VSA Grants

Funding Advancement in the Field

The VSA offers two rounds of grant funding each year, with awards announced in January and July. The grant application process is designed to ensure mission alignment, accountability and transparency.

We welcome proposals from individuals, groups, or organizations engaged in scholarship, documentation, or technical inquiry that contributes meaningfully to the field. Projects that explore new methods or deepen traditional practices are encouraged.

Who is Eligible

Applicants must be VSA members in good standing.
The majority of the project’s principal investigators must also be VSA members.
Projects may include (but are not limited to): research, publications and educational initiatives.
All proposals are evaluated based on:
- Project quality and outcomes
- Relevance to the VSA mission
- Benefit to VSA members and the broader community

Due Dates

Spring Grant Timeline

Mar. 1 - Letters of Inquiry Due
May 1 - Application Forms Due
June 30 - Awardee(s) Notified

Fall Grant Timeline

Sept. 1 - Letters of Inquiry Due
Nov. 1 - Application Forms Due
Dec. 31 - Awardee(s) Notified

Need Assistance?

If you’re unsure whether your project qualifies or need support along the way, we’re here to help.

Contact the Grants Committee

Application Process & Deadlines

A collection of wooden violins displayed on a black surface.

Step 1:

Submit a Letter of Inquiry

This brief letter helps determine how well your proposed project aligns with The VSA’s mission and priorities.

Deadlines: March 1 and September 1

Start Your Letter of Inquiry

A person adjusts a bridge on a violin among other violins on a table.

Step 2:

Complete the Grant Application (Invitation Only)

If your project is selected for further consideration, you’ll receive an invitation to complete the detailed application form.

Deadlines: May 1 and November 1

Note: Only applicants invited after submitting a Letter of Inquiry may complete this step.

Two smiling women sitting close together, enjoying a moment at an indoor event.

Step 3:

Grant Decisions

Final funding decisions are made by the VSA and announced by:

July 1 for the spring cycle
January 1 for the fall cycle

Funding Scope

VSA grant funds are limited and may only cover part of your total proposed budget. Additional funding sources may be necessary to fully complete your project.

Previous Recipients

The Superba's Violin Makers: Violin Makers in Genova 1600 - 1800

Label dated 1756, reading "Bernardus Calcanius fecit Genuæ," with a cross symbol.

The project encompasses a detailed investigation into the violin makers who lived and worked in Genova, Italy, from 1600 to 1800. Tommaso Chiesa aims to develop his research capabilities by accessing and consulting documents found in both civil and ecclesiastical archives, as well as examining the instruments produced by these makers.

Chiesa has opted to concentrate on the Genovese makers because the city, also known as 'La Superba', was home to a relatively unknown violin making school. Although not widely recognized, this school maintained a unique and coherent design-based tradition, with clear stylistic connections visible among its makers through their instruments. The limited existing information about this school presents Chiesa with a significant opportunity for thorough research.

The primary goal of the project is to present a lecture at a VSA Convention and to publish an article in a VSA publication outlining the history of violin making in Genova. The article will clarify the formative development and construction techniques used by the makers from this school.

Chiesa believes that understanding the style and methods of artisans from a lesser-known but influential school can provide invaluable insights for contemporary makers interested in exploring new stylistic and technical possibilities in their craft.

A man focused on crafting a wooden violin in a workshop.

MJ Kwan and Sam Zygmuntowicz are teaming up with Dr. Sebastian Gonzalez to apply advanced statistical methodologies to the extensive dataset of Sam's instruments and examine the nuanced relationships between construction parameters and resultant sound.

This research team is working to delineate regions of the spectra influenced by specific construction parameters; quantify the magnitude of influence each parameter has on sound radiation within these frequency bands; document trends, anomalies, or patterns in the data that may inform contemporary and future violin-making practices.

The practical impact is to offer actionable insights for both established and upcoming violin makers, helping them fine-tune their craft for desired sound outcomes through a presentation at VSA

Convention. The team’s work includes developing and outlining standard methods and best practices for keeping data in a way conducive to statistical analysis. They are eager to publish their findings in The VSA Papers.

Historic map of Genoa, illustrating the city layout and harbor.

Color-coded matrix plot showing correlations with a gradient from blue to orange.

Fall 2024 Grant Recipients - Luca Jost “Abrasion resistance of fingerboard materials”

Alternative fingerboard materials are becoming an increasingly important issue in the context of stringed musical instruments due to the diminishing supply of traditional options like ebony.

Various alternatives have been developed and marketed. When prioritizing efficient use of resources, fingerboard lifespan becomes a key differentiating factor. However, manufacturers typically supply only limited properties of these materials, namely density, damping and hardness. These do not present themselves as useful predictors of lifespan expectancy for fingerboards.

As proposed originally by Joseph Curtin, a more valuable measure might be found in a given material's abrasion resistance. In this research project funded by the VSA, Luca Jost aims to evaluate the abrasion resistance of commercially available alternative fingerboard materials. Based on these measures, actionable advice will be generated, assisting makers in finding the correct material for their personal applications.

The study's findings will be shared in written form as well as both on-demand-video and live presentations. Project-in-progress updates can be followed on Mr. Jost’s Instagram page luca_jost_violins.

2023 Recipients: Tommaso Chiesa / MJ Kwan, Sam Zygmuntowicz, Sebastian Gonzalez

The VSA Grants program began in 2018 as an extension of our educational platform, the very essence of the Mission Statement of our society. Twice a year, we put out a call for letters of inquiry. They are reviewed by the Scholarship and Grants Committee, chaired by Chris Clark, Treasurer. Loyal volunteer, Jay VandeKopple manages the process of follow up with the applicants.

You need only have a good idea and plan, not be a professional Grant Writer!

All Committees make recommendations for actions to be taken by The VSA Board of Directors. The Board will then discuss and vote, directing the distribution of funds on all final awards.

The Violin Society of America is pleased to add to the accumulated knowledge of violin family instruments and bows with the following projects, which were awarded grant funding during the 2023 fiscal year.