Applying to Perform on Midtown Concerts

We are now accepting concert proposals from artists and ensembles for engagement on Midtown Concerts' 2012-2013 season.

Our series is intended to showcase music from roughly 1100-1800, performed in a historically-informed style, on period instruments. The series is open to all early music performers, both established and emerging.

If you are interested in appearing on Midtown Concerts, please submit the following materials:

• 1. A 50-word bio of the group or artist
• 2. A 50-word description of the proposed program
• 3. The proposed program
  Please include exact pieces, performers and timings-- your program must be 35 minutes long (including breaks between pieces)
• 4. A representative recording of the artist or group (CD or other digital formats preferred)
• 5. A digital photo of the ensemble (REQUIRED)
  

Applications will be judged by a committee of four members from ARTEK and Gotham Early Music Scene in May, 2012. Contracts for 2012-2013 will be issued in June, 2012. All materials must be in hand, including complete programs, for a contract to be issued.

PLEASE NOTE the performance restrictions below:

Our series is intended to showcase music from roughly 1100-1800, performed in a historically-informed style, on period instruments. The series is open to all serious early music ensembles and recitalists. We pay only a modest honorarium of $100 per performer, with a total cap of $500 per concert. We do not pay travel expenses.

Please be aware that even with such a modest honorarium, our budget is extremely limited, particularly so now with major funding cuts. Applications from soloists or small duos and trios will have a MUCH better chance at being accepted. Few, if any ensembles of more than 3 performers will be accepted for the coming season. We are very sorry, but we cannot allow ensembles to bring 5 people for a 3-person fee; this violates the terms of our grants that fund the series.

In addition, please be aware that we wish to primarily support ensembles of artists who have made a permanent commitment to performing with each other. Please do not gather 6 performers for a one-off program. These type of programs will not be accepted.

Please also be aware that we expect all ensembles to perform solely in historical performance style. This means:
 - historical temperament and pitch - ABSOLUTELY NO EQUAL TEMPERAMENT.
 - period instruments ONLY
 - no crossover music with other genres, or arrangements of large pieces, i.e. no vocal recitals of early opera arias with solo harpsichord accompaniment replacing orchestral instrumentation. If you have a special program that you feel is worthy of consideration (for example, a modern composer has written music for your period instrument ensemble), e-mail us, and we will tell you if we feel that it fits into our series format.

FOR KEYBOARD PLAYERS: We will make a harpsichord available to you, your choice of A=415 or A=440 pitch. This will be a small Italian-type instrument of 4 octaves. YOU will be responsible for the tuning, and assisting in moving and setting up the harpsichord both before and AFTER the concert. If you cannot tune, do not apply. Do not program pieces which require a five-octave French harpsichord unless you plan to bring your own. Sometimes, a donated harpsichord of 5 octaves has been available, but we cannot count on it. Other instruments: we do not propvide an organ or a fortepiano for the concerts. We will accept submissions from performers who propose to move and tune their own instruments. Unfortunately, our very small budget means we cannot provide cartage money.

CHANGING YOUR PROGRAM after your contract is issued: Our publicity begins in July and our 2012-2013 brochure will list the entire season. No changes are allowed once the brochure is printed. An artist who makes a significant change to their program will void their contract, and may be replaced on the series. Last-minute illness of artists will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis; we normally have backup ARTEK programs for such cases.

Send all materials to:

Midtown Concerts/ARTEK
170 W 73rd St. #3C  |  New York, NY 10023
Phone: 212-967-9157

If you have questions about the application process, please feel free to contact us via email or phone.
Email: midtownconcerts@gmail.com

Mail:

Phone: 212-967-9157