Concert Artists Guild

Concert Artists Guild (CAG) is a US nonprofit artist management and development organization that selects emerging classical soloists, ensembles, conductors, and composers for its roster. Founded in 1951, CAG celebrated its 75th anniversary season in 2026. Starting with the 2025 to 2026 season, CAG shifted from its traditional annual competition to a year-round artist selection model. Selected artists receive the CAG Louis and Susan Meisel Prize, which includes a multi-year exclusive management contract, concert bookings, career mentorship, and performance opportunities. CAG also partners with the Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT) in London to offer selected artists joint international management across the Americas and Europe.

How CAG Artist Selection Works

CAG moved away from its single annual competition format to a year-round selection process designed to evaluate artists more holistically. Applications to join the CAG roster re-open on July 1, 2026.

Who Can Apply

• Classical soloists (instrumentalists and vocalists)
• Chamber ensembles
• Conductors
• Composers
• Emerging artists ready to launch professional careers on the global stage

The CAG Louis and Susan Meisel Prize

All selected artists receive:

• Multi-year exclusive management contract with CAG
• Concert bookings and tour management
• Career mentorship
• Participation in Citizen Musician Training
• Career Bootcamp (annual weekend workshop intensive for new roster artists)
• Community Impact Project Incubator (career launch program providing entrepreneurial skills)
• CAG in the Neighborhood (program bringing artists to communities with limited access to live classical music)

YCAT Partnership

CAG partners with Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT) in London. Selected artists from both organizations can receive:

• International management (Americas and Europe) jointly with CAG and YCAT
• Performance at Wigmore Hall in London

Additional Prizes (May Include)

• More than 40 performance prizes with leading orchestras, concert series, and festivals
• Chamber Music America showcase performance
• Technical concert apparel from Coregami
• GEWA case for string players
• Week-long residency at Avaloch Farm Music Institute
• Teaching fellowship at AlpenKammerMusik
• Summer residency at Interlochen Public Radio's Sound Garden Project
• Commission support for winner of the Living Composer Prize

2025 and 2026 Selected Artists

• 2025 roster: Joshua Brown (violin), Cerus Quartet, Oswald Huynh (composer), Carter Johnson (piano), Katarina String Quartet, Andrew J. Kim (conductor), Samrat Majumder (guitar), Nathan Amaral (violin), Amiri Harewood (piano), Leland Ko (cello), Valentin Kovalev (saxophone), Poiesis Quartet, Nina Bernat (double bass), Njioma Grevious (violin), Nathan Meltzer (violin), ArcoStrum, Dior Quartet, Hana Chang (violin), Kalena Bovell (conductor), Taichi Fukumura (conductor)
• 2026 CAG-YCAT shared artists: Joshua Brown (violin) and Willard Carter (cello), joining both rosters for joint international management

Real-World Example

A 27-year-old violinist who has won a regional competition and built a modest concert career could apply to CAG when applications reopen on July 1, 2026. If selected, they would sign a multi-year exclusive management contract with CAG. CAG would handle concert bookings, tour logistics, and career development. The artist would attend Career Bootcamp (a weekend intensive) and participate in the Community Impact Project Incubator to build entrepreneurial skills.

If chosen as a CAG-YCAT shared artist, they would also receive joint management in Europe through YCAT and a performance at Wigmore Hall in London. This transatlantic platform is rare: most US management firms do not have European partnerships, and most European agencies do not represent American-based artists.

The 40+ performance prizes with partner orchestras and concert series are where the financial value compounds. Each performance pays a fee, and a multi-year CAG contract could generate dozens of concerts per season. A violinist booking 30 concerts at an average fee of $2,000 per engagement would earn $60,000 in performance income, plus the career development and industry access that CAG provides.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

CAG is not a scholarship that hands you a check and sends you on your way. It is a career development platform. The management contract, mentorship, and performance pipeline address the problem that most talented classical musicians face: they can play well but cannot book concerts, negotiate fees, or build a sustainable career.

The shift from a single annual competition to year-round selection is a positive change. The old competition format forced artists to prepare for one high-pressure event. The new model allows CAG to evaluate artists over time, which means a strong application with clear career trajectory matters more than a single standout performance.

The YCAT partnership is a significant differentiator. Very few US organizations offer a credible path to European concert bookings. If your goal is an international career, CAG is one of the most direct routes.

Things to Consider

• Exclusive management contract. When you join the CAG roster, you sign a multi-year exclusive management agreement. You cannot simultaneously manage yourself or sign with another US management firm during the contract term. Read the terms carefully before signing.
• No guaranteed cash prize. Unlike the Avery Fisher Career Grant ($25,000) or Naumburg ($25,000 first prize), CAG does not hand you a lump sum. The financial value comes from concert bookings and career development over the contract period.
• Competitive selection. CAG selects a small cohort each year. The 2025 roster included approximately 20 artists across all categories. The odds of selection are low without a strong performance record.
• Classical focus. CAG represents classical musicians. If you work in jazz, pop, or other genres, this is not the right organization for you.
• Application timing. Applications re-open July 1, 2026. The year-round model means there may not be a single deadline. Check the CAG website for the current application window and requirements.

Related Opportunities

• Avery Fisher Career Grant for US-based classical instrumentalists seeking a $25,000 unrestricted award
• Naumburg Foundation Competitions for competition-based career launch with New York recitals
• From the Top for pre-collegiate classical musicians with financial need
• Music Scholarships Directory for the full list of funding opportunities
• Visit the CAG Join the Roster page for official guidelines and application