Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for a Fromm commission?

To be eligible, composers must be a legal resident of the United States at the time of application through the timeframe it takes to complete their piece. For these purposes, "residents" includes U.S. Citizens and lawful permanent residents (green card holders) who have been lawfully admitted to, and reside in the United States and can ensure they are legally able to receive compensation for services by Harvard University. Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible to apply.  Applicants on J-1 visas may be considered eligible contingent upon the provision of verifiable work authorization (i.e. visa sponsor permission) and ongoing eligibility at the time of commission completion, extending up to six years thereafter.

Students of Harvard University are not eligible to apply until after they have graduated.

Can I apply on behalf of a composer?

No, composers must apply themselves.

I am a U.S.-American composer, but I live abroad. Can I still apply for a Fromm commission?

If you are a U.S. citizen or U.S. lawful permanent resident, then yes, you are eligible. 

I am not a legal resident of the U.S., and I live abroad. Can I still apply to a Fromm commission?

No. Applicants must be legal residents of the U.S. at the time of application.

I already won a Fromm commission. Can I apply again?

You may apply again after a fifteen-year waiting period after the date of your previous award.

Can I apply for funding for a piece I have already written?

No, the Fromm commissions are for new pieces only.

I have already received funding for my proposed project. Am I eligible for a Fromm commission?

Unfortunately, no. Fromm commissions are designed to support new projects.

What does the application require?

• Basic information: Name, address, phone number, email, age, eligibility, previous Fromm awards
• Resume: A one-page resume in PDF format
• Project description: Title and short description (maximum of 300 words) of your proposed project
• Sample composition: Title, instrumentation, sample recording (video or audio, maximum of five minutes), and matching PDF score of one of your compositions
• Two letters of support: 
  • One letter of recommendation from a teacher, colleague, or mentor
  • One letter of commitment from the performer/presenter of the composition being proposed

My sample piece is longer than five minutes. What should I do?

Excerpt your recording and score to five minutes or shorter.  Please ensure your score is excerpted to match your recording.  

My sample composition does not have a score in the traditional sense of the term. Is this okay?

Yes. In lieu of the score, you might upload a description of the piece for the committee. 

Can composers submit more than one application at a time?

Only one application per applicant will be accepted each grant cycle.  If you have previously applied, please submit a new piece/project for consideration.  

How do I make arrangements for letters of recommendation?

You enter in the recommender's contact information in the SlideRoom application, and the system will send an email to the recommender with instructions on how to upload their letter.

When are the letters of recommendation due?

The letters are due within six business days of the application deadline. See the SlideRoom application for the current year's deadline. The deadline will be included in the email to the recommenders. 

Do I need to wait for the letters to be submitted before submitting my application?

No, you can submit your application, and the recommenders will still be able to attach their letters.

Who should write the letter of commitment for the premiere?

The second letter should be written by the executive director of the ensemble who has committed to premiering the work. If the composer is the executive director of the ensemble, this letter should be written by a different member of the ensemble. If the proposed piece is a solo work, the soloist should write the letter. 

Can the same ensemble write letters of commitment for multiple applicants?

Yes.

What should I do if my application is missing letters, and the deadline is approaching?

Check SlideRoom to confirm that the correct email address for your recommender is listed. Recommenders have until six business days after the deadline to submit their letters. Any incomplete applications after that point will be discarded.

I am having trouble uploading a file to SlideRoom. 

Make sure that the file type is one that SlideRoom recognizes. Also confirm that the file you are uploading does not exceed SlideRoom's size limits. 

I am having technical difficulties logging in to my account. 

Technical questions are best addressed to SlideRoom's robust technical support team at support@slideroom.com.

I have a question about the application that is not technical.

Please contact the Fromm Music Foundation Administrator at info_frommfoundation@fas.harvard.edu.

I won a Fromm commission. How does payment work?

Awardees receive an advance payment of $6,000 and an additional $6,000 upon completion of the piece. To receive the advance payment, the composer will need to sign and submit the contract sent following the announcement of the winners. To receive the second half of the commission, please mail a bound, autographed score (that acknowledges the Fromm Music Foundation) and parts to the following address:

Fromm Music Foundation
3 Oxford Street
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA 02138

Can the ensemble premiering my work be based outside the U.S.?

Yes.

Can the ensemble premiere my work outside the U.S.?

Yes.

The ensemble just premiered my work. How do they receive payment?

The ensemble should email a recording of the work and a copy of the program (that acknowledges the Fromm Music Foundation) to info_frommfoundation@fas.harvard.edu. Please include a note specifying the commission winner and number of performers.  The completed score must be received from the composer before the foundation can issue payment to the ensemble.