Legacy Program

NOTE: Only applicants who have received an invitation from the Fund may submit an application to this program. No other applications will be considered.

History

Aaron Copland is widely known today as a composer, conductor, pianist, writer, and educator, but his support of American music extended beyond his own work and lifetime. In his mid-20s, Copland was already championing the music of his peers and younger composers through organizing concerts, writing articles, and building relationships with the music service organizations that aimed to support them. By his 40s, he had played founding roles in the establishment of a music publishing company and a non-profit organization dedicated to American music, and continued pursuing opportunities and partnerships to further his work as a mentor and advocate for living composers throughout the rest of his life.

In keeping with his lifelong devotion to contemporary American music, Copland created what is now known as The Aaron Copland Fund for Music and bequeathed to it a large part of his estate. For over 30 years, the Fund has continued to champion the music to which Copland dedicated his life through support for organizations and projects advancing the art form today. As the field continues to change and grow, this program seeks to honor the deep connection between certain notable organizations and Aaron Copland himself.

The Program

The Legacy Program was created to recognize organizations with a long-standing commitment to contemporary American concert music, jazz, or both, a strong record of support from the Fund, and a shared history with Aaron Copland. Each year, organizations that meet these criteria will be identified by the Fund and invited to apply to this program. Organizations which receive funding through this program will not be considered eligible for any of the Fund’s other programs in the same funding year.

Invited organizations will be asked to submit an application to confirm continued eligibility for support. Applications will be reviewed by a panel comprised of members of the Fund’s Board of Directors. In order to ensure a fair review process, the Fund does not release the names of current or past panelists.