OGFC Commissioning Grants 2020
American opera organizations continue to look forward to in-person productions of works by female composers, as evidenced by the 24 opera companies that submitted applications for OPERA America’s 2020 Opera Grants for Female Composers Commissioning Grants this spring. A total of $100,000 was awarded for commissions from nine companies. Five of the composers being commissioned — Emily Koh, Heather Christian, Nell Shaw Cohen, Stella C.Y. Sung, and Rima Fand — are first-time OGFC grantees; the other four are recipients of previous OGFC grants.
Founded seven years ago with support from the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation, to date OGFC has awarded 91 grants, totaling $1.3 million, supporting repertoire by female composers, with the aim of promoting gender equity and diversifying the works produced by opera companies. Commissioning Grants of up to $50,000, covering up to 50 percent of the composer’s fee, are awarded to producing organizations in support of commissions. Meanwhile, Discovery Grants of up to $15,000, adjudicated separately, are bestowed on the composers themselves. Applications for the next round of Discovery Grants are currently open. Visit Grants & Awards for details.