Grants & Programs
The Society offers a variety of grants and programs to support members including Grants-in-Aid, the Circuit Rider Program, Private Lesson Subsidies, Consort Loan Program, Workshop Grants, Chapter Start-up Grants, and the Chapter Conclave Voucher Program. These grants and programs are made possible by your generosity, please consider making a donation.
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Already a member? Read more about these grants and programs and apply in the Members' Area.
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Not a member of the VdGSA yet? Learn about the benefits of membership.
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Grants-in-Aid
The Grants-in-Aid program supports the mission of the VdGSA by providing financial grants for individual members' projects and purchases. The program is open to individuals who have been members of the Society for a full calendar year. Awards vary but are usually in the $500-$2,000 range.
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Grants-in-Aid may be awarded for many kinds of projects, for example:
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purchasing instruments, bows, travel cases
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participating in workshops (except Conclave), master classes, or competitions
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apprenticing as a teacher at local workshops, mentored by workshop faculty
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initiating programs for beginning viol players and/or outreach
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Other proposals, including those by instrument makers, may be considered.
Interested applicants can contact the President of the Society, John Moran, with any questions and a brief description of their proposed project.
Circuit Rider Program
In 2008, the Society initiated the "Circuit Rider Program" to provide support to communities without a local viol teacher who wish to set up an ongoing relationship with a viol teacher. The purpose of the program is to provide an opportunity for players in such communities to have regular lessons and make progress in their playing by subsidizing teacher travel expenses.
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"...participation in the Circuit Rider Program with Viols Houston has engendered a strong sense of community and family among us, enabled us to coalesce as a viol community, and has emboldened us to tackle ambitious projects..." Brady Lanier
The Circuit Rider Coordinator is Isabel Hendry.
Private Lesson Subsidy Program
The Private Lesson Subsidy is a pilot program to subsidize private viol lessons for VdGSA members who need assistance to afford lessons. The program provides a partial reimbursement of $40 per lesson for up to six private lessons in a 12-month period.
Contact Private Lesson Subsidy coordinator Ann Barclay Rovner with questions.
Workshop Grants
Workshop grants support organizers and teachers who wish to put on a workshop. The Society awards these grants with the goal of providing the greatest number of teaching and learning opportunities for the greatest number of people, with special preference given to areas not regularly served by teachers. There are no deadlines and applications are accepted at any time during the year.
Contact Coordinator Lucy Bardo with questions.
Chapter Start-up Grants
Starting a new Chapter? The Society makes available two $500 Chapter Start-up Grants each year on a first-come, first-served basis.
Contact Chapters and Areas Representative Amy Domingues with questions.
Chapter Conclave Voucher Program
The VdGSA Chapter Conclave Voucher program provides each Chapter with one $300 voucher per year, to be used by one or more Chapter members towards their Conclave fees. All Chapters are encouraged to publicize the voucher’s availability to all their members. Contact your Chapter representative for more information.
Consort Loan Program
The Consort Loan Program empowers teachers to begin viola da gamba programs, primarily for younger musicians, by providing instruments for a two-year period with the possibility of renewal. Applicants for this program must have been members of the VdGSA for at least one year. For more information about the program and the application process, visit the Programs and Grants section in the Members' area, and refer to the Consort Loan Program title on the sidebar.
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Contact Ronald Vernon for more information.
GUTSY Grant
Funding is available to support programs that foster interest and excellence in the gamba for younger people, especially those from historically marginalized communities. The program is open to all members of the Society (except Institutional members) who have been members for a full calendar year.