Grants for hosts of fall/winter gatherings

Many carillons are spaced far apart throughout North America. Ever since the very first carillons were built here, gathering together has been an important way for carillonneurs to meet and share ideas.

The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America invites you to apply for a grant to help you host a regional gathering over the fall or winter. Since 2021, we have awarded US$5,000 to 6 gatherings.

See past recipients

Eligibility

For each of the geographic regions listed below, one grant of US$1,000 is available for the 2023–24 grant cycle. In the event there is not a successful application from a region, the Board Subcommittee on Events may award unused funds to additional hosts in other regions. No more than 7 total grants may be awarded each year.

• Your gathering must be open to all GCNA members
• Your gathering must take place between September 15, 2023, and March 31, 2024
• On the schedule, your gathering must have at least 90 minutes of performance-based masterclasses on the host carillon (which can be split into multiple sessions)

There is no requirement relating to the duration of your event, but we encourage your gathering to have a rich program! Recitals, lectures, open tower time, outreach activities, etc.

How to apply

To apply, submit a completed application form (PDF, Word) to the chair of the Board Subcommittee for Events, Linda Dzuris, at events@gcna.org. In your application you will provide:

• The date(s) and location of the gathering
• The host(s), including a short statement describing relevant experience in hosting carillon gatherings or similar events
• Basic technical information about the host carillon
• A draft schedule of events and proposed budget of anticipated revenues and expenses
• The masterclass instructor(s), including a short biography of each that highlights their teaching experience

Deadline: August 1, 2023

We encourage you to communicate with other potential hosts in your region to discuss their plans. If there is more than one applicant from a region, the Board Subcommittee for Events will select the successful application from each region based on factors including the draft schedule, the proposed budget including the affordability of registration fees, the qualifications of the masterclass instructor, the state of repair of the carillon, and the applicant's experience in hosting similar events.

We also encourage you to contact the Board Subcommittee for Events at events@gcna.org to discuss your ideas and/or ask questions.

Geographic regions

• Northeast – Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Ontario, Quebec, Rhode Island, Vermont
• Mid-Atlantic – District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia
• Southeast – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
• Great Lakes – Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio
• North Central – Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin
• Southwest – Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
• West – British Columbia, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming

Past recipients

Gatherings supported: 6

Total amount awarded: US$5,000

2023–24 (US$2,000)

• Great Lakes: On September 29–30, 2023, Annie Wang hosted the Great Lakes Regional Carillon Conference at the University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. It featured a masterclass with Alex Johnson, among other programming. Read more from the conference program.
• Northeast: On October 21–22, 2023, Lynnli Wang hosted the inaugural New York City Carillon Fall Festival at both Riverside Church and Saint Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue. The two-day event featured advanced and beginner masterclasses, three concerts, open tower time and tours, and more. Read more at the event website.

2022–23 (US$1,500)

• North Central: On November 4–5, 2022, Austin Ferguson hosted the Midwest Regional Carillon Conference at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. It featured a masterclass with Laura Ellis, among other programming. Read the event recap in Carillon News (May 2023), page 10.
• Northeast: On October 15–16, 2022, Roy Lee hosted Met Carillon 100 at the Metropolitan United Church in Toronto, Ontario. Celebrating the Met carillon's 100th anniversary and its rededication following a major renovation, it featured a masterclass with Margaret Pan, among other programming. Read more at the event website.

2021–22 (US$1,500)

• Southwest: On October 22–23, 2021, Alex Johnson and the University of Texas Guild of Carillonneurs hosted the Texas Regional Carillon Conference at the University of Texas at Austin. It featured a masterclass with Carol Jickling Lens, among other programming. Read the event recap in Carillon News (May 2022), page 12.
• Northeast: On October 9, 2021, John Whiteside hosted St. Stephen's Symposium and Master Class at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Cohasset, Massachusetts. It featured a masterclass with Ellen Dickinson, among other programming.