Arizona Early Music — Emerging Ensemble Residency (2027)

Arizona Early Music's Emerging Ensemble Residency is a paid nine-day residency in Tucson, scheduled sometime between May and August 2027, built around an early-music ensemble working with period instruments or historically informed technique. It pays a $6,000 Ensemble Prize plus up to $3,200 in travel reimbursement (airfare within North America and a rental car), with accommodation and rehearsal space provided directly, on top of ensemble and entrepreneurial coaching from a matched mentor and informal sessions with AEM's board and staff. It's for ensembles of two to six members, including at least one licensed driver, made up of young professionals early in their careers who've been active together for at least six months, with members aged 18 to 35; everyone needs the legal right to work in the US, and non-citizen students are welcome to apply but must arrange their own work permits. The application asks for a statement of intent, an ensemble bio, individual member bios, a publicity photo, three performance videos as YouTube links, a short spoken introduction video, three references, a three-year plan for the ensemble, and up to five supporting documents from past activities. Selection runs in two rounds — an internal committee review, then an external jury that may request interviews — without published scoring criteria, and winners commit to three performances in Southern Arizona plus rehearsal time and a retreat. Applications close 30 November 2026 at 11:59pm Mountain time.