SECM

The Society for Eighteenth-Century Music Thesis/Dissertation Completion Award

This award recognizes a graduate student who is currently working on a thesis or dissertation in eighteenth-century music studies. It carries a monetary award of $500 as well as a one-year membership in SECM. The award will be granted biennially at the General Meeting of the Society for Eighteenth-Century Music.

The next award will be granted in 2026.

Rules:

  • The student may self-nominate or may be nominated by an advisor, mentor, or a member of the Society; the student or nominator must be a member of the Society for Eighteenth-Century Music at the time of nomination. The nominator must apply by the deadline below, by emailing adesimone@secm.org. The additional materials will be solicited after nominations are received.
  • The thesis or dissertation must currently be in progress or have been completed between January 1, 2025 and November 15, 2026.
  • The nomination packet must include a one-page letter of support from the student’s graduate advisor, a mentor in the field of eighteenth-century studies, or a member of SECM, which explains the originality and significance of the work to eighteenth-century music studies. The initial nomination letter may serve as the letter of support unless the student self-nominates, in which case a one-page letter of support must be provided.
  • The nomination packet must also include both a complete prospectus/outline and a writing sample (preferably a chapter, maximum 50 double-spaced pages) from the nominated work. These items must make clear how the thesis or dissertation expands eighteenth-century music studies in bold and innovative directions.
  • Previous winners are ineligible to apply subsequent times for the award.

Nominations must be received by email to adesimone@secm.org no later than August 1, 2026, for conferral of the award at the 2026 SECM General Meeting. All applications will be acknowledged; if you do not receive an acknowledgment of your email, please contact the President.

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