Commissions & Consortiums
Commission a Work
Looking for a piece that is composed just for you and/or your ensemble? I love composing new, customized works! Let's talk about what you are looking for! The process is easy and opened to anybody (from individuals to orchestras).
Create a Consortium
A consortium commission is a wonderful way to fund the creation of a new work. It is a way to get multiple musicians and/or organizations involved in the creation, funding, and premiere of the work. If you enjoy bringing musicians together through music like I do, let's talk!
Multi-Media Production
Are you looking for more than just a musical work? Would you like a multi media production piece? Let's talk! What is a multimedia work? Let me show you! Here are two examples:
This Piece was a commission by Big Horn Brass. They wanted something more than just a musical piece to celebrate their anniversary. Their Executive Director – Andrew Harris – and I wanted to create something that was not only great music, but that could give something back to the animals of the planet. We ended up teaming up with the Oregon Zoo and The International Elephant Foundation to create a piece about elephants and to help promote elephant conservation. An amazing experience that I will cherish always!
Client List
I've had the pleasure of working with and creating new commissioned works, consortium sponsored works, arrangements, and multimedia productions for these incredible ensembles!
Oregon Coast Music Festival Orchestra
Assisi Performing Arts Festival
University of Portland Orchestra
Chameleon Winds
Sooner Bassooners
The Meadowlark Chamber Ensemble
The PDX Annual Vampire Masquerade Ball
Covington Middle School Band
Century Middle School Band
Fellowship of the Reed Wind Trio
Willamette University String Orchestra
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Commission A Work
Why Commission a composer to create a new work?
There are lots of great reasons to commission a work! It can be fun, exciting, and musically rewarding to work with a living composer who is writing something specifically for you. And, Commissions are very special and exciting for me too. If you’re interested commissioning a work from me, it means you’ve heard my music and like it enough to want more! Here is a list of the most common reasons to commission a new work: o To expand the repertoire of a particular instrument or ensemble o To commemorate or celebrate a specific event o To honor a person or organization o To accompany another discipline (dance, visual arts, theater, etc.) o As a gift
Do I have to be a professional musician or part of a professional ensemble to commission a work?
Anyone can commission a work! Some people commission pieces for a loved one that is a musician. Some commission a work in honor of someone. A commission can be from an individual or a large ensemble. I accept commissions of all kinds. Have an idea? Let’s talk! Here are a few examples of different kinds of commissions: o Individual commissions a piece for a loved one - i.e. their wife plays the piano, and they want a special work just for their spouse to enjoy. o Individual musician(s) commissions a work for a recital. I’ve done a lot of these for solos, duos, trios, quartets and quintets. o Special occasion commissions. These are fun! I’ve done pieces for weddings and graduations. o Individual commissions a piece in honor of someone special. I have written special works in honor and memory of a person. The commissioner can then find or hire musicians to perform the work. o Professional Orchestra commissions a new work for their orchestra. o College Orchestra or Band commissions a new work for their ensemble. o Youth Symphony organizations commission a new work for their student ensembles. o Middle School / High School Band Director commissions a piece for their band.
How much does a commission cost?
It depends… The Cost varies from project to project and is usually dependent upon a few factors: o Duration of the Piece o Number of Players Many other factors can be considered as well which is why fees are negotiable. Once I get some basic info from you, we can get the conversation started and find a fee that fits your budget and my time.
How can I fund a commission?
As with so many other things in life, figuring out funding resources can be the trickiest part of embarking on a project. That said, there are a lot of options! o Out of Pocket This is the easiest. The commissioner pays for it themselves or the performer(s) pay the commission fee from the ensemble’s budget or some combination of support from friends and family. o Kickstarter or Go Fund Me type campaigns: The commissioner can raise funds for the project using crowd funding. o Institutions with a closed application process or no application process at all: This has generally been the most fruitful type of resource that I’ve found and has typically been related to university funding for faculty/students/alumni, the operating budget of a presenting organization/venue, or local government cultural arts programs. The key here is that the application isn’t open to the public at large. That means there often isn’t a lot of wait time to see if funding is available or tons of competition from other composers and performers vying for a piece of the same pie. There are also a lot of other institutions not directly related to music that may be interested a commission and/or presenting performances of new works. I.e. historical societies, visual art galleries, experimental theater festivals, etc. Tying in programmatic elements to a specific location or event can often equate to funding for a new work. o Consortium commissions: This has become a lot more prevalent over the past few years which is extremely encouraging. I’ve been fortunate to have some experience with these. If you’re a performer who’s unsure about where to get funding for a commission, I suggest giving this option serious consideration. See FAQ’s for consortiums below. o Grants: (New Music USA, Chamber Music America, Barlow, etc.) High-profile competitive grants are great! However, they are not easy to attain. Even though they have large amounts of money give, everybody applies for them. But, they’re definitely worth a look especially if you have a talent for grant writing.
Do you have a commission agreement?
Yes. I have a standard commission agreement for both regular commissions and consortium commissions. It is very simple and straight forward. You’ll have plenty of time to look this over and ask questions before signing.
