: UKJN editor Sebastian Scotney is a member of CMF’s advisory board.
