Commission a Composer for Your Next Project
Commissioning a composer is a meaningful way to bring original music into the world—music that reflects your artistic vision, speaks to your audience, and becomes part of the cultural record. Whether you’re expanding your repertoire, programming a concert season, curating a festival, recording an album, or marking a special event, the commissioning process offers an opportunity to shape something new and meaningful.
Looking to inspire your audience with something fresh, relevant, and made just for your ensemble? Every commission should be tailored to your goals, your performers, and the moment you want to shape, creating works that leave a lasting impact on today’s musical landscape.
Understanding who commissions new music—and their motivations—can help you see how commissioning can fit your own goals and context. Whether you’re an individual, an ensemble, an arts organization, or non-profit, there are many ways to bring new works into being that resonate with your vision and community.
- Introduction: What Does It Mean to Commission New Music?
- Who Commissions New Music—and Why?
- Types of Music You Can Commission
- The Commissioning Process (Step-by-Step Guide)
- How Much Does It Cost to Commission Music?
- How to Choose a Composer to Work With
- Why Supporting New Music Matters
- Ready to Commission a New Work?
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What Does It Mean to Commission New Music?
Commissioning new music means collaborating with a composer to create a brand-new piece of music tailored to your artistic vision and needs. It’s a powerful way to participate in the evolution of 21st century music, creating modern compositions that speak directly to your audience and become part of today’s cultural landscape.
Unlike performing pre-existing repertoire, commissioning allows you to bring something truly original into the world. Whether you’re a soloist looking for a signature piece, a festival curating a theme, a choir building a bold program, or an individual marking a milestone—you can help shape new music.
Commissioning music doesn’t require a deep knowledge of composing or notation. It’s a creative partnership where the composer listens to your needs, your context, and your vision. The result is a unique composition that reflects your voice or your audience—crafted with care, meaning, and artistic integrity.
From solo and chamber pieces to full-scale orchestral or choral works, commissioning new music keeps the art form alive. It supports living composers and opens space for new sounds, stories, and emotional experiences.
2. Who Commissions New Music—and Why?
New music commissions come from a wide variety of people and organizations, each with unique reasons and ambitions. Here are some of the most common commissioners:
Performers and Ensembles
Soloists, chamber groups, choirs, and orchestras often commission new works to expand their repertoire with pieces tailored to their specific sound, skills, or themes they want to explore. Custom compositions allow performers to showcase something fresh and distinctive to their audiences.
Arts Organizations and Festivals
Presenters and institutions commission music to create thematic programming, celebrate milestones, or engage audiences with innovative, site-specific, or socially relevant works. Commissions can also highlight local or underrepresented voices in contemporary music.
Non-Profit and Advocacy Organizations
Many non-profits commission new art as a way to raise awareness about the causes they champion—whether it’s climate action, mental health, social justice, or cultural preservation. A custom composition can serve as a powerful storytelling tool, deepen community engagement, and create memorable experiences that inspire dialogue and action around the organization’s mission.
Educational Institutions
Universities, conservatories, and schools commission composers to provide students and faculty with new, challenging repertoire and to contribute to ongoing music scholarship and creativity.
Individual Patrons, Philanthropists and Music Lovers
Private supporters commission music as a way to foster creativity, honour a cause or loved one, or simply leave a lasting artistic legacy.
No matter who commissions the work, the goal is always to support living composers, engage audiences, and enrich the cultural landscape with bold, original music that speaks to the moment.
3. Types of Music You Can Commission
The beauty of commissioning new music lies in its flexibility—compositions can be created for nearly any context, ensemble size, or artistic goal. Whether you’re looking for an intimate solo piece, a sweeping work for full orchestra and choir, or a piece for unique instrumentation, there’s room to shape a sound that’s uniquely yours.
Here are some of the most common types of music you can commission:
Solo Works
From virtuosic showpieces to introspective miniatures, solo compositions are ideal for recitals, competitions, premieres, or personal exploration. A commissioned solo work can be tailored to a performer’s strengths, interests, or extended techniques.
