GMTWP alum Julia Meinwald (Cycle 16) was one of 8 recipients of the Discovery Grant for Female Composers awarded by Opera America, made possible through the generosity of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
Opera Grants for Female Composers seek to promote the development of works by women, as well as raise the visibility of women writing for the operatic medium and increase diversity across the field. The program consists of two granting components: Discovery Grants of up to $15,000 that are awarded directly to female composers to advance new works; and Commissioning Grants of up to $50,000 that are awarded to opera companies for commissions by female composers. Since its inception, the program has awarded a total of $800,000 to opera companies and composers.
The most recent round of Discovery Grants attracted 47 applicants, and an independent adjudication panel selected eight composers to receive a total of $100,000 to support operas in development.
These grants, the only ones awarded by OPERA America directly to individual artists, provide the composers with financial assistance to advance and promote their operas.
Julia won the grant for her show REB+VoDKa+ME written with collaborator Gordon Leary (also Cycle 16).