Civic Fellows x Alarm Will Sound Call for Collaboration
Open Call for Chicago Electronic Music Creators
A collaborative project bridging electronic music and acoustic instruments
This open call is a collaboration with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and Grammy-winning ensemble Alarm Will Sound.
Applications are due by Sunday, November 1 at 11:59pm CT.
We invite Chicago-based electronic music creators, producers, beatmakers, DJs, sound artists, and composers to collaborate on a new project that reimagines original electronic music for acoustic instruments. Selected artists will work with arrangers and instrumental musicians to translate the textures, rhythms and sonic identities of electronic work into live acoustic performance. The project is designed as a creative exchange between sound worlds: honoring Chicago’s electronic music legacy while exploring how acoustic instruments can carry, transform, and expand electronic ideas. We are especially interested in emerging artists whose work reflects experimentation and local community building.
Partners
The Civic Orchestra of Chicago is a training ensemble for emerging professional classical musicians at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. A small group of Civic musicians are selected for the Civic Fellowship program to engage in additional projects that expand their artistry, entrepreneurial skills and community engagement practices. Civic Fellows lead this Open Call and will receive mentorship from Alarm Will Sound throughout the project.
Alarm Will Sound is a 20-member orchestra that performs music by today's composers. They embrace a wide variety of styles, including work created by electronic-music creators. Since the 2005 release of Acoustica, their arrangements of music by Aphex Twin, they have continued to reimagine how electronic music can inspire deep and rich music made for humans to perform live. As electronic music has developed and changed, so has their work with a new generation of collaborators including Jlin, King Britt, and Lucrecia Dalt. This has led to New Acoustica, their latest album that embodies ways of working to allow artists who typically compose for DAWs and digital workflows to write directly for a live acoustic ensemble—synthesizing two approaches that have historically operated in parallel. They bring this synthesis to mentorship of the Civic Fellows.
Opportunity
Selected creators will contribute an original track to be arranged for acoustic instruments. The final arrangement will be developed for a chamber ensemble, mixed instrumental group, or other acoustic configuration, depending on the musical material and project needs.
Artists will participate in a collaborative process that will include listening sessions, conversations with arrangers and rehearsal observations.
Selected artists will receive a $600 honorarium and a high-quality video recording of the concert performance for their portfolio.
Who Should Apply
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Chicago-based electronic music creators working in any style or tradition
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Artists interested in collaboration across genre, instrumentation and performance practice
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Creators with original music, beats, tracks, sound pieces or works-in-progress that could be transformed for acoustic instruments
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Artists at any career stage and of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities
Eligibility
Artists must:
- Reside in the Chicagoland area (we are unable to reimburse travel or parking expenses for this project).
- Be eligible to work in the United States to participate and receive the honorarium.
- Be accompanied by a parent or guardian to all rehearsals and engagement if they are under 18 years of age. We welcome artists of all ages to apply.
- Be available to participate in person at all reading sessions and the final concert (dates detailed in the timeline below).
What to Submit
- A short artist statement or bio (max 200 words)
- A brief note describing why this project interests you (max 200 words)
- 1-3 links to original music or work (please note which work you would like us to consider for the call)
Project Goals
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Create new musical opportunities between Chicago electronic creators and acoustic instrumentalists
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Explore how electronic textures, grooves, and forms can be translated into live instrumental language
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Build relationships across Chicago’s acoustic classical, contemporary, experimental and electronic music communities
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Celebrate the city’s history of sonic innovation while making space for new hybrid practices
Timeline
Application deadline: Sunday, November 1
Selected artists notified: by Monday, November 23
Collaborative arrangement period: December-January
Reading Session 1: Monday, February 1, 10:00am-4:00pm (Symphony Center)*
Reading Session 2: Wednesday, March 3, 4:00-7:00pm (Symphony Center)
Final Concert: Friday, March 23, 7:00pm (Epiphany Center for the Arts)
*Each work will receive a 1-hour slot of rehearsal time.
How to Apply
Please fill out the open call form by Sunday, November 1 at 11:59pm CT: https://forms.gle/brhPPs63HGcvE3qs7
There is no fee to apply.
For questions, contact Rachael Cohen.
We welcome applicants from across Chicago’s neighborhoods and musical communities. If you are unsure whether your work fits the call, we encourage you to apply.
Applicants will be notified of the results by Monday, November 23.