Applicants: Frequently Asked Questions
On this page we’ve answered the most common questions asked by applicants to the Mostly Modern Festival Institute. If you are attending the Institute, we have a separate FAQs page for Attendees here.
Top Five Questions
Fellowship Award Winners attend the festival for FREE. Includes all lessons, classes, performances, all participation, parties & single room occupancy housing, 3 meals a day for 3 weeks (Note~ $595.00 facility fee required).
Scholarship Work Study Award Packages are also offered from $500 up to $3,500, as well as 1 Resident Advisor (RA) position available.
Interest in Fellowships and Scholarships must be selected during the application process, and relevant tax information must also be submitted to be considered for any awards.
For more information, visit our Fellowships & Scholarships page. For more information, visit our Fellowships & Scholarships page.
Deadlines for Composers
Early (Priority Consideration for Fellowship)
Application Deadline: December 15
Notified of Acceptance: January 22
Regular
Application Deadline: January 15
Notified of Acceptance: January 22
Late
Late Deadline: February 1
Notified of Acceptance: February 8
Deadlines for Instrumentalists, Vocalists, and Conductors
Early (Priority Consideration for Fellowship)
Application Deadline: February 15
Notified of Acceptance: March 1
Regular
Application Deadline: March 15
Notified of Acceptance: April 1
Late
Application Deadline: April 15
Notified of Acceptance: April 22
Application Fees (non-refundable)
Early Deadline: $75.00
Priority Deadline: $95.00
Late Deadline: $125.00
The festival takes place June 1-21, 2026 in Saratoga Springs, New York on the campus of Skidmore College.
Composers, Instrumentalists, Vocalists and Conductors
Tuition: $5,975
ONE WEEK SESSION OPTIONS: Conducting & Composition Programs Only
One-Week Tuition: $3,500
- Instrumentalists and singers receive one 55 minute lesson per week with their respective instrumental faculty member. Studio class also TBD by your instructor at time of festival.
- Composition lessons are taught in pairs: two composers at a time receive a 55 minute lesson or meeting with each member of the Composition Faculty.
- Conductors receive a group masterclass with each Guest Conductor, with a string quartet and piano as their ensemble.
Application, Acceptance, and Tuition
The tuition covers room and board, plus all lessons/meetings, rehearsals, performances, readings, masterclasses, lectures, audio recordings and video links for composers and conductors. Travel is on your own to and from Saratoga Springs, NY.
Mostly Modern Festival welcomes people in all stages of their careers, over the age of 18. There is no upper age limit.
Yes. Applicants of all nationalities may apply.
Yes. Applicants of all nationalities may apply, regardless of their place of residence.
You can apply for whichever programs you are interested in. However, you will only be permitted to attend one program at the festival. If you are accepted into more than one program, you will need to choose which program you will attend. For example, you cannot attend as both a composer and a conductor, you would need to choose the program you would prefer to attend.
Yes, absolutely. 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.
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.
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.
Deadlines for Composers
Early (Priority Consideration for Fellowship)
Application Deadline: December 15
Notified of Acceptance: January 22
Regular
Application Deadline: January 15
Notified of Acceptance: January 22
Late
Late Deadline: February 1
Notified of Acceptance: February 8
Deadlines for Instrumentalists, Vocalists, and Conductors
Early (Priority Consideration for Fellowship)
Application Deadline: February 15
Notified of Acceptance: March 1
Regular
Application Deadline: March 15
Notified of Acceptance: April 1
Late
Application Deadline: April 15
Notified of Acceptance: April 22
It is helpful for composers to have extra time to write music before the start of the festival. Giving the composers an extra two months helps ensure that they will have enough time. Composers can write a brand new work, or have works already written and performed/premiered at the festival.
