Foster Artistic Development and Community Engagement for Composers: 1. Partnered with Minnesota Orchestra to present Composer Institute, a week of career development workshops, coaching, rehearsals, and a public performance of new pieces by emerging composers. 2. Managed multiple re-grant programs: McKnight Fellowships, JFund Commissioning Program, Minnesota Emerging Composer Awards and Live Music for Dance Minnesota. 3. Managed multiple programs for established and emerging composers: McKnight Visiting Fellowships, Essentially Choral (VocalEssence), Welcome Christmas Carol Competition (VocalEssence). 4. Partnered with VocalEssence and Chorus America to convene composers for the national conference Choral Connections. 5. Produced 25 new recordings through the innova® recording label. 6. Facilitated workshops to assist composers in developing new work: Essentially Choral, Tuesday Salons at Zeitgeist, and Composer to Composer seminars. Inspire Students with Fresh Music: 1. Commissioned and distributed new pieces for the middle school repertoire series’ BandQuest and ChoralQuest. 2. Developed new curriculum with connections to interdisciplinary content for the published BandQuest and ChoralQuest pieces. 3. Partnered with Perpich Center for the Arts to train composers through convenings in its Composer Teaching Artist Training Program. Strengthen Audience Engagement: 1. Partnered with Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Minnesota Public Radio to co-host Composer Conversations featuring Laurie Anderson and Maria Schneider. 2. Co-produced with MPR, new Composers Datebook shows. The two-minute, daily radio show can be heard on 300 stations nationwide. 3. Through the Faith Partners program, supported composer residencies at ecumenically-based Minnesota faith communities. 4. Presented Tuesday Salons at Studio Z for composers to engage a public audience.

Foster Artistic Development and Community Engagement for Composers: 1. Manage multiple re-grant programs: McKnight Fellowships, JFund Commissioning Program, Minnesota Emerging Composer Awards and Live Music for Dance Minnesota. 2. Manage multiple programs for established and emerging composers: McKnight Visiting Fellowships, Essentially Choral, Composer Institute, Welcome Christmas Carol Competition. 3. Convene composers for Game On! a national conference in partnership with MPR and McNally Smith for composers interested in writing music for video games. 4. Produce 25 new recordings through the innova® recording label. Inspire Students with Fresh Music: 1. Commission klezmer composer, Hankus Netsky and Pulitizer Prize composer, Jennifer Higdon to write new pieces for the BandQuest and ChoralQuest series, designed specifically for enhancement of middle school repertoire. Promote and market new pieces on regional and national levels. 2. Develop curriculum to support the published BandQuest and ChoralQuest pieces for connection to interdisciplinary study areas. 3. Design national awards and mentoring program for high school level students interested in music composition. Strengthen Audience Engagement: 1. Continue partnership with The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Minnesota Public Radio to host Composer Conversations featuring the nation’s most interesting composers. 2. Co-produce with MPR, new Composers Datebook shows. The two-minute, daily radio show can be heard on 300 stations nationwide. 3. Through the Faith Partners program, support composer residencies at faith communities in Minnesota. 4. Present Tuesday Salons at Studio Z for composers to engage a public audience. 5. Nurture the development of the local, multi-instrumental group Cherry Spoon Collective.

The Forum is recognized nationally for artistic excellence and creative programming. It is the largest membership organization for composers, with roughly 2,000 members in all 50 states. More than 300 composers received direct awards, opportunities or recognition last year. The organization serves more than 5,000 artists annually through direct programming and our nationally recognized innova® record label. Our artist support programs focus on emerging and mid-career composers and performers, while our residency programs include a broad range of artists. Audiences are introduced to the creative process through composer residencies, educational programming and media. In partnership with American Public Media, the organization reaches 1 million radio listeners each week on 152 stations nationwide through its radio show Composers Datebook, the show that reminds listeners “all music was once new.” In addition, thousands more are reached through our website, e-newsletter and active social media.

ACF is a national service organization with broad geographical reach. While a majority of its programming directly benefits Minnesota composers, performers and audiences, the organization has members in all 50 states as well as a national radio program with Minnesota Public Radio and an international record label.