Nick
Schrantz
Submitted:
March 14, 2018
Awarded
: $
1500
Contact Information:
Nick
Schrantz
571 fairgrounds rd
laurens
SC
29360
USA
864-551-9000
Reference 1:
Josh Lee
Reference 2:
Valerie Arsenault
Summary of Submitted Materials:
An invoice for the commission
Submitted Documents:
Submitted Recordings:
Committee Notes:
Nick Schrantz
Mar 19 2018
Hello Lisa,
Yes, I would like the grant to be for 1500; I thought I had read on the website that it was only 1400, but I must have misread.
Financing wise I have $5000 in savings, $2000 from fundraising, and the 1500 from the grant would be the amount that would easily push me close to the amount that I would need.
Thank you,
Nick Schrantz
Thank you, Lisa, for the new submissions and info! Very useful.
-DM (et al)
Project Description:
I have commissioned Francis Beaulieu to make a 7-string bass, and it should be finished this summer. I was hoping to obtain a grant to assist me in the final purchase of the instrument. I begin graduate school in the fall, and I need an instrument that will carry me through that process and into my professional career; I feel that an instrument from Francis would do that well.
Request Amount:
$
1400
Total Project Cost:
$
Budget and Additional Funding:
Qualifications:
6 years of viol playing, 4 years of study with Josh Lee, 4 years performance experience as a soloist, continuo player, and consort musician, will be attending graduate school (I will figure out which school shortly after April 1st!) to obtain a master’s degree in Viola da Gamba performance in the Fall.
Letter of Reference 1:
Dear Committee Members,
I am writing in support of Nick Schrantz’s application for a VdGSA Grant-In-Aid towards the purchase of a bass viola da gamba currently being built by Francis Beaulieu. Nick has been my student for four years, and throughout our time together I have been impressed by Nick’s dedication and determination to become the best player possible. An integral part of any young artist’s growth is access to a quality instrument and bow, and though Nick saved up enough money to buy a bow I fear he is quickly outgrowing the capabilities of the Chinese viol I’ve loaned him. Costing a total of $10,800, $2000 of which he has already paid, this viol is a tangible symbol of Nick’s dedication to the music and instrument we all love. I feel strongly that Nick is deserving of a Grant-In-Aid to mitigate the remaining cost of his viol, and any money awarded to him is an investment in one of the VdGSA’s future leaders.
As a student Nick’s dedication has never been a question, with him regularly making the four hour round trip from Tallahassee to Jacksonville for his lessons. Always curious, Nick often brings new repertoire to his lessons, along with enough questions about performance practice to fill hours of conversation. It became obvious to me rather quickly that Nick has the potential to become a world class viol player. He has attended the Oberlin Baroque Performance Institute every summer we’ve worked together, and multiple times at the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute and Conclave. Nick approaches many great players for lessons whenever he can manage, and he is actively amalgamating everything he is learning into his own style and point of view. It’s this consistency in pursuing his goals that makes me confident I will soon welcome Nick as a peer and important voice within our community of professional players. Helping him obtain a world class instrument will only expedite his journey.
As a recipient of a VdGSA Grant-In-Aid myself I understand the transformative power of this gift. When the Society gave me the funds to purchase a Rouillard Flight Case back in 2006, the timing could not have been better, and that case protects my viol on flight after flight to this day. The time is ripe for Nick: as I type this I have just found out he has been accepted to the Master of Music programs at both Peabody Conservatory and Oberlin College, and he is on the waitlist for the Masters program at Julliard - a very impressive achievement for a player of his young age and limited experience. While I’m more than glad to let him borrow a viol from me indefinitely, I think a talent such as his deserves a finer voice.
Should the Committee have any questions, or require further insight to Nick, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Josh Lee
joshlee415@gmail.com
415.637.5011
Letter of Reference 2: