Choral Grant Application Guidelines

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Choral Grant Timeline

September 1, 2023 – Choral Grant applications open
November 3, 2023 – Choral Grant applications close at 11:59pm Eastern Time
January 2024 – Choral Grant decisions announced

Choral Grant Types, Purpose, and Use

Grants may be used in a wide variety of ways but must be in support of choruses and choral singing, and/or in support of students pursuing a career in choral music. Project work must begin in 2024 to be eligible for this round of funding.

Grants categories will be defined in three broad categories:

• Special Project Choral Grants – choral grants for directors and choruses that for initiatives currently not funded or underfunded, including but not limited to: commissions of new works, hire of orchestral musicians, visiting artists, community outreach, educational programs, and collaborations. These choral grants will range from $250-$5,000, with the majority of grants being in the the $500-$2,500 range.
• Sheet Music Choral Grants – Intended to support organizations in need of funding for new sheet music for their choirs. these choral grants will be approximately $250.
• Student Choral Grants – choral grants for degree seeking students pursuing a career in choral music. These choral grants be $1,000. Well qualified students have the option of renewing these grants for up to 4 years. The grant can be used for whatever they need related to that purpose, general tuition, books, fees, etc.. Students who apply and meet the aforementioned criteria, will be invited to give an additional narrative to explain their need and how this grant would help them.

Eligibility: Who May Apply

• Special Project Choral Grants are open to Choral Directors of not-for-profit choirs around the world.
• Student Choral Grants are open to degree-seeking students (undergraduate and graduate) enrolled not-for-profit educational institutions anywhere in the world. The grant can be used for whatever they need related to that purpose, general tuition, books, fees, etc.. Students who apply and meet the aforementioned criteria, will be invited to give an additional narrative to explain their need and how this grant would help them.
• International Sheet Music Choral Grants are open to Choral Directors of not-for-profit choirs anywhere in the world.

Community choirs, professional choirs, church choirs and school or college choruses are eligible.

All applicant organizations must be non-profit and certified by the government as tax-exempt. Furthermore, students must be enrolled as degree seeking students at a non-profit college or university and certified by the government as tax-exempt.

The Application Process

Start the online application here,

Select applicants may be invited toinclude additional supporting materials, which could tell us more about the importance and potential benefit of the proposed project.

Application Deadline

Choral Grant Applications MUST BE RECEIVED NOT LATER THAN FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2023 at 11:59pm Eastern Time in order to be considered in this round of funding. There are no exceptions to this requirement.

After completing the application form, you will receive an automated email summary of your application. If there are any issues, feel free to submit a query here.

Criteria for Choral Grants Funding

Applications are considered based on

• Creativity
• Impact (including number of singers involved and size of the population served, including the audience)
• Contribute to greater inclusion, equity, and diversity in the choral arts; and/or benefit underserved populations.
• Ability to carry out the project, a history of having completed similar projects in the past, and the ability to document such projects online

Hampton Roads Music Group tries to distribute its grants throughout the US, UK, and the world. Organizations in musically underserved areas are particularly encouraged to apply. Hampton Roads Music Group is especially interested in

• Fostering the growth of future generations of choral musicians
• Providing support and encouraging access to underserved populations
• Projects that combine tradition and innovation

Dates of Funded Projects: The project must take place after January 1, 2024, and being during the 2024 calendar year. but there are no limits on the project completion date or duration. Multiple-year funding for a single project will be considered, if requested on the initial application.

The Grant Awards Process

Hampton Roads Music Group’s Grants Committee, which consists of several members including Michael John Trotta, will review all grant applications. The number and type of grants will be determined in light of the funding criteria, availability of funds, and the quality of the applications.

Hampton Roads Music Group reserves the right, at its sole and absolute discretion, to abbreviate, cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the grant(s) and/or proceed with the (grants), including the selection of winner in a manner it deems fair and reasonable, including the selection of winner from among eligible entries received prior to such cancellation, termination, modification or suspension without any further obligation provided a sufficient number of eligible applications are received.

Manner of selection of winners will be in a manner that seems fair and reasonable by the Sponsor without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race (including hairstyle/texture), color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, national origin, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law(s).

If You Are Awarded a Choral Grant

Acknowledgment guidelines

If you are awarded a Choral Grants you will be expected to acknowledge the grant predominantly online through and/or through the use of social media tags. Full acknowledgment guidelines will be sent with the notification of grant approval, and will also available on this web site.

If Your Project Should Change

Applications are approved based on the information provided therein. Any substantial changes in a funded project from its description in the grant application must be approved in writing by Hampton Roads Music Group, or grant funding may be rescinded in whole or in part. If a project cannot be completed during the period for which it was funded, normally the grant would be returned and the applicant encouraged to re-apply (without prejudice) in the following year.

Project Report

When your project is completed you must submit a final report of your experience with the project, plus an itemized financial statement of the project’s actual income and expenses and certain addenda described on the report form. These forms will be provided to grant recipients when they are notified of their grants.

Why and How the Choral Grant Program was Started

Why the Choral Grant Program Was Started

In recognition of and in gratitude for all of the many organizations and institutions that supported his education and growth as a composer and conductor, Michael John Trotta wanted to find a way to give back to the choral music community.

“There were many people and organizations that made my work possible by supporting me and my education. I didn’t have much, so I was dependent on lots of different sources to make it all work. I want to be part of doing that for someone else.” – Michael John Trotta

How the Choral Grant Program Was Started

An ardent advocate for under-resourced and overworked arts organizations, Trotta has pioneered the development of the consortium model of commissioning. As a result, the opportunity to premiere a major work for choir and orchestra is now within reach for more choirs than ever before. Passionate about removing barriers to new music and artistic excellence, Trotta has created and funded a new initiative that distributes grants to choir directors and scholarships to future choral directors.

Sponsor:
Hampton Roads Music Group
171 Broad St. #421
Red Bank, NJ 07701