Founded by Philip Glass, Eleonor Sandresky, and Lisa Bielawa in 1996 MATA has developed into the world’s most sought-after performance opportunity for young and emerging composers. MATA presents an internationally-recognized festival each spring in New York City of new music by early career composers selected from a free global call for submissions.
Since 1998, Music at the Anthology has presented its acclaimed MATA Festival, which brings composers, performers and sound artists from around the world to New York each spring.
Beyond the festival, MATA events include the MATA Jr. educational program, the MATA Honors Gala, and a series of special projects and initiatives under the umbrella of MATA Presents.
Since 1998, Music at the Anthology has presented its acclaimed MATA Festival, which brings composers, performers and sound artists from around the world to New York each spring.
Beyond the festival, MATA events include the MATA Jr. educational program, the MATA Honors Gala, and a series of special projects and initiatives under the umbrella of MATA Presents.
Music at the Anthology’s (MATA) mission is to present, support, and commission the music of early career composers, regardless of their stylistic views or aesthetic inclinations. Founded by Philip Glass, Eleonor Sandresky, and Lisa Bielawa in 1996 as a way to address the lack of presentation opportunities for unaffiliated composers, MATA has since developed into the world’s most sought-after performance opportunity for young and emerging composers.
MATA presents an internationally-recognized festival each spring in New York City of new music by early career composers selected from a free global call for submissions; MATA Presents, an acclaimed series of occasional concerts held at venues throughout New York; and MATA Jr., an evening of music by pre-college composers, mentored by emerging composers, and performed by an ensemble of their peers.
Our annual Call has no aesthetic bias: MATA welcomes all types of music from fully notated to improvised, sound art, video, electronic, found instruments, toys, installations, and everything in between.
For submission guidelines, click on learn more.
MATA’s mission to present engaging new work extends far past the premiere date. If you’ve missed any of our past festivals or events, check out our extensive video archives.
When MATA was founded over 20 years ago, it had a simple mission: to give a voice to composers who were otherwise voiceless.
By commissioning, programming, and presenting these composers, regardless of aesthetic or style, MATA creates a space where the full range of artistic possibility can be heard—a place where musical conversation can happen.
Please consider making a tax-deductible gift to MATA to help keep this conversation going!
