Student Fellowships

The Institute will offer up to nine fellowships for outstanding senior or graduate music education majors nominated by their college band directors. We are thrilled to offer this special opportunity for the newest members of our profession to interact with more experienced colleagues and leaders in the field!

Costs

The reduced Institute Fellowship Fee is $100. Fellows participate in all sessions and activities and take part in discussions and conducting activities specifically tailored for beginning teachers. Fellows will not receive Continuing Education Units (CEUs); any prospective fellow interested in receiving graduate credit should contact Travis J. Cross by e-mail (tjcross@vt.edu) or phone (540-231-8502) for more information.

Activities

The fellowship begins with a special conducting session from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. Fellows will have the opportunity to discuss conducting and music education issues with each other and some of the clinicians during breakfast conversation sessions on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Fellows may also elect to conduct the Institute Wind Ensemble once in a full-band or chamber ensemble setting. (Regular participants conduct four times: either three times with full band and once with chamber ensemble or four times with full band. Some students who are eligible for a fellowship may prefer instead to register as a regular participant to gain additional conducting time. Fellowship-eligible students who register as regular participants are still welcome to participate in the fellowship conducting session and breakfast conversation sessions.)

Application Form

Advancing seniors, students who will graduate in spring 2012, and current conducting and music education graduate students are eligible to apply for a fellowship. To apply, download and complete the Virginia Tech Band Directors Institute student fellowship application form and return it no later than May 18, 2012, to Virginia Tech Department of Music, attn.: VTBDI Student Fellowship, 241 Squires Student Center, Blacksburg, Va. 24061. Applicants should also ask their college band director or conducting teacher to send a short letter of recommendation to the same address. (Recommenders may also e-mail their letters directly to tjcross@vt.edu.)

Students who are selected for fellowships will be notified by Friday, May 25. The $100 Institute Fellowship Fee will be due Friday, June 1, in order to confirm your attendance. Please do not send any payment at this time.

If you have any questions or desire any assistance, please contact Travis J. Cross by e-mail (tjcross@vt.edu) or phone (540-231-8502). E-mail is the most reliable means of communication!