This program has been established in honor of PMEA Executive Director Emerita Margaret Bauer.

Purpose

To provide grants to qualifying PMEA members who require funding for professional development, resources, equipment, or creative projects which will enhance music instruction, student learning and forward the mission of PMEA.

Requirements

• Applicant must be a current active PMEA member and have been a member for at least one year prior to the grant request.
• Applicants must complete the application form. No incomplete forms will be considered.
• Applicants will be interviewed by the selection committee as part of the application process.
• If selected for a grant, the recipient will submit a report to the committee within thirty days of completion of the professional development or project and write an article for the PMEA News based on the results.
• If a request is denied it may resubmitted the following year. Members are eligible to apply for one grant every five years.

Funding

The maximum amount awarded for a single grant will be $1000.00. Grant money may not be used for transportation or hotel costs associated with conference attendance.

There are two main submission periods: 

Fall: Submissions must be received by November 1; expect notification around December 15

Spring: Submissions must be received by April 1; expect notification around May 15

The PMEA Council TTRR Continuing Education Award is in memory of BJ Stark & Barbara Dooley Fox, supporters of music education. This scholarship will be awarded to a full-time, undergraduate or graduate music education major in an accredited PA institution who has completed at least four semesters. (The amount and number of scholarships available may vary from year to year.)

Criteria for selection:

1. Submission of college transcript reflecting 3.5 GPA or higher
2. Letter of recommendation from one music education and/or performance professor. This letter must verify that the applicant is and has been a member in good standing of PCMEA for at least one year.
3. Demonstration of performance skills (recorded video) or submission of composition(s)
4. Presentation of a music education artifacts including: An extended lesson plan designed to be delivered over a minimum of three consecutive class periods to the same group of students (provide a separate lesson for each class period); Resume that includes work experience, evidence of leadership and teaching experiences (when possible describe how the experience required skills relative to a career in music education); Participation in at least one PMEA-sponsored professional development program e.g., the Annual Conference, Summer Conference, Webinar, or Regional Workshop.
5. Completion of essay that provides a vision of your role as a future music educator

Applications will be judged blindly by PMEA members with at least one member from the PMEA Council of Teacher Training, Recruitment and Retention, PMEA EXCOM, and/or PMEA staff.

Deadline to Apply: Friday, May 30, 2025.

The PMEA Music-for-Lifelong-Learning Award is in memory of Donald Edward Stark & Paul Francis Fox, engineers and supporters of music education. This scholarship will be awarded to a full-time, undergraduate or graduate science-technology-engineering-mathematics major in an accredited PA institution who has completed at least four semesters. The candidate for this award must also be enrolled for at least three semesters in a music performance ensemble (i.e. band, chamber music, chorus, jazz or orchestra). The amount ($3,500 - $5,000) and number of scholarships available may vary from year to year.

This scholarship is nonrenewable and will be paid directly to the selected candidate as reimbursement for college tuition, dorm/apartment rent, meals on campus, textbook expenses, and/or the purchase of a new instrument (must provide receipts for the candidate's proof of payment.) 

Criteria for selection

1. Submission of college transcript that reflects: Full-time enrollment as an undergraduate or graduate student in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics major at a PA college/university; Completion of four semesters or 48 credits, Cumulative 3.5 GPA or higher; an "A" grade or equivalent for enrollment of at least three semesters in a music performance ensemble (i.e. band, chamber ensemble, choir, jazz ensemble, etc.)
2. Letter of recommendation from a music performance ensemble director who leads an ensemble in which you have participated that cites both musical and non-musical contributions to the ensemble. Letter should include name/position/phone/email of the ensemble director.
3. Demonstration of performance skills (recorded video) or submission of composition(s)
4. Portfolio of "music for lifelong learning" artifacts that includes: a) Evidence of participation in high school and college music ensembles (programs, print or social media postings, letters from ensemble directors, etc.) that verify participation; b) Evidence of involvement with music-related STEM or STEAM activities/projects/coursework at the high school and/or college level; c) Essay: Music and Lifelong Learning, which provides a short belief statement about the value of music study/performance as a skill relevant to lifelong learning and the statement is supported with personal experiences of ways in which past and current participation in music study/performance is connected to your pursuit of a career in science, technology, engineering or mathematics. Essay should also include ways in which you plan to continue music study/performance as part of your future career, community or personal development.

Blind judging by PMEA members with at least one member from the PMEA Council of Teacher Training, Recruitment, and Retention, PMEA EXCOM, or PMEA staff

Deadline to Apply: Friday, May 30, 2025