Texas New Music Festival

Conductor Fellows:

• All Conductor Fellows will lead the Texas New Music Ensemble in performance and 5 rehearsals for 2 works at the festival. 

• Texas New Music Ensemble is a professional ensemble in Houston made up of musicians from The Houston Symphony, The Houston Grand Opera, The Houston Ballet Orchestra, River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, and more.

• All  Conductor Fellows will receive feedback and individual coaching from Guest Conductor Enrique Ramirez. 

• All Conductor Fellows will receive 120+ minutes of podium time.

• All Conductor Fellows will have the opportunity to work directly with composers, leading to World Premiere Performances

• All Conductor Fellows will take part in workshops on Building a Career as a Conductor, Score Preparation, Audition Preparation, Starting an Ensemble/Organization, Fundraising, and more.

• No Application Fee

• Participation Fee: $1250

• Deadline to apply: December 1st, 2026

• Application Materials

  • 2 Videos of contrasting works (conductor cam, if possible)

  • C.V.

  • Repertoire List

  • List of Ensemble Conducted

  • Headshot

  • Bio

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Composer Fellows: 

• All Composer Fellows will have 2 New Works premiered at public concerts during the Festival​

• One work for the 12-piece Texas New Music Ensemble - up to 5 minutes in length. Instrumentation: violin 1, violin 2, viola, cello, double bass, flute in C, clarinet in Bb, trumpet in C, tenor trombone, piano, and 2 percussionists (list of percussion available: marimba - 5 octave, vibraphone, bass drum, snare drum, tam-tam, wood blocks). Each work will receive 5 rehearsals and a public performance. Professionally mastered audio and video files will be sent out after the festival concludes.

• ​One work for solo piano to be premiered by Guest Artist Edith Ruiz during the festival. Up to 5 minutes in length. Each work will receive 1 Zoom rehearsal before the festival and 1 in-person rehearsal during the festival.

• Composer Fellows will participate in 1 group feedback session, led by Chad Robinson, and a 1-on-1 feedback session with Chad Robinson.

• No Application Fee

• Participation Fee: $2000

• Deadline to apply: December 1st, 2026

• Application Materials​

  • 2 Scores and Recordings (midi is acceptable) of any instrumentation

  • C.V.

  • Headshot

  • Bio​

 

Texas New Music Ensemble is a professional ensemble in Houston made up of musicians from The Houston Symphony, The Houston Grand Opera, The Houston Ballet Orchestra, River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, and more.