Lisa Johnson, Director (212) 741-6562
Rita Putnam, Associate (212) 741-6564
Owen Martin, Associate (212) 741-4944

The purpose of the Music Program is to foster the creation, production, performance, and preservation of musical events of outstanding professional quality. The Program offers support for public performances by established and emerging professional music organizations representing a broad spectrum of musical expression. The Program also offers support for music recordings, radio production and broadcasts, services to nonprofit music organizations and artists, community schools of music, and projects exploring new technology in music. Special consideration is given to organizations presenting the works of living American composers.

All applicants must present a minimum of three concerts per year (see Professional Performances category for requirements for opera performances). First-time applicants are strongly advised to consult with Program staff well before the March registration deadline.

Artistic Evaluation

The Council must be able to evaluate the applicant's artistic quality on an ongoing basis. In addition to your written application, a NYSCA representative may attend and evaluate one or more of your events.  

Artistic evaluations are conducted by a Council consultant who is expert in the particular field and whose report of the event becomes part of the evaluation process.

To schedule an artistic evaluation, you must inform the Program of your events at least four weeks in advance by mail or email. When requesting an artistic evaluation, please include name of the event, date/time, location, contact person, phone, email, etc.

Eligibility for New Applicants

New applicants to a Council program and those applicants returning after an absence of more than two years are required to have two audits before the application deadline to be eligible for funding.

However, it is advantageous for new applicants to have at least one artistic audit before the March registration deadline. Toward that end, new applicants are strongly advised to consult with the appropriate Council program staff well before that date. This consultation provides a valuable interaction between staff and applicant which will help guide you in developing your NYSCA application. We encourage advance planning to ensure that we are able to respond appropriately to your artistic audit request.

No artistic audits can be assigned until an organization has entered its profile into our system. Click here for instructions.     

Organizations interested in purchasing musical instruments are referred to the Musical Instrument Revolving Loan Fund.

Evaluative Criteria

Grant requests in this Program are evaluated in accordance with the relevant agency-wide criteria.