We’re excited to share that the 2025 Emerging Black Composers Project (EBCP) applications are open. EBCP represents an exciting expansion of the Festival’s commitment to new voices in contemporary orchestral music. Originally launched in 2020 by The San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) in partnership with the San Francisco Symphony, this groundbreaking initiative champions early-career Black American composers through significant commissioning opportunities.
While the program’s primary focus has been supporting premieres with the San Francisco Symphony—featuring talented composers like Trevor Weston, Xavier Muzik, and Tyler Taylor—it has, since 2023, included a special partnership with the Cabrillo Festival. Through the Cabrillo Emerging Black Composers Prize, the selected composer will receive both a commission for a new orchestral work and the opportunity to serve as composer-in-residence at the Festival, where their piece will receive its world premiere by the acclaimed Cabrillo Festival Orchestra. The winner of the 2023 prize was Nate Heyder, his piece, unbound: Phase 1, was featured in our 2024 season. Our upcoming 2025 season will feature a work by Tyson Gholston Davis (2024 Cabrillo Festival Black Composers prize winner.)
All applications are judged through an anonymous process by a committee of leaders in the field that include our own Music Director, Cristian Măcelaru, and Executive Director, D. Riley Nicholson.
The 2025 EBCP submission deadline is February 1, 2025; winners will be announced in spring 2025.
The Emerging Black Composers Project is underwritten by Michèle and Laurence Corash.