Early Music America offers awards of up to $1,500 annually to support outreach projects for children and/or adults by organizations, ensembles, and individual artists. The awards are intended to promote awareness and appreciation of early music and historical performance with the goal drawing new audiences and participants.

Engagement includes, but is not limited to, the following:

  • Early-music activities that focus on children, in or out of school.
  • Early-music activities in public and private schools.
  • Lifelong learning courses on early music.
  • Web, video, podcast, or other creative activities that advance public awareness and enjoyment of early music.
  • Early-music activities that reach underserved audiences and populations and historically underfunded racial or ethnic identity groups, especially African-American, Asian-American, Latinx, and Indigenous communities.

Eligibility, Required Materials, and Application Instructions available below.
The application period is March to mid-April each year.
Funded projects may take place beginning July of the award year through June of the following year.

2022 Recipients

Kasia Bielak-Hoops, Ypsilanti, MI

To support Vó·ce Veläta‘s collaboration with bassist and composer and latest winner of the Sphinx competition, Kebra-Seyoun Charles, furthering their mission to highlight underrepresented black artists and composers. Kebra and Vó·ce Veläta will present a neo-baroque choral and chaconne inspired by Bach as well as an adaptation of a Negro spiritual.

Jonathon Hampton, Washington, D.C.

To support conductor and singer Jonathon Hampton in teaching Washington, DC-area high school students of color the early-music tradition of singing negro spirituals, which developed in the United States throughout the Baroque period. With the teaching of sight-reading as a through-line, Hampton will share the history, music theory, call-and-response ear-training and vocal techniques of this African-American repertoire.

Vikram Joshi, Moorestown, NJ

To incorporate an early-music concert showcasing talented middle- and upper-school musicians in the Mooretown, NJ and Philadelphia, PA areas into the West Jersey Chamber Music Society’s 2022-23 season.

Sarasa Chamber Music Ensemble, Cambridge, MA

To support “Re-discovering Historical Role Models in Music (and the Arts).” With “Female Torchbearers of the Baroque,” Sarasa aims to open a dialogue with Middle School students at the Epiphany School in Dorchester, MA, inviting them to discover role models they may have never known existed.

Sonido Barroco San Antonio, San Antonio, TX

To support “Terra Antiqua, Terra Nova (Old World, New World)” which will showcase the music of JS Bach alongside lesser known composers like Ignacio de Jerusalem. Jerusalem highlights the classical music activities happening in the New World in Mexico and his collaboration with Latino and indigenous peoples in Mexico. It is Sonido Barroco San Antonio’s aim to bring more music that occurred in North America to San Antonio audiences.

  • The 2023 application will be available Tuesday, March 7
  • Applications must be submitted by Monday, April 17, 2023
  • Awardees will be notified by Monday, May 1, 2023 and must accept by Friday, May 5, 2023.
  • Awardees are required to submit a final report, including high resolution video or photos, following the completion of their Engagement Award-funded project. Final reports should be submitted within one month of the completion of the project and no later than June 30 of the following year.

We highly encourage you to submit your application several days prior to the deadline, so we can resolve any issues in a timely matter. We will not be able to accept any applications after the deadline has passed.

Apply now

Questions about this application may be sent to specialprojects@earlymusicamerica.org.

1) Early Music America membership is required of all applicants:

  • Institutions must be an EMA Organization Member to apply for any project to be carried out by that institution.
    • Example: Our Town Viol Consort would like to receive funding for a series of educational events. Our Town Viol Consort must be a an Organization Member at the time of application. The Executive Director, Jane Smith, an EMA Personal Member, may not apply on behalf of Our Town Viol Consort via her membership.
  • Students may redeem a one-year complimentary student membership once during their course of study.
  • If you are unsure of your membership status or have other questions regarding the membership requirement, please email info@earlymusicamerica.org.

2) Each applicant may submit no more than one proposal per year.

3) Award recipients are ineligible to apply until the third year following their award. If you receive an Engagement Award in 2023, you may re-apply in 2026.

4) Current EMA board members and staff are not eligible to apply.

5) Proposed projects must take place between July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024.

6) Projects must take place in North, Central, or South America.

  • Name of Applicant (Individual, Ensemble, or Organization)
  • Applicant email, phone, and address
  • Primary Contact name
  • Project Description: provide a description of the project for which the award will be used. (500 words)
  • Project Impact: provide an estimated impact of the project (i.e. number of students served, hours of contact time, etc). (500 words)
  • Project Dates
  • Educational/Engagement Activities: provide a description and any web links that would demonstrate previous educational/engagement activities. (300-700 words)
  • Project Budget PDF showing projected revenues and expenses. Please also include any in-kind revenues and expenses as well as income you hope to receive from the award.
  • Biographical Information: summarize your institution’s history in one paragraph, with a link to your website (if applicable) and include a short bio of key individuals involved in the project. (500 words)
  • Supporting Documents: while not required, you may upload any brochures, programs, or curriculum materials for proposed project or past activities to support your application.

Past Engagement Award Recipients (2011-present)

2020-21

No Awards Given

2019

The Brandenburg Project
Burning River Baroque
Kaleidoscope Vocal Ensemble
Arkansas Baroque Music, Inc.

2018

Les Délices
Forgotten Clefs
Savannah Baroque
S’Cool Sounds

2017

Ars Musica Chicago
Bach Around the Clock
Early Music Associates
Seattle Historical Arts for Kids
Singen und Sagen

2016

Blue Hill Bach
Carol Lewis
Catacoustic Consort
Polyhymnia
Special Music School

2015

Belladonna
Early Music in Motion
Julie Elhard
Les Canards Chantants
Pegasus Rising

2014

Filigree Baroque
Lycoming Baroque Choir and Orchestra (formerly Billtown Baroque)
Salish Sea Players
Three Notch’d Road
World of Harpsichord

2013

The Connecticut Early Music Society
Jouyssance Early Music Ensemble

2012

Ars Lyrica Houston
Echoing Air
Jessica Powell and the Capitol Consort of Viols
MYSO (Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra) Baroque Players
The Rose Ensemble

2011

Catacoustic Consort
Jessica Powell and the Capitol Consort of Viols
Lisa Terry
Seattle Historical Arts for Kids

College-Level Development Grant (2011-2017)

From 2011 to 2017 Early Music America offered grants annually to college or university Early Music Ensembles to support a specific project or event that will enrich or broaden the educational experience of the students, and/or help to elevate the profile of such ensembles on campus, in their community or nationally.

2017

Reed College Collegium Musicum

2016

Case-Western Reserve University Baroque Chamber and Dance Ensembles
Texas Tech University Early Music Ensemble

2015

University of Oregon Collegium Musicum

2014

CWRU Baroque Music and Dance Ensembles
Cornell Baroque Orchestra

2013

Rutgers Mason Gross School for the Arts
Western Michigan University Collegium Musicum

2012

Metropolitan State College of Denver Early Music Ensemble
St. Olaf Early Music Singers and Collegium Musicum

2011

The University of Texas at Austin Early Music Ensemble

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