EVENTS
Grant Summer & Winter Schools Trainings & Fellowships
Location (s):
- United States of America
- Worldwide
Overview
AMA is an international exchange program designed to communicate America’s rich musical contributions and diverse culture to audiences around the world.
Details
Approximately 10 ensembles will be selected to embark on a month-long, multi-country tour, where they engage with international audiences through public concerts, interactive performances with local musicians, lectures and demonstrations, workshops, jam sessions, and media interviews.
The AMA Experience
American Music Abroad is a partnership between American Voices and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). The mission of the American Music Abroad program is to facilitate cultural exchange via musical performance and educational outreach.
The ensembles selected will conduct regional cultural exchange tours in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Central and South America, and the Middle East for approximately one month.
As part of the program activities, selected ensembles will perform high-profile public concerts, engage in intensive collaborations with local musicians, lead jam sessions, appear in the media and offer educational activities such as workshops, music business training for aspiring musicians and motivational and education programs for under-served youth.
Prior to the respective tours, each ensemble will participate in the American Music Abroad@Home program in Washington, D.C., which includes a concert or education program in a local school or community center and an orientation at the U.S. Department of State. All events nationally and internationally may be recorded, posted on social media and broadcast non-commercially.
American Music Abroad tours operate under the official auspices of the U.S. government. The U.S. Department of State funds international travel, hotels and an allowance for meals and incidental expenses. In addition, a tour honorarium of $200 per day spent on the road is awarded to each individual musician in an ensemble. American Voices organizes the tours with the input of ECA/State Department and the participating U.S. Embassies and Consulates.
An independent panel, including professional musicians and arts educators, alumni of previous American Music Abroad tours, and representatives of ECA and American Voices, will adjudicate the preliminary and final round selections.
Touring
Tours will take place from September 2018 through May 2019. Program activities will focus on younger and underserved audiences in approximately 45 countries in Africa, Asia and Oceania, Eastern Europe, Central and South America and the Middle East.
Selected groups will provide their available 20-day time periods which will be matched with the interest in their genre and the availability of U.S. Embassy and Consulate posts. The precise dates of travel for each ensemble will be determined jointly with the musicians, American Voices and ECA, and are subject to final approval by ECA. Fulfillment of ensembles’ regional preferences cannot be guaranteed.
Each tour will run for approximately 20 days including pre-tour orientation and community performance in the Washington, D.C. area, and post-tour evaluation.
During the international phase of the tour, bands conduct public concerts, media interviews, television and radio performances and interviews, workshops, lecture-demonstrations, jam sessions with local musicians and social media outreach.
Opportunity is About:
Eligibility
Candidates should be from:
Description of Ideal Candidate:
Application Criteria
- Each musician must be at least 18 years of age, a U.S. citizen, and either hold or be able to obtain a valid U.S. passport. Please note we cannot make any exceptions.
- Applying ensembles must be either trios, quartets or quintets (3-5 people).
- The diversity of traditional American genres we are seeking, includes, but is not limited to Contemporary Urban, Hip Hop, Rock & Roll, Indie Rock, R&B, Jazz, Blues, Broadway Musical Theater and American roots music genres like Country, Gospel, Soul, Bluegrass, Zydeco, Cajun, Afro-Caribbean, Tejano, Southwestern American Conjunto, Native-American and Folk.
- No musical group or individual musician may participate in the American Music Abroad program more than 3 times in the last 5 years, including prior iterations such as The Rhythm Road.
- Bands combining or crossing-over genres will be considered.
- Successful applicant ensembles are required to demonstrate artistic integrity, musical ability and knowledge of the role their genre has played in American history and culture. In addition, bands must demonstrate knowledge of innovative Music Business strategies and a strong commitment to community and education programming.
- Applicants must be amenable to rigorous traveling and performance conditions, as touring regions and itineraries may be challenging.
- In addition to concerts and media appearances, the selected ensembles will present educational activities that include, but are not limited to: workshops, classes and community outreach activities.
Selection Criteria
- High artistic standards.
- Demonstrated communication skills and the ability to communicate with diverse groups of vastly different age ranges, educational backgrounds, language abilities and levels of exposure to American culture and music.
- Creative presentation of genre and education materials.
- Demonstrated commitment to educational and community activities.
- Knowledge of and experience in Music Business.
- Experience and/or potential to thrive as cultural diplomats.
- Ability to perform consistently and effectively in difficult touring schedules, climates and travel conditions.
- Ability to obtain passport, visa, immunization and complete other preparations.
Timeline and Deadlines
- November 1, 2017: Applications open for the 2018-2019 Touring Season
- 11:59pm PST on January 21, 2018: All completed applications and supplementary materials must be submitted.
- Late January/Early February 2018: AMA announces finalists selected for live auditions.
- March 19-24, 2018: Live auditions are held in New York (March 19-21) and San Fransisco (March 23). American Voices will work with ensembles to schedule live auditions dates and locations (audition location is at American Voices’ discretion).
- April 2018: Final ensembles are selected and notified.
Dates:
Deadline: January 21, 2018
Program Starts: September 01, 2018
Program Ends: May 31, 2019
Cost/funding for participants:
- There is a $200 honorarium per tour day, per musician. Most tours will last for approximately 20 days making compensation per musician approximately $4,000.
- Each musician will receive in advance of the tour a sum to cover a daily per diem for meals and incidentals as well as lodging based on State Department guidelines specific to each city. Musicians will be expected to travel with credit cards or cash to cover these expenses over the 20-day period.
- The only expenses musicians can expect to incur are personal ones such as souvenirs, etc.
Offcial website:http://amvoices.org/ama/apply/application/
