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Anna O'Connell Awarded 2021 Barbara Thornton Memorial Scholarship
It is with great pleasure that we announce Anna O’Connell as the recipient of the 10th Barbara Thornton Memorial Scholarship. This biennial Scholarship, launched 20 years ago in 2001, honors the life and work of Barbara Thornton, who came to Europe from New York in 1970, filled with plans to study early music, and went on to co-found the medieval music ensemble Sequentia with Benjamin Bagby in 1977.

“In a year with many highly-qualified candidates, Anna O’Connell demonstrated that she has the self-directed drive and passion for medieval music that make her the ideal fit for the Barbara Thornton Memorial Scholarship,” said Benjamin Bagby. “In Anna's case, with her focus on the work of Frauenlob, we find this award very suitable as a way to honor Barbara Thornton's memory and legacy.”
Laury Gutiérrez Awarded Inaugural Thomas Zajac Memorial Scholarship
Early Music America has announced Laury Gutiérrez as the inaugural recipient of its biennial Thomas Zajac Memorial Scholarship, selected by a jury of musicians who knew or worked with the great multi-instrumentalist and educator, Tom Zajac (1956-2015).

Laury’s research, which explores African connections with Iberia and the New World exemplifies the cultural cross-fertilization that was so important to Tom Zajac, and we look forward to seeing the results of Laury’s research in the historically grounded scholarship and performance exemplified by her ensemble Rumbarroco.
Photo credit: Carolina Villegas
Relief Fund Accepting Applications for Third Round of Grants
The EMA & Gotham Early Music Scene Relief Fund is now open for a third round of assistance grants. Grants will be awarded until the funds has been depleted. New and previous applicants and recipients are welcome to apply.

The Relief Fund was created in April 2020 to support early musicians in need during the pandemic. To date, the fund has distributed more than $140,000.
2021 Virtual Young Performers Festival Week
Welcome to the 2021 Virtual Young Performers Festival Week! EMA is absolutely thrilled to feature fourteen collegiate and pre-college participants from across the Americas. You can view concert details and performance videos and find the festival itinerary, which outlines when each participating ensemble will be featured on EMA’s social media May 11-18, on the YPF webpage.

2021 Virtual YPF Participants
  • Academia de Música Antigua de la UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico
  • Baylor University Early Music Ensemble, Waco, Texas, U.S.A.
  • Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
  • Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A.
  • Espaço Cultural da Grota Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Handel and Haydn Society Youth Choruses, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
  • Instituto Superior de Música de San Ignacio de Moxos, San Ignacio de Moxos, Beni, Bolivia
  • McGill University, Schulich School of Music, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
  • Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
  • Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.A
  • Seattle Historical Arts for Kids, Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.
  • Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, New York, U.S.A.
  • University of Utah School of Music, Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A.
  • University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

Thank you and congratulations to all of our participants and the many other educational institutions that kept the art of early music thriving during this challenging year!

Any institutions who still wish to participate in YPF this year but have not yet submitted materials, we invite you to do so at your convenience so that we may add your performances to the YPF page following May 17.
New CD & Book Reviews
Green Mountain Project Scales Monteverdian Heights
CD review by Andrew J. Sammut

This album captures the Green Mountain Project's final performance of Monteverdi's 'Vespers of 1610' from New York’s Church of St. Jean Baptiste in January 2020, after a decade devoted to the work.
How A Roman Couple Championed Baroque Opera
Book review by Tim Carter

For a glamorous decade, Lorenzo Onofrio Colonna and his wife, Maria, stood at the heart of the Roman social world, as they did in Venice during Carnival as avid patrons of the opera houses there.
E-Notes helps you reach an engaged audience of early music enthusiasts. Learn more about the benefits of EMA's advertising opportunities in E-Notes, EMAg, and on the EMA website.
Trailblazers in Historical Performance:
Kenneth Slowik
The next episode in the Trailblazers in Historical Performance: Conversations with Tom Kelly series features Kenneth Slowik, cellist, viol played, keyboardist; Curator of musical instruments at the Smithsonian, and Artistic Director of the Smithsonian Chamber Music Society.

You can find this conversation, others in the series, and more early music videos more on EMA's Video Resources page.
Other News & Resources
Submit your news, press releases, online performances and more for inclusion on the EMA News & Reviews page. Highlights from community submissions are featured in E-Notes Weekly and in upcoming issues EMAg, the Magazine of Early Music America.

View or submit early music releases on the Early Music Recordings page.
EMA Member Events Calendar Highlights: April 27-May 3, 2021
Events Calender highlights are selected from the available entries in the EMA Member Concert & Workshops calendar. Current members can add events to the calendar after logging into earlymusicamerica.org.
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