Frequently Asked Questions
ABOUT ICD
How did ICD begin?
ICD started as a small database project at the State University of New York at Fredonia in the summer of 2016. What began as a list of women composers and their websites, created with the help of numerous Fredonia students and faculty, blossomed into the Women Composers Database, a searchable spreadsheet that was publicly launched in December 2017. In June 2018, the project had grown to include many composers from historically excluded groups and was launched as a stand-alone website as the Composer Diversity Database. In January 2019, the State University of New York at Fredonia agreed to the formation of the Institute for Composer Diversity. In 2020, the current team structure of ICD was created and the database resources were shifted to an “opt-in” model where composers and their works are only included once ICD receives permission from the composers themselves. Many individuals have contributed in small and large ways at each stage of the project as it has grown and changed since it began. Over years of development, the Institute for Composer Diversity owes its success to a team of volunteers, interns, composers, and research fellows who have and will continue to push ICD to become more inclusive and accessible.
Where is ICD located?
ICD is an organization based at the State University of New York at Fredonia. It does not have a building—or even a room—dedicated to it, but rather it is made up of dedicated staff located at Fredonia and across the country.
How is ICD Structured?
ICD is sponsored by the State University of New York at Fredonia, and its financial activity is supported by the Fredonia College Foundation, both of which are non-profit entities. While the Institute is sponsored by the university, it does not receive any allocation of state funds. ICD’s funding is a combination of individual giving, major gifts, and grant support.
All members of the ICD team are volunteers. The administrative team and research fellows may receive small stipends if funds are available to do so. Since 2019, some ICD team members have received stipend funds for their work, while others have chosen to donate their stipends as in-kind gifts. While our internships are currently unpaid, ICD works with colleges and universities to provide credit where internships are a requirement of an academic program and also works with university work-study programs from institutions when possible to provide work-study compensation.
ABOUT THE DATABASES
What is the difference between the composer diversity database and the works databases?
The composer diversity database is a listing of women and non-binary composers, those from historically excluded racial, ethnic, or cultural heritages, and/or people who identify in the LGBTQIA2S+ community. The works database is a listing of works by these composers. The two datasets are linked “behind the scenes” so that a person can search for works using specific criteria (i.e., Latinx composers) or look up a genre (i.e., piano solo) and find works by composers from anyone in the composer database.
How do composers and works get entered into ICD’s Databases?
Works and composers are submitted to ICD through the submission forms, either by composers themselves or by third-party submitters. Once submitted, all entries go to the ICD team for review, and ICD staff follow a communication protocol that involves necessary positive consent for inclusion before the composer is entered into the database. Consent is central to ICD’s processes for transparency and equity, so all details regarding a composer must be confirmed by the composer themselves before listing in the public database. Works are also reviewed for completeness, to the extent possible, before being uploaded to the public database.
Who do I contact about an update to a database entry?
For changes to database entries, please contact us at info@composerdiversity.com.
GETTING STARTED
I want to program a more diverse repertoire. Where do I begin?
ICD offers several recommendations and example programs for more diverse repertoires on our Best Practices page.
How do I get involved?
There are lots of ways to help contribute to ICD’s mission and goals. If you would like to volunteer with ICD please contact ICD at info@composerdiversity.com.