TCP artist-in-residence Antonio García instructs a Deer Path Middle School student as to how to play the clave beat with the music. photo credit: Janice Patterson (Lake Forest Elementary Superintendent's Office)

Mission Statement

The Commission Project (TCP) was founded in 1994 to commission music for student musicians and other ensembles or soloists by underwriting composer-in-residence programs. Composer-in-residence programs bring students into regular contact with highly trained professionals thus affording students the opportunity to observe, first-hand, the creative process at work while composers compose music for student ensembles.

At the same time, composers learn the craft of creating music for young players and assist in building an audience for contemporary music, music composed by living composers. Professional performers are invited to participate, performing as soloists with student ensembles and/or providing workshops or clinics. Students are inspired both by music written for them and by having close contact with gifted artist-performers. Publicity generated by composer-in-residence programs draws the community into its schools and improves understanding.

History

The Commission Project was founded in 1994 by Ned Corman, who continues as director. TCP grew out of the Penfield Music Commission Project, which Corman had founded in 1984 as a project of Penfield School District, in suburban Rochester, New York. Corman taught instrumental music at Penfield High School from 1968 to 1994, and through Penfield Music Commission Project commissioned 117 titles, most of them for student ensembles in Penfield. Of these, 43 have been published and 17 commercially recorded and released. When Corman retired from Penfield School District, Penfield Music Commission Project's Advisory Board urged the formation of a new organization to support similar arts-education activities in other school districts. That board became TCP's Board of Directors. TCP initially affiliated with the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. In December 1997, TCP incorporated as an independent nonprofit organization with offices in Rochester and New York City. TCP has to date been supported almost entirely by individual contributors, over 400 of whom lend their support each year. With its establishment as a nonprofit organization, TCP is now seeking support from foundations and corporations for its approach to arts education, proven over fourteen years of continuous operations. In the years since TCP itself was founded, 80 titles have been commissioned, 18 commissioned titles have been published, and 5 commissioned titles have been commercially recorded and released.

The Commission Project dissolved in 2008 after a magnificent tenure inspiring students, composers, and communities.

A Deer Path flutist plays her first solos over García's TCP work for Deer Path, Cha-Cha Yunque.

Deer Path directors Heather Pettit and Steve Nendza. photo credit: Antonio García

Residencies & Commissions

The Commission Project has generously supported the following residencies/commissions for Antonio García:

In addition, many high school and middle school students have created their own compositions for jazz, classical, and theatrical ensembles as a result of their private study with him.

Deer Path Middle School student composers Sam Parker, Daniel Rogna, and Michael Anderson with TCP artist-in-residence Antonio García...

TCP artist-in-residence Antonio García with Deer Path directors Steve Nendza and Heather Pettit.

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