The annual meeting of the NorCal chapter will take place at the Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies at San Jose State University on Saturday, April 12, from 9:30am to 3:30pm (timetable tbc).

We invite submissions for 20-minute paper presentations on any subject of musicological interest. Lecture recitals and panels will also be considered.

Abstract submissions are due by end of day on March 14, 2025. Please send your proposals to the NorCal chapter president, Erica Buurman (erica.buurman -at- sjsu.edu). The proposal should include a title and a 250-word abstract.

At this conference we will confer the Northern California Prize in Musicology for the best graduate student paper presented at the meeting. The prize consists of a $250 prize and the winner will be named at the end of the conference. If you would like to be considered for the award, please indicate this when you submit your abstract.

Conference registration itself is free, but we ask that presenters and in-person attendees join the chapter or renew their memberships via the general AMS membership page: https://www.amsmusicology.org/chapter-and-study-group-signup/. Chapter dues are $15 (free for student members).

Updates and further information will be posted on the chapter website https://norcal.ams-net.org/.

Best wishes,

Erica Buurman, San Jose State University (Chapter President)
Edmund Mendelssohn, UC Berkeley (Secretary-Treasurer)
Daniel Koplitz, Stanford University (Student Representative)

Colleagues,

     Please see the announcement below concerning a research fellowship opportunity at the Library of Congress in 2025. This Fellowship is not restricted to any specific research focus.

Annegret Fauser and Tim Carter Fellowship

Music Division, Library of Congress

     The Music Division’s Annegret Fauser and Tim Carter Research Fellowship (“the Fellowship”) is made possible by a generous donation of Drs. Fauser and Carter in 2022. For decades, Drs. Fauser and Carter have been regular researchers in the Performing Arts Reading Room and good friends to the Music Division.

     The purpose of the award is to ensure support for post-doctoral (or equivalent) researchers of any nationality engaging in projects centered on collections held within the Library’s Music Division. Recipients may engage with other research collections in the Library or elsewhere in Washington, DC, but the primary focus will be the Music Division collections. The award will be a stipend of up to $2,000 and is to be used to cover travel (e.g., airfare, train, mileage, etc.) to and from Washington, D.C., overnight accommodations, as well as other research expenses. The Fellowship will be awarded to applicants proposing well-conceived projects that will primarily use the Music Division’s collections.

Eligibility

     Post-doctoral (or equivalent) researchers with a need for the Fellowship support are encouraged to apply. All researchers must meet the requirements of the reading rooms that they plan to access during their research visit. The Performing Arts Reading Room requirements are at the following link: https://www.loc.gov/research-centers/performing-arts/about-this-research-center/. Individuals who are not U.S. residents but who otherwise meet the above academic qualifications may also apply and be considered for a Fellowship, contingent upon the applicant’s visa eligibility.

     In the interest of increasing awareness and extending documentation of Library of Congress collections, Fellows are required to make use of the Music Division’s extensive collections; be in residence for a minimum of at least five business days during the award period; and share information derived from their research at the Library through a publication, public lecture (or other event), or digital humanities project within twelve months of completing their research at the Library (or have acceptance for publication within twelve months). Each Fellowship recipient must also notify the selection committee once their publication is completed and provide a hyperlink to the work. There must be some form of acknowledgment within all related presentations, events, and publications that research was supported by the Fellowship.

What are the application requirements?

     Please submit the following via email submission to Vincent Novara vnovara@loc.gov (accepted only via email):

1. An up-to-date résumé or curriculum vita (brief) providing information as to education, degrees received, fellowships and honors, publications, positions held, and other pertinent information.

2. A one-page abstract (250 words maximum) that specifies how the proposed project is related to the research that features the Music Division’s collections or more broadly within the field of music; and identifies specifically which Library collections the applicant intends to utilize in research during the required period of residency at the Library of Congress.