Chamber Music
Small ensembles—duos, trios, quartets, or mixed instrumentations—offer a rich space for innovation and collaboration. Chamber commissions often thrive in festivals, educational settings, or community performances, where intimacy and interplay are key.
Choral Works
Commissioned pieces for chamber choirs, community choirs, or professional vocal ensembles can range from unaccompanied works to larger-scale choral settings. These commissions are especially powerful when tied to thematic programming, anniversaries, or texts that reflect your ensemble’s identity.
Orchestral and Large Ensemble Works
For orchestras, wind ensembles, or mixed forces, new commissions can serve as concert openers, centerpiece works, or commemorative pieces. These compositions often allow for bold sonic statements and can elevate a season or festival with something truly original.
Electroacoustic and Fixed Media Works
If you’re looking for something that blends acoustic instruments with electronics, soundscapes, or field recordings, electroacoustic commissions open up exciting possibilities for immersive and interdisciplinary performance experiences.
Cross-Disciplinary Collaborations
Music can also be created in collaboration with dance, film, theatre, spoken word, or visual art installations. Commissioning in this context allows for site-specific, multimedia, or installation-based works that engage audiences beyond traditional concert settings.
4. The Commissioning Process (Step-by-Step Guide)
Commissioning a new piece of music might seem daunting at first, but the process is often straightforward, collaborative, and deeply rewarding. It is as much about building a relationship as it is about creating a piece. A smooth, enjoyable process will help ensure the final work reflects your vision while giving the composer space to bring their artistry to the project. Each commission is unique, but most follow a clear series of steps that help bring your artistic vision to life.
Below are the steps the commissioning journey typically takes:
Composer Frank Horvat with acclaimed pianist Christina Petrowska Quilico at More Rivers premiere
Step 1: Initial Conversation
It all begins with a conversation. Your first step is to meet (in person or virtually) to share ideas. Talk about your ensemble’s strengths, the intended audience, and the story or theme you’d like the music to convey. This is also a chance to ask questions and explore possibilities with the composer. A good composer will ask questions and listen closely before offering creative suggestions.
Step 2: Defining the Scope and Budget
Together, you’ll determine the length and instrumentation of the piece, the intended performance setting, and the overall scope as well as any technical limitations or special requests. From this, a budget is established, which can often be scaled to fit your resources.
Step 3: Agreement and Timeline
Once the scope is confirmed, a formal agreement is drawn up. The composer will typically provide a short proposal or outline of the piece, confirming scope, timeline, rights, budget, any collaborative elements such as workshops or rehearsal attendance. Once both parties are happy, a written agreement is signed. This protects everyone’s expectations and helps avoid misunderstandings.
Step 4: Creative Development
The composer begins writing the piece, often keeping in touch during the process to ask questions, share early ideas, or incorporate feedback—this is where trust and mutual respect make the biggest difference. This stage may include sketches, demos, or progress updates, depending on the timeline and nature of the work.
Step 5: Delivery and Rehearsal Prep
When the final score and parts are delivered, some commissions include time for the composer to attend a rehearsal, make small adjustments as needed, and help performers bring the piece to life.
Step 6: Premiere and Beyond
The premiere is a celebration of your collaboration. Many commissioners also choose to document the performance, share it online, or plan repeat performances to extend the music’s reach. Some commissioners go on to record or tour the piece, while others choose to co-commission with other groups to expand its reach.
A commissioned work becomes part of your ensemble’s story. It’s a legacy piece—something created in collaboration that reflects your time, place, and voice. And that process starts with a single conversation.
5. How Much Does It Cost to Commission Music?
The cost of commissioning music can vary widely depending on the length, instrumentation, complexity, timeline of the piece, and reputation of the composer. A short solo or chamber work may be several hundred to a few thousand dollars, while large-scale orchestral or choral works typically involve higher fees to reflect the scope and creative labour involved.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach—commissioning is a flexible, scalable process. The most important thing is to start the conversation. Many composers are open to working within your available budget, especially if the project is meaningful, collaborative, or can be supported through partnerships or grants.
