Apply for 2021-22 Season Today!

The Freeman Fellowship program (formerly Project Inclusion) is Chicago Sinfonietta’s groundbreaking program where talent and mentorship converge to develop diverse and emerging musicians, conductors, and administrators on and off-stage.

Created by Sinfonietta’s founder, Paul Freeman, to help eliminate institutional bias due to factors such as ethnicity, race, and socioeconomic status, the project has  broadened to tackle matters of diversity and inclusion from every angle.

Today, we offer four multifaceted, professional development fellowships to orchestral and ensemble musicians, conductors, arts administrators, and composers.

Chicago Sinfonietta is dedicated to changing the face of classical music; Freeman Fellowships help make this change possible.

Applications are closed for the 24/25 season. Please check back soon for more information. 

Freeman Fellowships

Orchestral Fellowship

The Freeman Fellowships started in 2008 with efforts to provide promising, diverse musicians a fellowship for one to two years with Chicago Sinfonietta. The goal is to identify, train, mentor, and prepare orchestra musicians beginning their pursuit of a professional career. Annually. Chicago Sinfonietta serves 4-6 instrumentalists chosen through a highly selective process.

Administrative Fellowship

Chicago Sinfonietta is proud to offer an opportunity for diverse, emerging and early career administrative professionals through our Project Inclusion Administrative Freeman Fellowship. This is a nine-month long, financially compensated fellowship with practical, hands-on experience in the Marketing, Programs, Development, and Operations side of a performing arts organization.

Conducting Fellowship

Implemented in 2013, Conducting Freeman Fellowship fosters the development of conductors of diverse backgrounds who are on the verge of professional careers. Conducting Freeman Fellows have the opportunity to work closely with CS Music Director Mei-Ann Chen, other experienced conductors, and industry professionals.

Composing Fellowship

Introduced in our 2020-21 season, the Composing Freeman Fellowship was created to include emerging composers best suited to the program's criteria and offerings. Composing Fellows are given multiple opportunities to learn, workshop, and share the craft of composition with leading composers throughout the nation. They also receive extensive mentoring, technical training, and workshop activities spread out over the course of the fellowship.

Highlights

"After one conducting session, the instructor pulled me aside and told me 'you could be really good, if you just believe.' It was after his words of encouragement, that I started believing"

- Kalena Bovell

"I believe in the power of music and I believe that for many people, the key to enjoying it is simply exposure. Bringing music to them in a way that is innovative and inclusive"

- Roger Kalia

Sponsors

Chicago Sinfonietta thanks the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Chicago Community Trust, MacArthur Foundation, Joyce Foundation, and others for their generous support of Project Inclusion.

Questions?

Contact Monica Benson, Freeman Fellowship Program Manager

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