How does the process it work?
o Let me know your interest, the type of piece you are looking for, instrumentation and timeline. o Once we have worked out these details, we can review the commission agreement together, fill in the details and sign. o Upon signing, I ask for a portion (usually half) of the commission fee up front as a down payment for me to begin the work. Once this portion has been received, then I start working my magic. o I will update you regularly on my progress. We will have regular conversations to be sure the piece is on track. o Once the piece is nearing completion, you’ll have time to review the work and ask for any final non-musical adjustments. (Adjustments include range issues, editing score and parts, errors, etc.) o I will then complete the piece and deliver you parts and score. o We can then announce the premiere when you are ready. o I am always thrilled to attend premiers if possible.
Who owns the copyright of the piece?
The composer retains all copyrights to the work. This allows me to share the work and your story with ensembles around the globe. However, you as the comissioner have the right to perform/arrange the performance of the world premiere of the piece. Plus, you'll have your name or organizations name on the published score as the comissioning party for all to see.
Create A Consortium
How does a consortium work?
o The consortium agreement is negotiated and signed by both parties (A maximum number of members of the consortium is agreed upon) o The deadline for members to join the consortium is set for a few months after that. o The lead commissioner(s) recruit members. Each member pays their part of the commission fee, to the lead commissioner. o Once the maximum number of members is reached (by a pre-determined deadline) then half of the commission fee is paid to the composer. The other half is held by the lead commissioner. o Once the piece is complete and delivered, on or before the final deadline, the last half of the commission fee is paid to the composer.
Do you have a commission agreement?
Yes. I have a standard commission agreement for both regular commissions and consortium commissions. It is very simple and straight forward. You’ll have plenty of time to look this over and ask questions before signing.
Do I have to come up with the funding, or can you, the composer do that?
It is standard for the commissioning party/consortium lead commissioner to figure out the logistics of funding a project. You wouldn't go to a restaurant, enjoy a full meal, and then ask the restaurant owner to figure out how to pay for your meal, would you? We composers want to spend our time creating a beautiful, customized work for you. This can be difficult to focus on, when there is the added stress of having to figure out how to fund the project too. However, if you need suggestions on ways to fund a project, I'm always happy to help.
How does the payment schedule work?
I’ve found that the best way to do this is to set the first payment deadline to coincide with the deadline for new consortium members to join. The final payment and delivery deadline is the same as a standard commission. Lastly, getting the full portion of each member’s fee to the lead commissioner when they join saves a lot of headaches down the road. That way, you’re not trying to get a second payment from each person when the final deadline approaches. This is typically left up to the lead commissioner. I usually take a passive role in this, but am happy to help if needed.
What’s the difference between lead commissioners and consortium members?
The Lead Commissioner’s role is to build the consortium, raise and collect the funds by the deadline and paying the composer. The Lead-Commissioner then gets the Exclusive World-Premiere rights and their name as Lead Commissioner on top all parts and score. Consortium members have exclusive rights to perform the piece for one year after the premiere date. In many consortiums that I’ve been a part of, the lead commissioner chips in a larger amount of money and/or time than the consortium members.
Recruiting Members - How is this done?
o If you are an ensemble and not an individual, reaching out to other ensembles that share the same interest for a new work (i.e. They want to feature a specific instrument, a specific musician, a specific style, etc.) o For individuals, networks among musicians are close-knit and an email or social media post from the lead commissioner usually seems to be enough to get others interested. (If any difficulties arise, I am happy to help.) o Having a firm deadline for when members can join makes things easier and adds a sense of urgency and exclusivity that helps with recruiting.
How many members should there be in the consortium?
This Depends on the size of the project and the amount you are trying to raise. With a larger consortium, it can be easier to recruit members because the fee to join is smaller. However, a smaller consortium can give members a sense of belonging to something that is more exclusive. It really just depends upon what you feel would be best. (Having a set number is important, though. If the number is unspecified, many complications can arise.)
Using a webpage or Social Media to recruit members:
Lead commissioners can set up a simple web page or social media page for potential members. This allows them to easily see what it’s all about and join the consortium with a few clicks. This page typically includes info about the details of the commissioned piece, number of spots left in the consortium, and a paypal link to pay the fee to join. I can help with this step if you would like. It’s also a fun way to keep a message board or blog posts to update members on the progress of the piece and keep an opened line of communication.
Multi-Media Production
What is the process to commission a multimedia work?
Since each project is so incredibly different, it is hard to give a definitive answer. The process would begin the same as any other commission – We would discuss the ideas of the project, timeline, details and budget. Based on what you are looking for, then the planning would begin…
Is it possible to have the Nirks® featured in a multi-media project for my organization?
Of Course! Anything is possible and The Nirks® Love new projects! Contact Me and tell me what you are thinking and we’ll see if we can make it work.
Is it possible to do a project where I provide video footage for you to sync with the custom music you compose?
Certainly! Let me know what you’re thinking and we’ll see if we can make it work. I do ask that you allow me video editing control, to help align the music with the video footage. (High Quality Digital Video is best!)