We Are Family: The Story of the African American Composer Initiative,

• Mentorship Program: Applications open! Due by Sunday 15 Mar 2026

• Survey: Fall Conference 2026 Planning.

• Event: We Are Family: The Story of the African American Composer Initiative, Sat 28 Feb 2026, 12pm PST (UTC-08).

• Articles: Check out our Arrangers of Note article series.
• Event video: ASMAC Premier Masters Series: Motown Arrangers Panel: Paul Riser, H.B. Barnum, McKinley Jackson, & Sylvester Rivers.

• Interested in helping out ASMAC, volunteering? Send us a note to let us know in which types of things you might be interested.

  Writing articles, highlights of events; graphic design; social media; video editing; setting up for live events; something else?

ASMAC Mentorship Program
Applications now open!

The 2026 ASMAC Mentorship Program is open to domestic and international ASMAC members. The mentorship is designed to work virtually, however, in-person meetings may be possible if you and your mentor are in the same city.

Mentorship may include career advice, guidance, how to budget projects, discuss workflow, etc. Generally, to help you prepare better for what's to come in our fields.

• Timeline: May to November 2026.
• Focus: Arranging, Orchestration, Networking, Publishing.
• Monthly discussion (whether remote or in-person).
• Mentors should not be asked for work or lessons.

Deadline: Sunday 15 March 2026

Application Requirements:

• Current ASMAC Member.
• Music degree or 3–5 years of experience as a composer, arranger, or orchestrator.
• Age: 21 and older.
• Submit a link to 3 music examples.
• Submit short statement as to why you’d like to participate in the mentorship program.
• Submit a link to a short video introduction (1–2 minutes).

Read about the 2024 Mentorship Program matchups and the 2025 participants.

For any questions, please contact us at mentorship@asmac.org

All applicants will be invited to an opening Mentorship Program event after participants have been selected and all notified. Applicants can watch prior events at the bottom of the Mentorship Program page.

Past mentors

John Altman, Nathan Barr, Bill Boston, Michael Giacchino, Gordon Goodwin, Mark Isham, Andrew Kesler, Penka Kouneva, Heather McIntosh, Bill Ross, Dave Slonaker, Nathan Wang, Austin Wintory

Fall 2026 Conference Planning

ASMAC is considering offering a two-day conference in the Fall of 2026 in Burbank, California, USA. Possibly in early October.

Perhaps it would include:

• panel discussions
• workshops
• a luncheon
• a concert
• an awards or honoree dinner
• other networking opportunities

To help us in the planning of such an event, we would like to hear from you about what would make this a successful event. Toward that end, please take a few moments to fill out this survey. Thank you!

ASMAC presents

We Are Family

The Story of the African American Composer Initiative

LaDoris Cordell Jodi Gandolfi Deanne Tucker
Hosted by Jeannie Gayle Pool

Composers: Regina Baiocchi Jeremiah Evans Joshua McGhee

Founding members of the African American Composers Initiative (AACI)̉—LaDoris Cordell, Jodi Gandolfi, and Deanne Tucker—will be joined by guest composers Regina Baiocchi, Jeremiah Evans, Joshua McGhee, and others to recount the story of this San Francisco Bay Area ensemble of classical and jazz musicians dedicated to the performance, recording, commissioning, and publishing of music by African American composers.

LA 12 pm | NYC 3 pm | UK 8 pm
+1 day: 5am KR | 7am Sydney