+ What fellowships are available? Are there scholarships too?

Full Fellowships are awarded to top candidates for each program. Fellows are exempted from tuition, and pay a $495 facility/administration fee

There are also scholarships awarded, up to $1,850. These options may be selected during the application process.

Every attendee is responsible for travel. Your hotel and two meals a day (breakfast and lunch) are covered in the tuition.

For more information, visit our Fellowships and Scholarships page.

+ What are the application fees?

Application Fees (non-refundable)
Early Deadline: $75.00
Regular Deadline: $95.00
Late Deadline: $135.00

+ When and where does the festival take place?

The festival takes place April 27-May 5, 2025 in Middelburg, Zeeland in The Netherlands on the campus of Musiekschool Zeeland.

+ How much is the tuition?

Tuition cost is $2,850.

+ Are there one-on-one lessons?

Composers receive one 55 minute lesson with each Composition Faculty member during the week they are attending. Performers receive coachings/masterclasses/seminars.

+ Do I need to speak Dutch in order to attend?

No, you do not need to speak Dutch to attend. 90% of the Dutch population is fluent in English – the primary business language in the Netherlands. The latest EF English Proficiency Index even ranked the Netherlands' English as a Second Language Skills No. 1 in the world. In addition, 71% of the population can converse in German, 29% in French and 5% in Spanish.

+ What does tuition cover?

The tuition covers room and board (breakfast and lunch), plus all lessons/meetings, rehearsals, performances, readings, masterclasses, lectures, audio recordings and video links. Travel is on your own to and from Middelburg.

+ May I apply if I am under 18 years of age? Is there an age limit?

Mostly Modern Festival | NL welcomes people in all stages of their careers, over the age of 18. There is no upper age limit.

+ What are the application deadlines and when will I be notified?

Composer Deadlines
Early Application Deadline: Dec 1
Regular Application Deadline: December 15
Late Deadline: January 15
Notified of Acceptance: February 1
Letter of Agreement and Deposit Due: February 15

Instrumental/Conductor Deadlines
Early Application Deadline: January 15
Regular Application Deadline: February 1
Late Deadline: February 15
Notified of Acceptance: February 22
Letter of Agreement and Deposit Due: March 1

+ Why do I need to submit a recommendation, and why do I need to waive my right to see it?

During the application process, we require a confidential recommendation from at least one teacher, colleague or mentor who knows you and your work well. A confidential recommendation helps ensure that the recommender is giving an honest assessment of the applicant. Note: a recommendation is required. Please ensure that whomever writes your recommendation gets it in on time. We stronly recommend that you check with your recommender first before adding their name to your application. Applications without recommendations will be disqualified, with no refund of the application fee.

+ If I am a composer, may I apply to both the US festival and the Netherlands festival?

Yes, absoutely. You'll need to fill out both applications in Acceptd and pay two separate application fees, but otherwise, you can definitely apply to both. You can also use the exact same application materials for both.

+ For composers: does the instrumentation for our application materials need to match the ensemble we want to compose for?

No. Application materials submitted during the application process (before anyone is accepted) are merely for us to get a sense of you and your music.

+ If I am a composer, is it possible for me to be accepted to and attend both festivals?

In theory, yes. They occur at separate times and in separate places, so theoretically, you could attend both in the same season if you were accepted to both.

+ Is it possible to be considered for a fellowship and/or scholarship?

Yes, there is an option to select more than one to be considered for on the application portal.

+ If I am accepted one season and attend, may I apply and attend the festival again?

Absolutely!

+ If I am accepted and cannot attend, may I defer my acceptance until the following year?

No, you will have to apply again for the following season.

+ If I find out at the last minute I can't attend, may I get a refund?

Deposits are non-refundable. Once the final payment has been made, there are no refunds after March 15th. No refunds for arriving late, leaving early, or canceling. The application fee is non-refundable.

+ May I arrive late or depart early?

All MMF | NL participants must be in residence for the full duration of their week at the festival. Participants are required to attend all rehearsals and performances.

+ How much is room and board?

Room And Board (breakfast and lunch) is included in your tuition, including housing for seven nights in Middelburg, single room occupancy, linens and towels included.

