Ronald Barnes Memorial Grant

Ronald Barnes

As the leading promoter and educator of the carillon art on the continent, The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America invites you to apply for a Ronald Barnes Memorial Grant. They help North Americans pursue studies in carillon performance, composition, music history, or instrument design.

The grant fund was established in 1998 and named in honor of Ronald Barnes. A prominent carillonneur and respected member of the GCNA, he made extraordinary contributions to the North American carillon art through his compositions and musicological research. Since the first grant cycle in 2007, we have awarded over US$100,000 to more than 2 dozen research projects.

See past recipients

Eligibility

Grants of up to US$14,478 are available for the 2024 grant cycle depending on the number of successful applicants.

• You must be a resident of North America.
• You will propose to study carillon performance, composition, music history, or instrument design in North America. You may not request to commission music, sponsor recitals, or back commercial ventures.
• Membership in the GCNA is not required.

2023 grant recipients

Congratulations to the grant recipients of the 2023 cycle!

• Tom Gurin will conduct a musicological study on the influence of John Powell on American carillon culture.
• Lisa Lonie and Janet Tebbel will complete a second phase of work on the Barnes Collection housed at Bok Tower in Lake Wales, Florida. The final product will be a comprehensive online finding guide along with a detailed inventory of Barnes' compositions and manuscripts.
• Naoko Tsujita will collect data for an eventual database of chamber music scores for carillon and other instruments.

How to apply

To apply, submit a completed application form to the co-chairs of the Ronald Barnes Memorial Grant Committee, Robin Austin and Carolyn Bolden, at barnes@gcna.org. In your application you will provide:

• A clear and concise statement outlining your plan of study
• A brief summary stating why your proposal merits an award as it relates to the mission of the grant fund
• An estimated budget for your proposal (the Barnes Committee has outlined budget considerations as a guide)
• Details of your personal background, including education, work experience, and other activities and achievements
• Letters from 3 references in support of your proposal

Key dates

• Application deadline: March 1, 2024
• Grants awarded: Mid-June 2024
• Project deadline: June 2026 (projects must be completed within 2 years)

What to expect after you apply

The Ronald Barnes Memorial Grant Committee reviews all applications. Jurors are appointed annually by the Board of Directors. For the 2024 grant cycle, they are to be determined.

If your proposal is accepted, you will sign a Letter of Agreement, which formalizes your project and outlines the terms and conditions of using the grant.

Mission of the grant fund

The Ronald Barnes Memorial Grant fund seeks to promote the growth and vitality of the North American carillon culture by encouraging study in carillon performance, composition, music history, or instrument design. It's named in honor of Ronald Barnes, who for nearly 50 years was a major force in establishing a North American approach to the art of the carillon. The GCNA established the fund in 1998 and began awarding grants in 2007.