Viola da Gamba Society - New England: Silbiger Grant

Viola da Gamba Society New England - Silbiger Grant

Information about the Gian Lyman Silbiger Grant:

The Viola da Gamba Society--New England Gian Lyman Silbiger Grant is a competitive award which supports New England viol players and vocal ensembles who wish to present music appropriate for viol consort and voices. The grant is available to churches, synagogues, small choruses and ensembles eager to explore this beautiful repertoire in a service or public concert setting. Applicants may include a variety of repertoire, but with a minimum of three viol players and one vocal soloist.

The matching grant pays a total of $600 (six hundred dollars) for the viol players and an additional $100 for the viol player/organizer. The sponsoring organization must pledge a minimum of an additional $30 per player, which must be arranged for, and provided by, that organization to each player.

Duties of the Viol Player/Organizer

The Selection Committee emphasizes the following guidelines:

Musical excellence and repertoire of high quality should be fostered.
Repertoire chosen should be appropriate to the level of the viol consort and singers.
The viol players must be from New England, and the performance site must also be in New England.
Musicians may include a mixture of professional and amateur players, or may be fully professional.
New audiences for viol music should be actively sought through publicity provided to local media and in the printed program or bulletin.

The Grant was begun in 1995, and its recipients include: Trinity Episcopal Church, Lime Rock, CT (Weelkes, Tomkins, Mico & Gibbons), Temple Beth David,Westwood, MA (Salamone Rossi), Church of Our Saviour, Milford NH (Byrd, Gibbons, Tallis), First Parish in Framingham MA (Byrd), Saint Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church, Blue Hill ME (Ferrabosco, Tye, Byrd), and Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, Natick MA (Schutz Christmas Oratorio).

The grant commemorates the life and work of Gian Lyman Silbiger, viol player, teacher, composer and organist, who taught at the Longy School of Music, McGill University, and Brandeis University in the 1960's and 1970's and also served as the President of the Viola da Gamba Society of America. The grant is supported entirely by VdGS-NE members and friends. Tax deductible contributions are gratefully accepted. Please send to the Treasurer, Viola da Gamba Society New England, PO Box 192, Belmont, MA 02478.

Applying for the Silbiger Grant:

The Silbiger Grant is awarded yearly on an academic year schedule.

To Apply:

Method 1: You may now apply Online by Clicking Here.

Method 2: Click Here for the pdf version of the Silbiger Grant Application. Then, fill out the paper application form(s), and mail everything in to the following address:

Jane Hershey, Silbiger Grant Committee
P.O. Box 192
Belmont MA 02478

Address for players’ honoraria, to be sent by sponsoring organization:
Treasurer of the Vdgs-ne:
Sybil Kevy
154 Plain Rd.
Wayland, MA 01778

For further information about the VdGS-NE, including opportunities to learn to play the viola da gamba, please visit the chapter’s website at VdGS-NE.

To request a repertoire list of sacred music for voices and viols contact secretary@vdgsne.org.

For more information about applying for the Gian Lyman Silbiger Grant, contact us at SilbigerGrant@vdgsne.org.

Silbiger Grant Description

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