Here are some common factors that influence commission fees:
- Length of the piece (in minutes)
- Instrumentation or ensemble size
- Timeline and delivery schedule
- Involvement in rehearsals, workshops, or travel
- Recording or performance rights beyond the premiere
Commissions are often funded through a mix of organizational budgets, arts grants, private donations, crowdfunding, and sometimes co-commissions between multiple individuals, presenters or ensembles. If you’re working on a tight budget, exploring shared commissioning models or staged payments can be an effective solution.
Ultimately, commissioning is an investment in new art, one that results in a lasting, original work you can premiere with pride.
Commission Fee Guides and Pricing References
- Canadian League of Composers – Commissioning Guidelines
Includes minimum fee recommendations by duration and ensemble size. - American Composers Forum – Commissioning Music: A Basic Guide
Outlines steps, budgets, and agreements in the commissioning process. - NewMusicBox – Commissioning Fees Calculator
A calculator that helps determine the fee based on genres, ensemble sizes, etc.
Grant Resources for Commissioning Music
Canada:
- Canada Council for the Arts – Explore and Create
Supports individual artists, collectives, and organizations commissioning new works. - SOCAN Foundation – Commissioning of Canadian Music
Offers funding to help performers, ensembles or organizations commission Canadian composers.
United States:
- New Music USA – Grants for Music Creators and Performers
Offers funding for individual performers and commissioning projects. - American Composers Forum – Commissioning Programs
A range of opportunities to support collaboration between composers and performers.
International:
- PRSF UK – The Open Fund for Music Creators
Supports UK-based composers and ensembles commissioning new work. - EU – Creative Europe Programme
Supports transnational cultural projects, including commissioning and coproduction.
6. How to Choose a Composer to Work With
Selecting the right composer is one of the most meaningful parts of the commissioning process. A good match ensures the final piece feels inspired, collaborative, and tailored to your goals. So how do you decide who to approach?
Start by considering the musical voice you’re drawn to. Listen to a composer’s past works and discography—do they resonate with the emotion, energy, or ideas you want to explore? Some composers are known for lush, layered textures; others for sharp minimalism or experimental techniques. No two creative voices are alike, and that’s what makes commissioning so exciting.
Think about your ensemble’s strengths, identity, and audience. Are you hoping to push musical boundaries, or connect with tradition in a fresh way? Does your ensemble have particular instrumental configurations or technical specialties? Look for a composer whose style complements your musicians and your mission.
Here are a few tips to help with your search:
- Explore composer rosters from organizations like the Canadian Music Centre, American Composers Forum, or New Music USA.
- Attend premieres and festivals featuring new music.
- Ask colleagues or past collaborators for recommendations.
- Look for alignment in values, not just aesthetics—especially if the project involves storytelling, social themes, or community partnerships.
It’s also worth noting that many composers are open to dialogue before any commitments are made. Don’t hesitate to reach out, ask questions, and get a feel for their collaborative process. The most successful commissions are built on shared respect, curiosity, and a mutual passion for making something new.
7. Why Supporting New Music Matters
Every piece of music we love was once “new.” Someone believed in it enough to bring it into the world. By supporting new music today, you’re becoming part of that same story — ensuring that our cultural voice continues to grow, reflect, and respond to the world we live in.
When you commission or champion a new work, you’re not just helping a composer. You’re giving performers fresh, vibrant repertoire. You’re offering audiences the thrill of hearing something for the first time. And you’re leaving a legacy — a piece of art that wouldn’t exist without you.
New music captures the emotions, challenges, and beauty of our present moment. It tells future generations who we were, what we cared about, and how we made sense of our time. Without people willing to support its creation, that living record would be incomplete.
Supporting new music is an act of generosity, vision, and hope. It says, the arts matter — and they matter now.
8. Ready to Commission a New Work?
If you’re interested in commissioning a new work or simply want to learn more about the possibilities, start a conversation with a composer. Whether you have a clear concept or want to explore ideas, a collaboration will help shape a piece that’s meaningful and unique to your ensemble or project.
Contact a composer to discuss your project, timeline, and goals—bring something new to life through music!