Howard Mayer Brown Fellowship
Ends on
Application Deadline: 11:59pm EST, 2 February 2026
OVERVIEW & ELIGIBILITY
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 in musicology of scholars and teachers from historically underrepresented backgrounds, the 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 (such as a member of a tribal community, graduate of a HBCU, etc.). Preference will normally be given to candidates who are citizens or permanent residents of a North American* country. The award will not be made to those who already have full funding roughly equivalent to the amount of the Howard Mayer Brown Fellowship, regardless of whether it includes a teaching assignment, except on a non-stipendiary basis.
Students are eligible who have completed at least one year of full-time graduate work, intend to pursue a Ph.D., and are in good standing at their home institution. They should show evidence of academic excellence and promise of continuing achievement in music scholarship. Those in the earlier stages of the degree are particularly encouraged to apply. Students at a U.S. or Canadian university who are a member of a historically underrepresented group are encouraged to apply.
*includes all 23 countries in the North American continent
COMPETITION AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES
To apply for the Howard Mayer Brown Fellowship, the following materials are required:
- A brief statement (not to exceed 200 words) indicating why the applicant should be considered as belonging to a historically underrepresented group, and the ways their experiences and background positively contribute to and inform their musicological work.
- A personal statement (not to exceed 1,000 words) summarizing the applicant’s musical and academic background and stating why they wish to pursue an advanced degree in music studies. Areas of research or specific topics that the applicant would pursue if supported by a Howard Mayer Brown Fellowship should be identified and discussed.
- A curriculum vitae.
- A sample or samples of the applicant’s work (not to exceed 30 pages total), such as term paper(s), thesis chapter(s), or any published material.
- One letter of support from a faculty member. The letter should address the applicant’s general academic abilities and how these might contribute to a successful career in music studies.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- Start your application process early. You may save an incomplete form and continue later.
- You MUST click the 'Submit' button at the end of the form to submit your application. Applications not submitted by the deadline cannot be considered.
- Upon submission of your application form you will receive an email confirmation. You may also check the status of your application by signing into your Submittable account and clicking "My Submissions".
- If you have any questions about your application, please contact the AMS office at ams@amsmusicology.org. For technical questions about Submittable, please visit submittable.com/contact.
AWARD
The fellowship carries a twelve-month stipend, currently set at $25,000. The recipient may also elect to accept the award on a non-stipendiary basis (thus freeing scarce resources for another). The fellowship is intended for full-time study. 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. Fellows are selected in the spring and announced in the summer.
Application Deadline: 11:59pm EST, 2 February 2026