Essential APPLICATION InfO for
2024-2025 programs

 

Featured guest performance faculty and dates (Composers are automatically considered for ALL cycles)

 

 

 

 

All applicants are automatically considered for all cycles.  Successful applicants will only be into accepted into one cycle as determined by the Academy.  

Special Note: In the event that wildfires pose a risk to residencies scheduled to be held in Boonville, said residencies will be moved to the San Francisco Bay Area necessitating little change in travel plans for participants.  

 

Deadlines for applying to all cycles of Bahlest Eebles Readings program

  • Submission of application: Monday, June 8th, 2020 (11:59 PM EST) *UPDATED*

  • Date of Academy's notification of acceptance: No later than Monday, August 24th, 2020

 

Eligibility

Any composer who identifies as an emerging voice in the “classical” and/or “classical-crossover” mediums that intersect with other styles (hip-hop, improvisation, non-western traditions, etc), and who is at least 21 years of age.  Exceptions considered, please inquire. 

Composers who are largely self-taught are encouraged to apply. Experience with written scores preferred but exceptions considered if composer is willing to take steps, however small, towards notation.  

All accepted composers must be willing to sign a waiver accepting responsibility for the following:  Risks associated with visiting a rural area, being in close proximity to farm animals in addition to cats and dogs, restricting consumption of alcohol to a moderate level, refraining from smoking any substance whatsoever on Academy grounds due to extreme fire hazard, participating in all educational and outreach events scheduled by the Academy, acknowledging that deadlines are firm, and not discriminating on the basis of aesthetic, race, nationality, religion, political persuasion, gender, or orientation. All composers must be willing to write at least one blog for the Academy’s popular in-house blog series.

All accepted composers must be available for the entire duration of the residency.

Climate Citizenship

Here at the Academy, we are believers of human-driven climate change. As such, climate citizenship is now an integral part of all activities at GLFCAM. Please be sure to read our updated Bahlest Eeble Readings Program description as well as our Climate Commitment to learn more about what this means for all participants in our programs.

Application fees and tuition

$25 application fee; $1950 tuition cost for the Bahlest Eeble Readings. (Scholarship assistance is available. See below.) 

Successful applicants will need to pay a non-refundable $200 deposit to secure their spot plus $100 lodging deposit that is returned at the end of the year if no damage to property is assessed. Remaining tuition can be paid in up to three  additional installments.  

Note: Up to two auditors will be accepted into each cycle at reduced cost.  These programs are customized and priced according to the needs of the curious "hobbyist," or a composer who needs more experience before jumping fully into the Bahlest Eebles Reading program.  

Lodging

As communal bonding is an essential part of the Academy experience, accepted composers are strongly encouraged to stay at Gabriela’s comfortable second home, the Lyon House cottage, in Boonville at no cost. Additional guests – spouses and children, for instance – cannot be accommodated. If composers wish to stay elsewhere in the Anderson Valley at their own cost, the Academy can make recommendations but cannot guarantee availability or make the booking. Auditors will need to find their own lodging.  

Lodging at Lyon House is often shared at two people per room (each with own bed).  A lodging deposit is requested and will be returned if no damage is assessed to property.  

Meal costs

Light breakfast items and cooking essentials are stocked in the Lyon House kitchen. Some vegetarian dinners will be provided, and are structured as group cooks under the supervision of the Academy’s master chef.  These will utilize ingredients sourced from Gabriela's own farms or locally at Academy cost. (Dietary restrictions will be considered whenever possible, given the limitations of a small rural community.) All other meals are the responsibility of composers who have several local grocery stores and restaurants at their disposal. 

Note: Composers are encouraged to participate in what has become a tradition at the Academy: Cooking a dinner for the faculty performers, at some point in the residency, as a culinary "Thank you."   Stay posted for an eventual Academy cookbook!  

Travel costs

Accepted composers are responsible for their air/ground travel to arrive to Boonville by the start date of their residency. (Arrival the day before is strongly recommended.) Some travel assistance is available for composers willing to travel “green.” Airports closest to Boonville are San Francisco International (SFO), Oakland International (OAK), and Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport (STS) in Santa Rosa (closest). Public transportation will not be sufficient in getting fellows from the airports to Boonville, and therefore, rental cars will be needed to at least partially navigate the trip, and to generally get around Boonville and the rest of the Anderson Valley. Accepted composers will receive assistance from Academy staff in communicating with other composers to share rental cars.  The Academy can provide some limited transportation to/from airports.    

Scholarships

Scholarships are available for all that demonstrate need.  The Academy is proud that in the 2019-2020 season, the average scholarship was 85% plus travel assistance. Applicants for assistance will need to submit a copy of last year's tax return at the time of application, and a written description of their current financial situation.

Some travel assistance is available for composers willing to travel “green.”

The Academy is committed to helping successful applicants who search for outside funding support. Given enough notice, we provide letters of support for grants and we commit a "starting" pledge to fundraising campaigns such as Kickstarter and GoFundMe.  

Criteria for adjudication

1. Music: Simply put, I’m looking for an exciting imagination inside a curious spirit who shows infinite creative promise. 

2. Personal qualities: I’m looking for composers who can be collegial and supportive, open-minded to the different backgrounds and aesthetics of their fellow composers, who would like to make new friends, and who I would feel happy to welcome into my own home. I’m also looking for composers who have an impressive work ethic and who understand they’ll hear from mentors who will take them seriously and give them tough, discerning feedback. I’m especially interested in composers who feel that the Academy’s commitment to arts citizenship and meaningful climate action is in step with their own personal ethos. I'm also looking for composers who could be potential recipients of support from the Alumni Support Initiative.    

3. Fit: Admittedly highly subjective! I’ll be going on instinct to carefully and honorably decide whether I can be of utmost service to each and every applicant, much in the vein of a private teacher deciding who to accept into their private studio. Don't be surprised if I solicit the input of my faculty artists and an additional established composer or two to make final decisions on successful applicants. You are taken seriously!