MacDowell, the nation’s first artist residency program, has awarded 149 Fellowships to artists working in seven disciplines from 25 states and 15 countries for the Spring-Summer season. Composers Jeanine Tesori and Ellis Ludwig-Leone are among the selected.

Artists will arrive at MacDowell’s campus in Peterborough, NH from March through August 2025 for an average stay of four weeks. The incoming group of artists-in-residence were selected from a pool of over two thousand applications with an acceptance rate of 6.7 percent. Fellowships are awarded based on a work sample judged by independent panels of experts in each of MacDowell’s seven disciplines.

Tesori is an American composer and musical arranger best known for her work in the theater. She won the 1999 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music in a Play, the 2004 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music, the 2015 Tony Award for Best Original Score (shared with Lisa Kron), making them the first female writing team to win that award, and the 2023 Tony Award for Best Original Score (shared with David Lindsay-Abaire). She was also named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama twice. Her opera, “Grounded” opened the Metropolitan Opera’s 2024-25 season.

Ludwig-Leone is a multi-genre Brooklyn-based composer. He has composed works for the contemporary classical ensembles and organizations including the New York City Ballet, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and Brooklyn Youth Chorus. His albums include “False We Hope,”  “Past Life / Lifeline,” and “Peaceful Choirs.” His opera “The Night Falls” was developed as part of the American Opera Project’s Dance Opera Initiative.

“We are thrilled by this season’s incoming Fellows and the diverse artistry they will bring to MacDowell. Spanning cultures, disciplines, and perspectives, they will enrich MacDowell with their depth and innovation.” said Courtney Bethel, MacDowell’s Admissions Director in a press release.

The next application deadline is Sept. 10, for the Spring-Summer 2026 residency season.

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