The Collective invites composers and/or anyone with an idea for a musical performance to submit a short proposal of how we could collaborate to bring your idea to life - musically. Selected ideas will result in a collaboration between the artist and the collective, with a performance as part of our 2026-2027 Season.

Selected ideas will be performed and recorded live by The Collective in 2027. All submissions must adhere to the specified guidelines and deadlines. Works will be selected by a committee of Collective members.

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

CREATIVITY - is your idea something that interests us, musically?

ORIGINALITY - have we ever heard of something like your idea?

FEASIBILITY - is your idea something we’re equipped to do?

Call for Ideas Schedule

• FEBRUARY 1ST - Call Opens

• MAY 1ST - Call Closes

• SATURDAY, JUNE 6TH - Winners Announced Live at our Season finale Concert

• JANUARY 2027 - Performance

Proposal Guidelines

• Eligibility: Composers and/or Artists of any age.

• Duration: We’re open to anything - micro miniatures to full-length improvisation structures. It’s also alright if you don’t know yet.

• Genre/Style: No limitations! We’re generally very good at open-form, improvisational, and flexible performances where we can make something really special out of the limited rehearsal time.

• Instrumentation: 1-8 players from any of the following:

  • Flute

  • Clarinet

  • 2 Saxophones

  • Trumpet

  • Trombone

  • 2 Percussionists

  • Violin

  • Cello

  • Double Bass

  • Electronics

• Submission Requirements: A one-page outline of your idea. Be as thorough as you can when you describe your idea. And try to open your proposal with an “elevator pitch” before jumping into any details. In other words, “what is the main idea?” and then tell us how and why and so on.

  • .pdf of .doc file is fine, a Google doc link is fine, too

• Fee: Your first submission is free!

  • If you would like to submit multiple ideas for consideration (and please do!) we ask that you contribute a small fee for any subsequent works after the first submission.

  • 1st Idea - Free

  • Every Idea after that - $10 per submission [click the support tab to make your donation]

• Other Guidelines:

  • Please only submit ideas - not completed works. Our mission this time around is focused on collaborating on a new piece, rather than performing something that already exists.

If you have any questions at all, please contact us and we’ll get back to you ASAP!