+ Can I opt-out of room and board?

Exceptions can be made by contacting Victoria Paterson directly at victoria@mostlymodernprojects.org. Housing exceptions do not overall effect tuition cost.

+ What should I pack?

Other than your equipment or supplies (scores for composers and/or a laptop, instruments for performers), you should bring clothes for one week, a comfortable pair of walking shoes, dress clothes, dress shoes and an umbrella and/or a rain jacket, toiletries and anything else you might need for your stay. The weather is cool and crisp. You will not need winter clothing, but bring a jacket and/or a sweater, and any other clothing you'll feel comfortable wearing.

+ How do I get from one place to another?

Everything is within walking distance, once you are in Middelburg. Travel from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in Amsterdam is by train, bus, or shared car. For more information, visit our directions page.

+ May I bring my family, and/or are children allowed?

MMF welcomes children and families if occupancy costs are covered for your additional family members.

+ Is there anything composition-related I should bring?

For your works being performed or read, please bring all parts printed and correctly bound, and at least three extra physical copies of your scores. We strongly recommend bringing a laptop and PDFs of your scores and parts, in the event that one of the parts is damaged or lost. We will also have your submitted PDFs on file, but it never hurts to be safe, just in case. For composition lessons, please bring two printed copies of any score you wish to review with the composition teachers. iPads or other tablet computers may also be used for one of the printed copies for lessons.

+ If my assigned ensemble is Mostly Modern Ensemble, may I compose for a subset of the ensemble listed on the Composer's Corner page?

Absolutely. While all of the ensemble members are happy to perform, you don't need to compose for the maximum six performers. Note that we recommend not composing for subsets of guest ensembles, but if you really want to, just get in touch with us so we may discuss the possibility.

+ I changed my mind about which chamber ensemble I would like to write for after I submitted by signed letter of agreement. May I switch to a different ensemble?

Usually, that's not possible, unless by chance, another composer also wants to switch, but it's unlikely to happen. Two reasons we have multiple chamber ensembles at the festival are to give composers a variety of options, and also to make sure no one ensemble is overloaded with new works. Once composers are accepted, we go through their applications and try to give them their first choices, while at the same time making sure no one ensemble is taking on too much or too little. In the end, it benefits the composers to structure programming this way, and ensures that ensembles will have as much time as possible on each composer's piece.

+ What if my piece, either a chamber work or for the orchestral reading, is slightly over the 8 minute specified duration?

If it's a few seconds or a minute over, that's fine. Anything beyond a minute over will either be cut, or the composer will need to make edits to shorten the work. Please note that when your work is submitted, we will a MIDI file with accurate metronome markings and an accurate duration. If metronome markings and/or the duration are altered after the work is submitted, we reserve the right to only perform part of your work.

+ If my piece for the orchestral readings has a solo part, such as a movement from a concerto, may I perform the solo part for the reading, or provide my own soloist?

Yes, that's perfectly fine.

+ When will composers find out which orchestal pieces that were read during the readings are selected for performance?

We won’t know which pieces are selected for performance until after the readings.

+ Will the piece I submit for the orchestral readings also be considered to determine whether I am accepted to the festival? Or do I need to submit the piece as one of the 3 required pieces for it to be considered for admission purposes?

The orchestral reading piece should also be submitted as one of the three application pieces (so twice) if that's one of the pieces you'd like considered for your general application. The reason for this is that, in some cases, a piece a composer submits for consideration for the readings might not necessarily be a piece they consider one of their best pieces. If you think it is one of your best pieces and represents you well as a composer, you should also submit it as one of your three application pieces.

+ How much time will each composers' work receive?

Each performed work will receive three ca. 20 minute rehearsals (length depending on the difficulty of the piece) in addition to the dress rehearsal and performance. The performers will have a first rehearsal without the composers in-attendance, unless the perfomers want the composer in-attendance, in which case we will facilitate that. Please note that scheduling rehearsals and reading sessions is an imperfect science. MMF will do everything possible to make sure composers are provided with excellent recordings/videos of their pieces.

For readings, each work will receive ca. 20 minutes of recorded reading time, with at least one read-through.

+ If my piece needs extra rehearsals, is that possible?

