BY LAWS

The principal activities of the New York Composers Circle (NYCC) are:

1) Presenting several concerts each season with music of members and other composers.

2) Holding salons in which members and/or prospective members present new works and/or works in progress for discussion by the group. Salons are held monthly from September through June.

3) Developing audiences for new music by presenting outreach concerts and/or other events for students and others in New York and other locations.

4) Conducting an annual competition for non-member composers. The winning work will be programmed on a concert and the composer will receive a one-year free membership. At the discretion of the Competition Committee, more than one winner, and one or more Honorable Mentions may be awarded. The committee reserves the right to not declare a winner if no work is acceptable.

The regular operations of the organization will be governed by the following administrative structure:

• Executive Director
• Outreach Coordinator
• Deputy Executive Director
• Concert Director
• Webmaster and Editor of In the Loop
• Membership Coordinator
• Treasurer
• ASCAP and BMI Liaison
• Secretary
• Program Committee Chairperson
• Publicity Coordinator
• Salon Coordinator
• Fundraising Director

These officers, along with the Chair of the Board of Directors, shall constitute the Steering Committee. In some instances one person may hold more than one position.

There are three categories of membership:

Composer Members, who pay dues.

Honorary members, who pay no dues, and are invited by the Board of Directors

Performer Members, who do not pay dues.

These categories are mutually exclusive, although Composer Members may also perform on concerts.

Composers who wish to join must first attend one or more salons at which they present their music and introduce themselves. Subsequently they may be invited to join by the Executive Director after he or she secures approval by the Steering Committee.

After performing on one or more concerts a performer may be invited to become a Performer Member by a majority vote of the Steering Committee.

The Steering Committee shall meet monthly prior to each Salon to discuss and transact organizational business. All members may attend these meetings as non-voting participants.

The Executive Director is the chief operating officer of the organization and shall preside over Steering Committee meetings and Salons. In the event that the Executive Director is unable to attend, the Deputy Executive Director will preside. In the event that neither can attend, the Executive Director may appoint someone to preside.

The term of office for the Executive Director and the Deputy Executive director is two years. Each shall be elected by a plurality of responding eligible voting members. Elections will be held electronically every other year in September, and there is no limit on how often a member may run for each of these two offices.

There are no term limits for other administrative positions.

Dues-paying composer members in good standing may submit compositions to the Program Committee for consideration. The act of submission constitutes a commitment by the composer to make the work's score and parts available when programmed. Substitutions will not be permitted except in special circumstances, in consultation with the Concert Director. A work may not be withdrawn after selection except in special circumstances, in consultation with the Concert Director.

Composer Members who have not paid dues for two consecutive years shall be notified that they will be dropped from membership. In special circumstances the Executive Director may waive this requirement.

Members may attend NYCC concerts free of charge with each receiving one additional complimentary admission.

All Composer Members are expected to volunteer to help with each concert as needed. Each concert will have a volunteer Producer approved by the Concert Director. The Producer will organize the performers for the concert, arrange rehearsals, and stage manage the event.

In order to fund concert expenses each programmed composer must contribute payment for each performer as well as a Composer Fee, which helps to cover the costs associated with producing the concert, including, but not limited to, the rental of the performance space. These amounts will be determined by a majority vote of the Steering Committee. If a work requires renting special equipment and/or carting fees, such will accrue to the composer.

All Performer Fees and Composer Fees must be paid in full no later than two weeks prior to the scheduled performance. Failure to do so may result in a work being withdrawn from performance. If a work is withdrawn for non-payment, the performers will still be paid. The composer will continue to be responsible for payment and no future performance of his/her work will be allowed until full payment is received.

Officially adopted May 21, 2019