With the generosity of many donors, Early Music America is pleased to be able to offer scholarships ($500 each) to students attending early music workshops in the United States and Canada.
Eligible applicants
Open to high school, undergraduate, or graduate students, enrolled full time in the spring term of application for the scholarship. Applicants may be of any nationality studying in a North American institution or North American citizens studying abroad.
Eligible workshops
Any North American workshop sponsored or endorsed by a major early music organization, such as (but not limited to): American Recorder Society, Amherst Early Music, Aston Magna, Country Dance & Song Society, Early Music Vancouver, Historic Brass Society, Historical Harp Society, Lute Society of America, Oberlin Baroque Performance Institute, San Francisco Early Music Society, Viola da Gamba Society of America.
Deadline & Application
All materials must be received in the Early Music America office by April 15. Because other materials are needed, please print out the online application and send it to the EMA offices.
Other required materials
- Statement of Sponsorship (letter of recommendation) from a professional music teacher, signed.
- Essay (no more than 300 words). Describe your background on your instrument or with early music performance in general, give us both your short-term and long-term goals in early music, where you see yourself five years from now, explain why you want or need a scholarship and what you hope to get out of the workshop you're applying to, and provide any other information you think will be helpful. 3 copies.
- Three (3) copies of a 15-minute CD, demonstrating applicant's performance on the instrument/voice/dance to be studied; the CD should be unedited, preferably from a live performance (with applause deleted). Include 3-5 short selections if possible. The applicant should be the "featured" performer in all selections.
- Three copies of the list of pieces included on the CD on regular letter size paper
Judging
Winners are chosen by members of the EMA Early Music in Higher Education Committee and announced on May 15. Three winners and three alternates will be selected; the latter will receive scholarships if for any reason winners are not able to attend their workshops.
Prize
Each scholarship consists of $500 plus one year's Student Membership in EMA. Number of scholarships awarded each year depends on the amount donated by generous patrons. An EMA membership will also be awarded to each winner's sponsoring teacher.