3. A description of the proposed project (no longer than five pages) including (a) accomplishments to date, (b) a timetable for completion, (c) an itemized budget (including necessary travel and research expenses), (d) plans for use of the Library of Congress collections, and (e) other pertinent information, including plans for publication. (Font no smaller than 11 point, double-spaced).

4. Two letters of recommendation. Please give your recommenders copies of your proposal and ask them to comment on your strengths and weaknesses, the value of the proposed project, and your abilities to carry out the project as described.

5. Applications lacking any of these required components will automatically be eliminated from review.

When will the Fellowship begin? 

     The Fellowship can start at the Music Division in the James Madison Building after May 12, 2025, but should be complete by August 29, 2025. The Fellowship is required to be conducted in person. Completed applications are due by midnight February 17, 2025; notification will occur in March 2025.

Selection process

     Each application will be reviewed by the selection committee composed of the Music Division’s Assistant Chief, the Head of Acquisitions and Processing, and the Head of Reader Services. The Library reserves the right to not award the Fellowship or to award more than one Fellowship.

Additional benefits for the applicant during their residency at the Library

     The Fellow will receive a welcome tour of the Library by the Music Division’s Head of Acquisitions & Processing and Head of Reader Services. The tour will include how to find relevant reading rooms, the location of various amenities, and introductions to appropriate staff. This overview will allow the Fellow to focus on their research rather than losing valuable time trying to find out how to navigate the Library.

The American Musicological Society is calling for applications for the Alvin H. Johnson AMS 50 Dissertation Fellowship, Howard Mayer Brown Fellowship, and Holmes / D’Accone Dissertation Fellowship in Opera Studies. These programs provide support for advancing or completing a doctorate. Apply by 3 February 2025, 11:59pm ET.

Alvin H. Johnson AMS 50 Fellowships provide funding for the final year of PhD dissertation work and are awarded on the basis of academic merit. Fellows receive a twelve-month stipend, currently set at $25,000.

The William F. Holmes / Frank D’Accone Dissertation Fellowship in Opera Studies provides funding for dissertation research and completion focused on the study of opera. The Holmes/D’Accone Opera Studies Fellowship is awarded on the basis of academic merit. Fellows receive a year-long stipend, currently set at $25,000.

The Howard Mayer Brown Fellowship supports one year of graduate work for a student at a U.S. or Canadian university who is a member of a historically underrepresented group. The fellowship carries a twelve-month stipend, currently set at $25,000.

To apply, visit https://americanmusicologicalsociety.submittable.com/submit/282715/ams-fellowships

CFP: Timbre and Orchestration in Popular Song

McGill Univ., Montreal, 5-7 Jun 2025

The proposal submission deadline for the Timbre and Orchestration in Popular Song Conference (TOPS) is February 1st, 2025.

Two updates regarding the CFP:

1. TOPS will be able to, in a limited capacity, facilitate several presentations given remotely / virtually

2. TOPS will also offer partial travel and accommodation support for two applicants of successful proposals, based on stated need (i.e., if the applicant is a student, precariously employed professional, or otherwise unable to secure travel funding). These offers will be made per the recommendation of the program committee.

All details are available at: https://www.mcgill.ca/tops2025/cfp

Spokane, Washington, February 13-16, 2025

Sessions

Deb Confredo, NAfME President

• February 13: “Collaboration, Connections, and Creativity: Working Together Towards Music Education Goals”
• February 15: “A Blueprint for Strengthening the Music Teacher Profession: All Hands on Deck!”
• February 16: “Our Shared Mission: Mapping the Future of Music Education Through the Blueprint”

Angela Keedy, NAfME Professional Development Specialist

• February 16: “Connected Arts Networks: Creating Systems of Support and Professional Learning for Music Teachers”

Jazzmone Sutton, NAfME Senior Manager for State Advocacy and Equity

• February 16: “Seeking the Light Within: How to Maintain Your Advocacy Efforts in the Face of Burnout”

https://nafme.org/event/2025-nafme-northwest-division-conference/

The Cascade Song Festival happens THIS WEEK at UO. See the complete schedule here:

Complete Festival Schedule