As a side note, the reason we need pieces from composers by the deadlines is because we want to make sure all of the pieces work well together to create compelling, cohesive programs, and that our rehearsal schedules at the festival are as efficient as possible. This is all in addition to wanting to make sure the players have enough time to learn your music, so that the composers and ensembles are happy with the premieres and performances. Whether AME or guest ensembles, they are all professional musicians in numerous other ensembles, as well as playing in orchestras, touring, and teaching at various universities. Their time is limited before the festival, and they will also be teaching at the festival and performing in the orchestra. They will want as much time as possible to get a handle on everyone’s pieces, so they can focus on actually making music at the festival, and working with the composers on making music, and not just learning the notes. This is why we have these strict deadlines.
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. Applications without recommendations will be disqualified, with no application fee refund. Please ensure that whomever writes your recommendation gets it in on time. We strongly recommend that you check with your recommender first before adding their name to your application.
Scholarships are available up to $3,500 for composers, conductors, singers and instrumentalists. There will also be non-paid Scholarship work-study opportunities and 1 RA position available. The RA will be required to put in four hours a day on the internship. Both options may be selected during the application process.
Yes, there is an option to select more than one to be considered for on the application portal.
For Instrumentalists, Vocalists, and Conductors
Please upload to your application 5-10 minutes total of 2-3 contrasting works, either as audio files (MP3 only), audio links, (Soundcloud, Youtube, etc), or video links (YouTube). Recordings may be excerpts, but must be of live, unedited performances played all the way through without stopping (i.e., no crossfades between sections). Recordings must be made no more than two years prior to your application. 20th and 21st century works are welcome but not required— standard repertoire is also completely acceptable.
While there are no Dual Program opportunities, composers who are also performers may apply for instrumental internships, reviewed on a case-by-case basis and given as work-study scholarship awards. Interested applicants should apply for the composition program, and indicate their interest along with their primary instrument.
Absolutely!
No, you will have to apply again for the following season.
Application fees and deposits are non-refundable. All other payments are non-refundable if you cancel three weeks or less before the start of the festival. No refunds for arriving late, leaving early, or canceling.
All MMF students must be in residence for the full duration of the festival. Students are required to attend all rehearsals and performances. Composers and conductors are elegible for single week attendance, please refer to the APPLY page.
Room and Board
Room And Board is included in your tuition, and covers three meals a day in the Skidmore College Dining Hall as well as housing on campus. Linens are no longer included.
Attendees under age 21 cannot opt out of room and board. Attendees should live on campus, with rare exceptions and those must be done on a case-by-case basis. Exceptions can be made by contacting Victoria Paterson directly at victoria@mostlymodernprojects.org.
The campus is 1.5 miles from downtown Saratoga Springs. The schedule is quite full, so it is much easier (and cheaper) to stay on campus for housing and meals. The Skidmore Dining center is right across the way from the Zankel Music Center. It caters to many dietary needs and has a myriad of world cuisine offerings. There is also a Starbucks on campus.
Private Lessons and Masterclasses
- Composition lessons are taught in pairs: two composers at a time receive a 55 minute lesson or meeting with each member of the Composition Faculty.
- Conductors receive a group masterclass with each Guest Conductor, with a string quartet and piano as their ensemble.
- Instrumentalists and singers receive one lesson per week with their respective instrumental faculty member. Studio classes TBA each summer.
Unfortunately, we cannot allow performers to take lessons with composition faculty members. However, performer participants may attend any composition lectures, seminars, etc. if they are free, but not take composition lessons.
It’s certainly possible, but if you are a composer, make sure to apply as a composer, if you want a performance of your piece, video, audio, etc. For example, if you are a flutist (who composes) but you don’t want a performance of a piece, then only apply as an instrumentalist. While you may apply for more than one program, you will only be permitted to attend one program – if you are accepted to more than one program, you will need to choose which you prefer to attend.
Info For Those With Special Needs/Non-Discrimination Policy
Skidmore College is wheelchair accessible, and we welcome applicants who require the use of wheelchairs. However, we lack the ability to fully 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.
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.
