CAFE Huntington

Project Importance:
This CD project is a balanced collaborative effort featuring local musicians including Henning Vauth on piano, Steve Hall on percussion, and Julio Alves on guitar. The recording will primarily feature new compositions that have not been previously recorded. In addition, the project will contain works by many living composers, American composers, and female composers. It will be released through Mark Custom Records, a label that primarily services music education. With this in mind, they offer an enhanced CD. An enhanced CD includes bonus materials not in the paper booklet, but on the CD as a PDF file. It adds extended program notes, performance notes, biographical information on the music, pictures, and historical information. Mark Custom Records also streams online through outlets that are typically subscribed to by educational institutions.

How Money Will Be Used:
The funds will go towards the production costs of the CD. These costs include recording and editing, audio mastering, producing the CD artwork and notes, and mechanical reproduction rights.

There have been several exciting developments since I first proposed this project to Cafe Huntington. First, my production costs have been reduced even further. This grant could cover all of those costs. Next, Mark Custom Records has allowed the CD to be pre-released digitally. This means that as soon as production costs are covered that the CD will be released through outlets such as iTunes and Amazon along with streaming subscription services that many institutions have access to. Finally, the duplication costs have been reduced to 30% of my original estimate. With this grant it is very realistic that a physical CD will be on the market in the near future.

3 Month Goal:
If the funding is received it will allow the project to move towards completion by September 1st. I am very fortunate to have the assistance of my friends and colleagues on this CD project. It has kept the production costs far below the typical amount for this type of project. Furthermore, most of the composers have waived their mechanical reproduction rights because they are eager to have their art reach a broad audience. It is not uncommon for this phase of a CD project to cost thousands of dollars where as $400 will cover the costs mentioned above. I am also fortunate to have a business partner in Mark Custom Records. The reproduction costs will be a much less than similar CD projects. At the same time, a business partner with prolific distribution amongst music educators will ensure that the music, and our local artists, are heard both locally and internationally.