This year’s Paul R. Judy Center Grant is now closed. Please check back in August for the 2026-2027 application information.

The Paul R. Judy Center for Innovation and Research is a division of the Institute for Music Leadership (IML) at the Eastman School of Music. The Center’s research and programming emphasizes the 21st Century evolution of the innovative ensemble, influenced by both the symphony orchestra and the chamber music traditions, with a focus on creative, artist-centered ensembles that reflect new models of artistic innovation, organizational relationships, and operational sustainability.

The Paul R. Judy Center Grant provides funding for research and innovative projects. The October 1, 2025 grant cycle is open to all US-based musicians or musical arts organizations. The February 1, 2026 grant cycle will be reserved for Eastman students, alumni, faculty and staff, and the organizations they represent. Eastman affiliates must be involved in the project proposal and execution, and submit the application in their name in order to be eligible in the spring. Grants will range from $5000-$10,000. 

October 2025 and February 2026 Funding Priorities:

The Paul R. Judy Center is accepting proposals for research and projects that foster greater access, engagement, and enrichment within musical communities. This grant supports efforts to understand or dismantle institutional patterns that limit musical participation. Priority will be given to proposals that promote sustainable music-making practices, demonstrate meaningful community impact, and create opportunities for engagement in both professional and nonprofessional music settings.

Grant Program Categories:

Research Support.  Interested individuals may submit a proposal to support a research project that aligns with the stated funding priorities. Funding may go toward travel, lodging, or other costs in order to complete the project (but not food). 

Innovative Projects.  Individuals, ad hoc groups, and pre-formed ensembles may apply for support for a project that aligns with the stated funding priorities of the PRJC Grant Program.  This category is intentionally broad and may encompass a wide range of activities.  A few examples of projects include educational engagement programs, concerts, and recording projects. 

To see examples of past winners, please visit the Past Winners database.

Who Can Apply

The October 2025 grant cycle is open to all applicants. The February 2026 grant cycle will be reserved for Eastman students, alumni, faculty and staff, and the organizations they represent. There is no restriction in terms of age or professional level.  Students are encouraged to apply. Priority will be given to groups and individuals who have not previously received an award from the Institute for Music Leadership, and therefore, past grant winners are encouraged to wait a period of three years after submitting your final report before applying again for award consideration.

Instructions for Applying

All proposals must be submitted via the form at the bottom of this page by October 1, 2025 at 11:59pm eastern time or February 1, 2026 at 11:59pm eastern time. Please note: Through the IML, the Paul R. Judy Center is interested in supporting creative and innovative projects by funding expenses that are directly related to the proposed project. Funding for capital expenses such as technology purchases are possible but less appealing to the grant committee. Funding should always be used for direct project and program expenses.

Applicants are welcome to email IML Program Manager Jeff Dunn with questions: jdunn@esm.rochester.edu.

Grant advising does not guarantee funding.

Evaluation

Proposals will be evaluated for each of the categories below.  Grant evaluators will use the provided language to assess and score proposals. 

• Purpose and Value Proposition of Project or Research
  • Description provides a complete understanding of project or research, leaving no unanswered questions for the evaluator.
  • Statement provides clear and concise anticipated findings or explanation of innovative components.
• Defined Target Audience
  • Statement identifies a concrete target audience based on demographics, location, age, or other defining factors, with support of partnerships, past engagements, or letters of support. 
• Impact to Musical Opportunity
  • Statement identifies either:
    • a concrete solution through the project that dismantles an institutional pattern that hinders broad engagement and/or access to music-making within a specific community, leaving no unanswered questions for the evaluator.
    • concrete research that seeks to understand institutional barriers that prohibits a specific group of people from participating in music making, leaving no unanswered questions for the evaluator.
  • Statement provides a concrete methodology for assessment that can illustrate a quantifiable and tangible impact.
• Marketing Plan
  • Statement identifies a concrete, step-by-step plan that references specific channels, tools, collaborators, and/or pre-existing materials. 
• Established Project Progress
  • Timeline illustrates concrete evidence of previously initiated and completed steps, with planning beginning at least three months prior to the grant submission.
  • Completed steps includes elements such as (but not limited to) contacting collaborators, booking venues, research approval, and sourcing additional funding. 
• Specific and Realistic Timeline
  • Timeline illustrates a step-by-step plan for completing the project and includes concrete future impact from the project. 
  • Timeline is broken down into months, if not smaller segments, with concrete details about project planning, not just project events.  Ample time is provided in the timeline to continue preparation after potentially securing the grant funding. 
  • Timeline demonstrates evidence of clear and thoughtful planning, noting key details and crucial steps towards executing the project. 
• Budget
  • Budget itemizes all necessary expenses and income to present comprehensive and balanced budget. 
  • Budget demonstrates evidence of thoughtful research and planning with exact numbers. 
  • PRJC ask is reasonable, clearly allocated to crucial expenses, and meets applicant’s needs.    
• Project/Research Capacity
  • Uploaded document demonstrates evidence of past project success, and concrete experiences in realms related to the project. 
  • Uploaded document demonstrates professional experience and maturity that garners trust in project execution.   
• Project/Research Sustainability
  • Statement demonstrates lasting impact and cites future collaborations and/or additional iterations of the project/research.
  • Timeline illustrates activities following the end of the project/research. 
  • Budget illustrates evidence of external funding that is guaranteed to continue in the future. 

Notification of Awards

A panel of judges will review the submitted proposals and make recommendations for awards. The IML reserves the right to not select any grantees. For the October 1 deadline, applicants will be notified by November 15. For the February 1 deadline, applicants will be notified by March 15. Successful grantees will receive an explanation of the amount of their grant, as well as an explanation of specific expenses indicated in the grantee’s budget proposal that the money is intended to support. Thus, the submission of an accurate and detailed budget is very important. Under no circumstances will food or beverages be considered a reimbursable expense. Grantees will receive half of the grant amount upon acceptance of the award, and the second half of the grant amount upon submission of a post-project report. The post-project report must be submitted within 30 days of completion of the project.

Requirements of Grantees

If awarded a grant, the project should be completed within three years of signing the grant agreement. To accept, grantees must submit a headshot and bio of themselves or group to be used for promotional purposes. Grantees are required to have a brief meeting within two months of accepting the grant after accepting the award to discuss their funding timeline with the IML Program Manager.

Grantees must also submit a post-project report to complete their obligation. This report should be between 250 and 500 words, and detail the completion of the project, applicable research findings, assessed impact, any applicable next steps for research or ongoing projects, and use of the PRJC Grant funding. The grantor reserves the right to use this report in part or whole, on the IML website, marketing materials, and social media accounts.

Grantees, and/or any delegated or related parties collaborating on the project, are required to have a conversation with the IML Program Manager recorded for Careers in Crescendo: Lessons for Musicians. This can be scheduled at a beneficial time for the grantees, at the discretion of the Program Manager.

Note: An asterisk next to any form item means an entry is required.