Honoring Margriet Tindemans
The Margriet Tindemans Early Strings Scholarship was established by Early Music America in 2018 to honor the life and work of the late Margriet Tindemans (1951-2014), a master of early stringed instruments and a shining figure in the field of early music. The biennial Scholarship provides support for specialized, advanced study outside North America that focuses on some aspect of Medieval, Renaissance, or Baroque bowed stringed instruments. The award will cover up to $25,000 in qualifying expenses for 2021-22, as outlined in the application form.
The 2021 Scholarship will be awarded to the applicant whose proposal best demonstrates a balance of originality, versatility, depth and breadth of study, and personal dedication. These elements must also be evident in the applicant’s previous endeavors. Applicants must demonstrate a high degree of musical accomplishment in order to be considered.
recorded by Alex Baker on October 10, 2020
2019-2020 Recipient: Alexander Baker
The inaugural Margriet Tindemans Scholarship was awarded in 2019 to Alexander Baker. Alex is now attending the Royal Conservatory of the Hague, where he studies viola da gamba with Professor Mieneke van der Velden and is conducting his research on the topic of ornamentation, with study of the existing primary sources to examine how ornamentation practices varied by region.
Of his experience, Alex says, “The Margriet Tindemans Early Strings Scholarship is giving me the incredible opportunity to broaden my education outside the U.S. and, thanks to the Scholarship and Early Music America, I am currently studying early music in the Netherlands. I’m grateful and honored to be affiliated with such an outstanding organization, and I look forward to returning to the U.S. to share my experiences and bridge early music practices here and abroad.”
Alex graduated in May 2019 from the University of Michigan with an M.M. in viola da gamba, and modern and baroque cello. He also has a B.M. in Cello Performance and a B.A. in German Language & Literature from Oberlin College & Conservatory, where he was introduced to the viola da gamba by Professor Catharina Meints, with whom he has continued to study.
Application deadline for 2021-2022: Sunday, March 14, 2021 at 11:59 PM ET
The award announcement will be made by May 7, 2021
Eligibility
- Applicants should have graduated with a bachelor’s or master’s degree, or be due to graduate in the spring of 2021.
- The Scholarship is intended for students who are at the beginning of their career as a performer and/or scholar. The Scholarship may not be used as support for those exclusively pursuing a soloist’s career.
- Applicants must demonstrate a high level of musical accomplishment.
- Students who are already engaged in a course of study outside North America and are seeking funding for continuation of their project may apply. These applicants must explain their status and how their proposed accomplishments will mesh with the terms of the Scholarship. However, priority will be given to applicants who have not yet studied outside of North America.
- The Scholarship may be applied in one of two ways:
- To offset the expenses of enrolling in a course of study at a university, conservatory, or similar institution outside of North America. Applicants must submit documentation demonstrating the institution’s ability to support the applicant’s specific area of study, as well as a letter of acceptance from the institution or a relevant faculty member.
- To pursue an original proposal not necessarily connected to an institution. Any such proposal must be described in as much detail as possible; this may include advanced study of one or more languages and relevant historical culture. However, the primary subject of such a proposal must be related to Medieval, Renaissance, or Baroque bowed stringed instruments (including but not limited to performance, performance practice, repertory, historical context, organology, or a combination of these things).
- Applicants must be permanently based in North America. This includes the 23 countries formally comprising North America, including Canada, the USA, Mexico and other countries of Central America which make up the southern-most part of North America.
- Early Music America membership is required of all applicants. (Historical performance students qualify for a one-year complimentary student membership. Please contact info@earlymusicamerica.org for more information.)
Expenses
Covered Expenses
- Tuition and fees for a one-year course of study
- Language and cultural study programs, if applicable
- Living expenses
- Project-related travel expenses, including round-trip transportation between North America and Europe.
- Reasonable miscellaneous expenses (to be detailed in applicant’s proposed budget)
Expenses not covered
- Purchase, repair, or insurance of instruments
- Personal medical expenses incurred abroad
- Visas and residence permits, if required
Materials to be submitted
- Completed application form
- Personal statement, not to exceed 1,000 words
- Applicants must submit with their proposal a detailed budget for the year abroad. Submission of a carefully prepared budget will be an important consideration in the selection process.
- Resume
- Online video with three contrasting samples of your musicianship, not to exceed 15 minutes total in length. The judges’ main consideration is to clearly hear the work of the candidate in order to be able to judge applicant’s sound, musicality, and understanding of language and creative ideas.
- Two letters of recommendation from teachers or other professionals familiar with your qualifications for this Scholarship.
The intention of the Scholarship is to provide funding for study abroad, beginning in the fall of 2021. However, given the uncertainty introduced by the current COVID-19 pandemic, study abroad beginning in the fall of 2021 may not be possible. In this case, the funds awarded to the recipient of the Scholarship will be held until it is possible for the applicant to use them in the manner originally described in their proposal.