Hiroko
Sproesser
Submitted:
October 16, 2012
Awarded
: $
1500
Contact Information:
Hiroko
Sproesser
115 S. Spring Valley Road
Greenville
Delaware
19807
USA
8603357741
Reference 1:
Wendy Gillespie
Reference 2:
Sarah Mead
Summary of Submitted Materials:
Invoice for the 3 bows
Submitted Documents:
Submitted Recordings:
Committee Notes:
Well...here we are again with a different cast of characters save one who keeps showing up again and again. I know David may not be near a handy computer, but I thought I would start the conversation. I am very impressed with the first two applicants. Their requests are not about acquiring instruments for themselves, but different and interesting projects. My inclination, since they are so worthy in my mind, would be to fund them for their full requested amount of $1500. This would put us over our usual half-year limit of $2500. But I think their applications are quite striking. I liked the references too. Since the third applicant seems to think we are an unlimited source of funding for him....and we funded him last year....I would reject. What do you all think?
Lucy
I see from the top of the list of applicants that there is $500 left over, I assume from last year. I will check this with Ken, but if this is true, then we would still have $2500 to work with in June.
Lucy
I agree with you, Lucy; the first two projects have merit, but John Romey's was, well... even hard to understand from his rather lengthy description... and once I had finally got a sense of it, like you, I was less-than-impressed. Also, I note that both Hiroko and Loren managed to get glowing recommendations from rather prominent members of the VdGSA, whereas John went to his academic advisors instead. Is he utterly lacking in VdGSA contacts? It would seem he doesn't have much to do with us except when asking us for money.
If you are both OK with the financial situation (as stated by Lucy, above), then I am, too, and would be happy to award Loren and Hiroko each $1500. Lucy, could you let us know what Ken says? In the meantime, I will do one more little bit of sleuthing myself and report any findings to you all ASAP.
-David
Another thought--we don't actually state anywhere as part of the rules that applicants who have applied (and been awarded funds) in the recent past are unlikely to receive new awards (though it's clear that this is at least part of the reason that the committee is disinclined towards John Romey's application). This might be a good thing to clarify within the rules and on the website, and could perhaps be proposed for ratification (instant, I'm sure) at the winter Board meeting, in the GiA report?
Depending on what you think, it could either be a straight ban:
Applicants who have had successful grant awards in the past 2(?) calendar years will not be considered eligible for another grant.
or could be a softer discouragement.
In order to serve as many members as possible, it is unlikely that the committee will award grants to any applicants who have been awarded a GiA grant in the preceding 2(?) calendar years.
Just a thought, but could help turn away folks who are likely to view this only as a financial source.
Hi y'all. Sorry to be late to the party.
I agree that the U Delaware project and Loren's are worthy of full funding - happy to support.
If we have money left over, I would be inclined to give *something* to Romey, as the project looks to be interesting (and has the evident support of John Pringle), although I share everyone's reticence to appear as an ATM to him. We gave him only $500 last year; if we have it "left over" we could do the same. But is he the same guy who had a dynamite project description a few years ago and then seems to have forgotten all about it? This was just before going to Case as I recall. Something violone-related. In any event, I am 50-50 on the fence about this and could easily be talked either way.
As to awards in subsequent years, I thought there was a sentence in the guidelines that said something like "As a general rule, awards will not be made to the same applicant two years in a row" or similar wording - something to say "don't count on getting awards two years in a row, but if we have the money and you have a good project we won't automatically count it out, either." I don't see it there; did I dream this? Or did we have it but it slipped under the rug in a website update?
Or did we decide that in no event would we award two years in a row? Would Board meeting minutes help us here?
- Jack
If you would be so kind to look up the Board meeting minutes, Jack, I think that would be very useful for our own prospective guideline purposes. I don't have a recollection one way or another, and there's not anything I could find on the GiA site, but the point is well-taken: a fine little disclaimer along the lines of what you and Marie said... with enough wiggle room so that a truly deserving person wouldn't get an automatic boot for a second application in two years.
Lastly, your memory is correct, Jack: John R. is the fellow who was all hot-and-bothered about the 8' violone back in 2009... and then this and then that. We had been warned by the Chapter Rep in his area about a tendency to flit from project to project, flip instruments, etc., and to my eyes this seems like more of the same. I'm not 100% against giving him money, but I don't think it's much of an investment, esp. compared to the other two. If it were about a teaching or outreach project, rather than more instruments/ bows, I might be more inclined to look favorably upon it.
