2027 Contemporary Creators Festival Ensemble Application

The MMEA Contemporary Creators Festival is an academic enrichment program for high school music students in Massachusetts. The festival will include:

• clinic with a professional musician/educator
• student composers feedback session (roundtable discussion with composers, teachers, and students)
• lunch 
• spotlight concert
• concert hour

This form is for ensembles that are interested in performing at this year's festival. If you are interested in bringing student composers to this event, please complete the form linked below:

CCF: Student Composers Application

Please note that all ensembles that are engaged in contemporary music making are welcome to join us for the festival. Ensembles are expected to participate in the entire day of activities on Thursday, March 18, 2027 from 9:00AM-2:30PM at the DCU Center and Mechanics Hall in Worcester. 

Ensembles can participate in two types of performances: Concert Hour and Spotlight Concert. We will have two ensembles participate in the 1:30PM Concert Hour and one ensemble participate in the 12:00PM Spotlight Concert. Supporters and parents/guardians are welcome to attend these concerts at no cost. 

Both Concert Hour and Spotlight Concert performances should be no longer than 20 minutes, including time between selections.

Group Size: Due to space limitations, groups are limited to the following number of members

- Spotlight Concert Ensembles can have no more than 12 students

- Concert Hour Ensembles can have no more than 25 students

There will be a transportation stipend offered to all ensembles selected to perform. 

Applications are due by Friday, January 15, 2027.

Groups will be notified of their acceptance on or before January 22, 2027. 

In order to be considered to perform at a Contemporary Creators Concert Hour or Spotlight Concerts, directors must:

1. Submit this application along with three MP3 recordings of representative selections recorded live and unedited from the 2025-2026 school year. 
2. A principal or administrator must also approve your submission. There will be a field below for their email address, and a separate approval form will be sent to them for completion.
3. Submissions must be received no later than January 15, 2027.

Questions can be directed to Tom Westmoreland, Site Coordinator at SiteCoordinator@massmea.org.