Musical Opportunities: Competitions, Grants and Jobs!

One good way to get more practice and recognition for your talents is to do competitions. There are a few general guidelines you can follow when choosing the best competition for yourself.

1. Choose a competition that has multiple winners. This gives you a fair chance of winning and being heard.

2. Enter competitions that have an entry fee of $30 or less. Be wary of any competition that charges more and isn't reputable with a history of past winners.

3. Make sure the competition has a track record of winners. If the competition hasn't been around for a few years, proceed with caution.

4. Try to choose the competitions that offer a public reading, performance and/or money offered as a prize.

Here are a few websites you can use to find global jobs and creative opportunities in music:

Competitions & Opportunities:

• Musical Chairs

• Composer's Forum

• Composer's Site

• Independent Society of Musicians (ISM)

• National Association of Music Education (NAfME) for students

• Jean Sibelius Fest (JS Fest)

• Musical America Worldwide

• Indie Film Music Contest

• SXSW Music Festival Showcase (All genres Performance Opportunity)

• The Hopper Prize (Global Artist Grants)

• Copeland Fund (Jazz and Contemporary American Concert Grant)

• Allianz Foundation (Cultural and Artist Grants, Fellowship and Research)

• Live Music Society (Music In Action Grant for Small Music Venues)

• New York Foundation for the Arts (Artist Fellowship Grant for New York Residents)

• FilmFreeway (Film, Music, and Photography Festivals and Competitions)

• New Music USA ('Reel Changer' - Composer Grant)

• Creative Capital (Capital Award Artist Grant)

• Black Women Photographers (Photography Grant)

• Black Film Space (Short Film Grants)

• American Voices (Artist growth & volunteer opportunities)

• BMI Foundation (Awards and Fellowships)

• ASCAP Foundation (Awards, Grants and Education)

• Grants.Gov  (variety of grants in diverse industries)

• MusiCares (Disaster relief and financial assistance for music professionals)

• National Endowment for the Arts (Arts Grants)

• Factor (Artist Grants for Canadians)

• Sound Music - In Motion Artist Development Programme (UK creators)

• She is Music - Connect TogetHER (Mentorship for women)

• Fearless Fund (Grants for Women of Color)

• Cork City Counsel Artist Busary (Cork Ireland Grant for Artists)

• MusicNSW - Tone Shift (Artist Grant for Australians)

• Creative Australia (Artist Grants for Australians)

• Independent Artists and Groups (Artist Grants for Australians)

• Tote Boards Art Fund (Artist Grants for Singaporeans)

• Music in Africa Foundation (Artist Opportunities for Africans)

• African Arts and Grants Opportunities and The African Art Trust

• British Council of the Arts (Artistic Grants and Opportunities)

Jobs

• Musician´s Union

• Music Business Worldwide

• Music Careers

*You can also do a Google search for local jobs and competitions in your city / state / province or country.