Robert
Bolyard
Submitted:
April 8, 2013
Awarded
: $
1000
Contact Information:
Robert
Bolyard
1016 Howell Mill Rd
Apt 3606
Atlanta
GA
30318
USA
9174881641
Reference 1:
Gail Ann Schroeder
Reference 2:
Jorg Voss
Summary of Submitted Materials:
Submitted Documents:
Submitted Recordings:
Committee Notes:
Project Description:
After learning on a instrument borrowed from Marie and, through her overwhelming generosity, continuing to use it for years, I got my own bass viol in 2009 and have been happily playing it since Its one of Charlie Ogles factory instruments and, although inexpensive, it has proved durable and possessing of a suitably well-rounded sound. As I mature as a gamba player and begin to start playing professionally, Ive realized that I need to start thinking about upgrading my instrument, and although I cant save enough in my current situation working full-time to support my husband in grad school to get a new instrument, I can at least work towards getting a new bow. By Conclave this summer I will have saved over 1200 to this end, and I would like to humbly request a grant to augment this amount to make it possible for me to buy a bow. my ideal would be a Grabenstein or Begin in the realm of 2000-2500, but I will not be choosing a specific bow until Conclave My hope is that, with the Societys help, I will be able to afford a bow that will not only service to enhance my work with my current instrument, but continue to serve me well into my professional life as a gamba player and with better instruments in the future
Request Amount:
$
1000
Total Project Cost:
$
Budget and Additional Funding:
Qualifications:
A choral conductor by trade, I have been playing the viol for about six years, having previously studied cello as a youth. Besides playing in consorts at Yale under Maries tutelage and my many local and national workshop experiences with the instrument, I have started playing in concerts in the Atlanta area collaborating with Gail Ann Schroeder, Martha Bishop, Susan Whaley, Chrissy Spencer, and Greg Armijo in a concert with the Athens Chamber Singers playing an Ortiz Ricercare with Uncommon Practice and playing continuo with Coro Vocati. I also have strong ties to the early music community here I am a board member of the Atlanta Early Music Alliance and was recently as yall know appointed to the board of the VdGSA, I have started an early music vocal ensemble the aforementioned Uncommon Practice, and this summer will be my second year on faculty at the Mountain Collegium summer workshop in North Carolina. As the viol becomes an integral part of my professional musical life, I am more dedicated than ever to hone my skills, and Im applying to the Consort Co-op program this year in the hopes of refining my musicianship even further. This feels like exactly the right time to upgrade my instrument in a meaningful way by acquiring a new bow, and I hope that, with the Societys help, this will be the year I achieve this goal
Letter of Reference 1:
Reference from JORG VOSS:
To: VdGSA April 9, 2013
The Viola da Gamba Society of America c/o Marie Szuts
(marie.szuts@gmail.com)
From: Jorg F. Voss
jorg@jfv.com
1495 Ridgefield Drive
Roswell, GA 30075
Subject: Letter of Recommendation for Robert Bolyard regarding a grant application
Robert Bolyard robertbolyard@gmail.com
Dear Ms. Szuts:
I have known Robert Bolyard approximately four years as a very fine musician and very valuable participant in the Atlanta Early Music community and as a fellow Gambist.
Robert is a church musician, vocalist and avid viola da gamba player.
He plays regularly in Martha Bishop’s Monday evening Viol ensemble, performs on his viols in local concerts, recently with “Coro Vocati“ of Atlanta as Bass Viol soloist.
He has repeatedly led local mixed instrumental/vocal groups, such as Voices and Viols at Mountain Collegium and Mid-Winter workshops and the Annual Meetings of the Atlanta Early Music Alliance.
Robert also founded and leads his own a-capella group “â€Uncommon Practice†with emphasis of Early Music repertoire.
His administrative involvements have included being Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Atlanta Early Music Alliance (AEMA).
I whole-heartedly recommend Robert as recipient of a grant from the VdGSA.
Jorg F. Voss
Member of the VdGSA
President of the Atlanta Early Music Alliance
www.jfv.com
Letter of Reference 2:
Reference from GAIL ANN SCHROEDER:
Viola da Gamba Society of America
c/o Marie Szuts, President
656 Capell Street
Oakland, CA 94610
April 8, 2013
Dear Marie,
I am writing this letter on behalf of my student Robert Bolyard. Robert has been studying with me for the past few years and though we haven't met often due to the distance between us, he has grown by leaps and bounds. He is a very talented singer, choir director, cellist and keyboard player; in effect a very experienced professional musician and this has definitely carried over into his viol playing.
Robert is applying for a Grant-in-Aid in order to upgrade his viol bow. He is a very worthy candidate and I know he does not have the funds to buy a professional quality bow without assistance. As Robert's teacher and colleague, I look forward to the inspiration and benefit that he will gain from a new bow!
Thank you for taking his application into consideration.
Sincerely,
Gail Ann Schroeder