All rehearsals are set at 3 rehearsals and the dress, and at the discretion of the ensembles. All ensembles and/or conductors decide how much rehearsal time each piece receives.

+ How should I credit performances or readings when mentioning MMF on my bio, resume or site, or in my sheet music?

If your work is new and was premiered at MMF, you may say that your work was written for or is dedicated to MMF, and/or the ensemble that performed or read your work. You may not state that MMF or any of the ensembles commissioned your work.

+ I attended the festival but forgot to save programs, and I need them for my files and/or to submit them to ASCAP or BMI. How do I obtain them?

We will post all programs on the MMF website as downloadable PDFs after the festival ends. MMF also submits programs to both licensing agencies for every concert, but if you are a composer, you should submit them regardless. We do not make or submit programs for readings, which are private and not opened or advertised to the public.

+ How many lessons will composers receive?

Each composer receives a 55 minute lesson or meeting with each member of the Composition Faculty.

+ I missed my appointed meeting time with a faculty member. Can I schedule a make-up?

Faculty are under no obligation to reschedule no-shows. It is up to them whether they choose to reschedule.

+ The faculty member missed our meeting. What do I do?

In the unlikely event this happens, it will be re-scheduled during the festival.

+ Are there extra costs to obtain recordings?

No, the tuition covers ALL recording costs and editing for performances(i.e., post-production, crossfades, intro and outro fades, credits, logo, design). All participants will have access to audio WAV files online after the festival ends at no extra cost. Performers may request audio files of their chamber performances at no additional cost. Video recordings of works by composer fellows will be also available via links on YouTube. MMF reserves the right to post any and all video and audio footage of any works from the festival for promotional purposes.

+ May I post my audio recording on my website?

Yes, however you must credit MMF and the ensemble that played or read your work, and link back to the festival and respective ensemble.

If your work was read and not performed, we require that you state that it is a reading, not a performance.

+ May I use the audio recordings and online video links for applications, such as for colleges, academic positions and grants?

Yes.

+ May I sell MMF audio recordings?

No, MMF audio recordings are for archival and promotional use only.

+ May I give my audio recording out freely to my friends, family and colleagues?

Yes.

+ May I use the audio recordings and online video links for applications, such as for colleges, academic positions and grants?

Yes.

+ May I record the rehearsals, readings and performances?

No outside recording devices of any kind are allowed in rehearsals, readings, performances, masterclasses, lessons, or any other official MMF events. Participants, faculty, staff, guest speakers, guest artists, or audience members breaking this rule will be expelled immediately with no refund, no performances or readings, and no MMF recordings.

+ May I attend someone else's rehearsals or readings?

Not always. Rehearsals for MME and guest ensembles are closed to insitute participants unless otherwise noted. Composers will be invited by the ensembles when they are ready for thier work to be heard.
Participants are, however, allowed and encouraged to attend any rehearsals and readings of the Mostly Modern Orchestra.

+ Are composers allowed to schedule extra performances and readings during the festival?

While MMF enthusiastically encourages composer/performer collaborations, for security, financial, logistical and insurance reasons, we cannot allow the facilities to be used for performances or readings other than officially-scheduled MMF events, and other than the scheduled ad-hoc concerts.

+ Am I required to attend all rehearsals and other events?

If you are a composer, you are required to attend all rehearsals (except the first rehearsal) and performances for any work you are having performed or read. Instrumentalists and singers are required to attend ALL rehearsals, dress rehearsals, readings, and concerts of the programs they are performing on. MMF strongly encourages everyone to attend all concerts, classes, and festival activities.

+ May I use the office printer?

The printer in the Muziekschool Zeeland office is for official staff use only.

+ Are you able to accommodate those with disabilities?

We welcome applicants who require the use of wheelchairs. However, we are unable to accommodate applicants with severe physical or mental disabilities. Acceptance of all applicants is at MMF's sole discretion, and those with extraordinary needs will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

Arriving at the festival and failing to disclose any need for accommodation could result in a dismissal from the festival as we may not be able to accommodate all needs with no notice. The Netherlands may not be able to accommodate mobility needs due to the historical nature of the area.

MMF does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age (institute open to ages 18 and up only), physical disability, or veteran status.