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The Howard Mayer Brown Fellowship was established by friends of the late Howard Mayer Brown on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday. Intended to increase the presence of minority scholars and teachers in musicology, the fellowship supports one year of graduate work for a student at a North American University who is a member of a group historically underrepresented in the discipline, including, in the U.S., African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans, and, in Canada, visible minorities. Preference will normally be given to candidates who are citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. or Canada.

Eligibility

Students are eligible who have completed at least one year of graduate work, intend to pursue a Ph.D., and are in good standing at their home institution. The fellowship is not restricted to dissertation work. Fellowships are awarded on the basis of academic merit. There are no restrictions as to research area, age, or sex.

Competition and Application Procedures

Applications may be made directly by the student, or the student may be nominated by a faculty member of the institution at which the student is enrolled or by a member of the Society at another institution. Supporting documents must include:

1. A personal statement from the student (not to exceed five pages) summarizing his or her musical and academic background and stating why she or he wishes to pursue an advanced degree in musicology. Areas of research or specific topics that the applicant would pursue in the 2008-2009 academic year if supported by a Howard Mayer Brown Fellowship should be identified and discussed.
2. A summary statement, not to exceed 250 words, outlining areas of research or specific topics presented in the personal statement (item 1).
3. A curriculum vitae.
4. Letters of support from three faculty members, one of which may be the letter of nomination. These should address the applicant's general intellectual and musical ability and how these might contribute to a successful career in scholarship and teaching. Letters of recommendation should be sent as an attachment to an e-mail, to hmb-apps_at_ams-net.org, or via fax to the AMS office (877 679 7648, or 207 798 4254).
5. Samples of the applicant's work (typically not to exceed thirty pages total), such as term papers, thesis chapters, or any published material. Writing samples should be clearly labeled as to their date and the purpose or context for which they were originally written.
   

The fellowship, intended for full-time study, is awarded annually. Winners receive a twelve-month stipend currently set at $17,000. Fellowships are for one year and are not deferrable or renewable. There are no provisions for the payment of tuition: it is hoped that graduate schools will provide tuition fellowships or waivers. The AMS encourages the institution at which the recipient is pursuing his or her degree to offer continuing financial support.

Application Deadline and Address

Applications should be made using the online submission form. The application is due on or before 15 January 2009, 5:00 p.m. EST. The winner is selected in the Spring, announced in the Summer issue of the AMS Newsletter, and given formal recognition at the Annual Business Meeting and Awards Presentation of the Society.

Inquiries should be addressed to the chair of the committee: Martha Feldman.

AMS Home Page                        Online application submission form                  Previous winners