CMA's regular initiatives include grants, awards, and commissioning programs for ensembles and presenters, a national conference held annually in New York City, and the publication of Chamber Music magazine.
CMA-members organizations and individuals include ensembles, musicians, concert presenters, artist managers, composers, educators, and others involved in the performance of classical, jazz, contemporary, and world music.
After first initiating a series of residencies designed to bring small ensemble performance into new, community-oriented venues, CMA was chosen by the National Endowment for the Arts to administer NEA's first chamber music grant program.
The first Chamber Music America National Conference was held in 1978, and membership was extended to presenters, artist managers, publicists, and music-related businesses shortly thereafter.
CMA's two jazz-specific grant programs—New Jazz Works: Commissioning and Ensemble Development and Presenter Consortium for Jazz—are supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.