2026 New York Youth Symphony First Music Program Recruitment Application

New York Youth Symphony Recruitment Application

The New York Youth Symphony in partnership with EarShot, a program of American Composers Orchestra, announces a call for scores for the Jon Deak First Music Program.
The New York Youth Symphony is seeking composers to commission new works in the areas of jazz, orchestral, and chamber music. The commissioned works will be 5-10 minutes in length for orchestral compositions, 7-10 minutes in length for chamber compositions; and 5-7 minutes in length for jazz compositions.

Selected composers will be notified via email by early February 2027. Alternates will be invited to participate as needed.

ELIGIBILITY
- Applicants must not have been a participant in a prior participant in the First Music Program.
- Applicants must be 30 years old or younger as of December 1, 2026.
- Applicants must show proof of legal eligibility to work in the United States.
  - Please visit https://www.uscis.gov/i-9 for a list of acceptable documents necessary to fill out the government I-9 form.
Note: In order to participate, applicants must have the appropriate US visa or residency status.
First Name
Last Name
Preferred Name (if different)
Preferred Pronouns
Street Address
City
State/Province/Region
Zip/Postal Code
Country
Email Address
Date of Birth (mm/dd/yyyy)
How did you learn about this opportunity?
Citizenship Status
Are you a New York resident?
Are you currently enrolled in school or any other degree-granting program? Please note that this is not a qualifying or disqualifying question.
How long have you been generating new artistic work? Please note that this is not a qualifying or disqualifying question
Voluntary Demographic Questions

The following demographic questions will not be used in the evaluation process; however, providing this information helps evaluate the American Composers Orchestra's efforts to document and measure applicant pool diversity and align with third-party criteria for future opportunities connected with EarShot Readings.
Gender (check all that apply):

Other
Race/ethnicity (check all that apply):

Other
Additional Information

Other
For consideration, applicants must submit original composition(s) no more than 5-10 minutes in length for orchestral works, 7-10 minutes in length for chamber works; and 5-7 minutes in length for jazz works.

Composition Requirements:
- Composers may submit one work sample per category: orchestral, chamber, or jazz
- Those submitting for the jazz commission must submit an original work with Instrumentation outlined as such - 17-piece big band: 5 saxes or woodwinds, 4 trumpets, 3 trombones + 1 bass trombone, guitar, piano, bass, and drums
- The submitted compositions must have a title.
Application Requirements:

*Incomplete, illegible, or late applications will not be evaluated
- Full scores in PDF format. Handwritten scores will not be accepted.
- Audio representation of the work, such as a MIDI mock-up or, if possible, a live orchestra reading uploaded as link to audio file or video.
- CV/Resume
Which category are you submitting for?
Full Score 1 (Orchestral) (PDF)

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Link to audio representation of work 1, such as a MIDI mock-up or live orchestra reading
Full Score 2 (Chamber) (PDF)

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Link to audio representation of work 2, such as a MIDI mock-up or live chamber reading
Full score 3 (Jazz) (PDF)

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Link to audio representation of work 3, such as a MIDI mock-up or live big band reading
CV/Resume

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Website (if applicable)
I understand that the musical composition submitted is my original work and will be used to adjudicate my capacity for a new commission through the Jon Deak First Music Program. If selected, I agree that my name and photo may be used for publicity purposes. I agree to the requirements and guidelines of the New York Youth Symphony
Should be Empty:

New York Youth Symphony Recruitment Application

Voluntary Demographic Questions