Paterson Prize
This prize is designed to foster partnerships and relationships between individuals, ensembles, and arts organizations who collaborate, champion and perform Robert Paterson’s music. Winners receive funding that can be used toward performances, commissions, recordings, video, or even to help offset sheet music rental and purchase of his music. Proof of concept is required, and proposals must come to fruition within two years of winning the award.
About
American composer, Robert Paterson embodies the diversity and breadth of New York State. Born in Buffalo, NY, he spent over a decade in Rochester and Ithaca, more than twenty years in New York City, and now lives in Saratoga Springs, near the Adirondacks.
Paterson’s colorful music embraces everything from the environment to goddesses and online dating to mathematics. His music is filled with emotion and fierce rhythmic energy, marked by elegance, wit, and meticulous craftsmanship.
About the Paterson Prize
Award Amounts
Awards range from $500 to $5,000, depending on the scope, the proposed project, and the category. Half of the funding is awarded within six months before the actual date(s), and the balance is granted within two months after the actual date(s). The Paterson Prize is intended to fund anywhere up to 50% of an overall project budget.
Applications Accepted on a Rolling Basis
- Application Fee $75.00
- Awards are announced on a Rolling Basis
Categories
- Opera
- Orchestra
- Ballet & Modern Dance
- Choral
- Chamber
- Other: Art and galleries, outreach, combinations, and other proposals welcome
Eligibility
- Live Performance(s)
- Commissions
- Professional Videos
- Professional Audio
Some Examples
- To cover sheet music rental and/or to purchase Paterson’s existing catalog
- To cover touring and multi-performance plans and cost outlays
- To cover artist fees
- To commission a brand-new work as a matching grant
- Recording Sessions
- Retreats/rehearsals towards performance or recording
- Travel/meals/housing costs
- Videography
- Documentary
- Biographical book
- Venue costs
- PR/advertising
- Other budget line items, ideas, and pitches welcome
AWARD WINNERS
Buffalo Philharmonic
Knoxville Symphony
FINAL REPORTS
Awardees are required to submit a final report within six weeks of the project’s completion date. Depending on the project, this may include a program PDF, video/audio links, images, and a general run-of-show report.
Logo Assets
Use the buttons below to download logo files.
Frequently Asked Questions
Apply to The Paterson Prize
Application Form Requirements
- Name
- Phone Number
- Company Name
- Street Address
- City, State, Country
- Biography (500 words max): bio may be formatted, and links may be added.
- Website URL
- Videos: at least two video links are required; up to three may be submitted. Links should be to videos on YouTube, Vimeo, etc. Please make sure the video links are not password-protected. If you don’t have videos, links to audio files will suffice. SoundCloud, YouTube, or other media-sharing sites are strongly preferred over downloading files. Videos should demonstrate the quality of your work and, if possible, be somehow related to your proposal.
- Specify New or Existing Work: specify whether your project involves a new work, existing work, or both.
- Proposed Work(s): work(s) you will perform or are part of this proposal. Each work should be on a separate line.
- Venue(s): if your proposal includes venue(s), such as performances, please list here.
- Location(s): please list if your proposal includes location(s), such as performances.
- Date/Time Frame: the date when the event will take place. and/or the time frame for the proposed project.
- Total Estimated Project Cost: the total budget of this specific project.
- Funding Request: the amount you are requesting in U.S. dollars. Awards range from $500 to $5,000.
- Scope of Idea (250 words max): the combined objectives and requirements, i.e., items and tasks, needed to complete the project.
- Proof of Concept (250 words max): outline previous, similar projects you have completed or through your experience as an organization, you show how this project will be implemented, planned, developed to fruition.
- For your project, explain the idea and details (250 words max)
- Any or all co-commission partners, co-producers, co-sponsors: secured or proposed (preference for secured).
- Additional Comments (250 Words Max): use this space for additional comments that don’t fit the above fields as needed.