Awards of The Society for American Music

H. Earle Johnson Bequest for Book Publication Subvention

H. Earle Johnson, pioneer scholar of music in America, was a founding member, former Vice President, and first Chairman of the Publications Committee of the Sonneck Society (now the Society for American Music). He served the Society with enthusiasm and dedication tempered by realistic vision and sound judgment. His contributions to scholarly study of music in America are numerous, the quality and significance of which are reflected by ubiquitous references to his works in scholarly publications. Johnson was a member of the music faculty at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, from 1937-1942 and 1946-1953, a visiting professor of music at Temple University in Philadelphia, and a professor in the Eminent Scholars Program of the College of William Mary in 1975, He continued at William and Mary as a visiting professor until his retirement in 1983. Early in his career, as a critic for the New Haven Register , Earle developed an ear and heart for the performers of music. Though music criticism ceased to serve as his means of livelihood, he retained an avid interest in concert life and continued to be charitable in supporting and encouraging performers and organizations. In recognition of his many contributions to the history of American music and his service to the Society, H. Earle Johnson was elected as an Honorary Member in 1986. The H. Earle Johnson Book Publication Subvention Award of the Society for American Music is intended to support the costs of the publication of a significant monograph on an important topic in American Music.

Please note that t he Johnson Subvention is not for research-related expenses, but for publication costs, and the application must come from the Publisher. The subvention is for completed manuscripts, not works-in-progress.

This fund is administered by the Book Publications Committee and provides two subventions up to $2,500 annually. The deadline for application is 15 November. Application Information.

Sight and Sound

This subvention fund is administered by the Sight and Sound Committee and provides annual subventions of approximately $700-$900. The deadline for application is 15 November. Application Information. Works Published with the Assistance of SAM Subventions

Student Travel Endowment

Grants are available for student members who wish to attend the annual conference. These funds are intended to help with the cost of travel. Application Information.

Mark Tucker Award

Mark Tucker, Vice President of the Society for American Music at the time of his death in December 2000, is known to most SAM members as a leading jazz scholar; his Ellington: The Early Years and his Duke Ellington Reader are landmarks in Ellington scholarship and models of musical biography. Recognizing Mark's gift for nurturing and inspiring his own students and the high value he placed on skillful and communicative scholarly writing, and wishing to honor his memory, the Board of the Society for American Music has established the Mark Tucker Award, to be presented at the Business Meeting of the annual SAM conference to a student presenter who has written an outstanding paper for delivery at that conference. Application Information