The Barbara B. Smith ’42 Grant is made possible through a trust created by Pomona Music major Barbara B. Smith (1920–2021). One of the early members of the Society for Ethnomusicology, Dr. Smith went on to establish non-Western music in the curriculum at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and to mentor generations of scholars and world music educators.
The grant is intended to support opportunities for experiencing off-campus research, instruction, workshops, and conferences in ethnomusicology and/or involving direct contact with non-Western music in settings beyond the college classroom. The grant may be awarded to one or more students annually, through application.
Undergraduate students from any of the Claremont Colleges are eligible to apply. Applicants should be active participants in the Pomona College Music curriculum.
To apply, submit a proposal in a single document to the grant coordinator Prof. Gibb Schreffler by September 15 (for November-May opportunities) or April 1 (for June-October opportunities). The proposal should include:
- A brief executive summary of the proposal, including essential details about yourself
- A summary of your activity in the Pomona College Music Department, such as enrollment in classes, ensembles, and lessons
- Exposition of your plans, including the dates, location(s), and nature of the project or opportunity
- An explanation of how the opportunity would enrich your studies at the Claremont Colleges, facilitate your academic trajectory (e.g. work toward a Senior Project), and/or better prepare you for the future
- The exact amount of financial support being requested, with each expense itemized (e.g. “program cost,” “roundtrip airfare,” “3 nights’ lodging”)
- Information about other potential sources of funding: gifts through other campus organizations, SURP, personal savings, parental support, etc.
- Any deadlines associated with bookings or application to programs that the reviewers should know about
Competitive applications will demonstrate: 1) how the opportunity offers an experience substantially different from what is available through the Claremont Colleges; 2) how the opportunity facilitates progress toward or sharing of original ethnomusicological research, or development as a performer of a non-Western musical tradition, especially in one’s academic trajectory at the Claremont Colleges; and 3) a realistic sense of proportionality with respect to what the opportunity entails, the applicant’s preparedness to undertake the opportunity, and the financial cost of the opportunity in relation to its benefits.
Prospective applicants may contact Prof. Schreffler with questions about the grant. Applicants are invited to seek feedback before submitting a proposal.