-David
I seem to have taken too long to express my thoughts...so I have to write this over again. I find the repeat requests for funding for instruments by John R., 3 years in a row, to be unsettling. He's too glib and naive in his essay. Four of these instruments? There is no doubt a reason why they didn't survive or migrate to other countries. They possibly weren't very successful instruments. I think this is a good time to recommend to the Board that a clause requiring a two-year gap between applications by the same person be included in the GIA guidelines. I'm not in favor of the possibility of getting leftover funds, for the reason that I think they could be better used for a project which we feel is excellent or extraordinary. Should there arise an very good project from a repeat applicant, then we could consider funding it. I would expect this to be quite rare, enough so that it would not need to be referred to in the guidelines.
Lucy
RE: the wording of a kind of warning to repeat applicants, we could consider putting a more positive spin on it, Ã la "Special consideration will be given to new applicants and applicants who have not received GiA funds in the previous [?two years]... "... blah, blah, blah... At least it gives us a pair of outs, in case we don't want to hear from someone, or if someone comes up with two really good ideas in as many years... feel free to riff on this, as it's just a thought.
I like that wording. As you say, it gives us some outs. Jack, what do you think?
Hi, and thanks, Lucy, for letting me know of the discussion. I'll write Peter as soon as I hang up here.
I fear that this wording will invert the nature of the award in people's minds. To me, new applicants are top on the list anyway; then, all things being equal, I would give a new applicant an award before I would give one to someone who has already gotten one (spread the wealth as much as possible); and only then, if an applicant got an award last year and we feel he or she is worthy of another one already, THAT would be the special case.
I didn't get to looking up that wording I was liking, so I'll try to get that done tomorrow. In the mean time, do you guys agree with this logic? Or am I missing something? (I'm reading A Team of Rivals and trying desperately to channel Lincoln; not sure of success.)
- Jack
Jack and David,
Do we have a consensus on the grant winners? I fear we've gotten bogged down on the wording of our recommendation to the Board. Jack, I appreciate that you are still working on it. However, what I need now is to be able to send a report on the GIA winners to Alice for the meetings which are starting today. The recommendation can be refined but hopefully sendable this weekend also.
Lucy
If we're voting, here's my vote:
-$1500 each to Sproesser and Loren
-nothing to John
-rollover funds rolled over to the next granting term.
-yes, let's add something to the GiA page along the lines of what we've been discussing (limits, etc.)
-David
I'm with David. Wording update can come in [short] time; awards can be certified today.
- Jack
Project Description:
The purpose of this grant is to help defray the costs of three viola da gamba bows for the University of Delawares Collegium Musicum.
Request Amount:
$
1500
Total Project Cost:
$
Budget and Additional Funding:
Qualifications:
I am a member of the VdGSA, also the chapter representative of the VdGSA Greater Philadelphia. I am applying through the Grants-in-Aid program on behalf of and in conjunction with Dr. Russell E. Murray, Professor and Associate Chair of Music and Director of the University of Delaware Collegium Musicum which is a new institutional member of the Viola da Gamba Society.I have been an active member of the the collegium for a number of years, and am currently assisting Dr. Murray in establishing a viol consort in the Collegium. The University of Delaware Collegium Musicum is in its 21 st year. The group performs two concerts per semester one of medieval and Renaissance music and one of Baroque chamber music. Founded when the department had no string program, its resources went primarily towards the purchase of wind instruments and plucked strings.Recently a string program has been established and is flourishing. In response to this, the Collegium has recently added early strings to its collection, including aquartet of baroque instruments, and more recently three viols bass, tenor and treble. These viols have come as a result of a series of gifts to the department a treble viol donated by Dr. Murray, a bass viol donated by another generous donor and my own cash donation of 2500. In addition, the Department of Music hascontributed to this project through allocated budgets for instrumental purchases and maintenance.The final challenge in this project has been obtaining quality bow. Those that were available through these gifts are not adequate for the students to progress on the instruments. We were fortunate to receive a remarkable offer from Louis Bgn for three bows, and this grant will pay a substantial part of the price of these bows.In September, we formed the gamba ensemble, comprising three cello majors and myself. We will make our debut performance in October, and will perform with the Collegium on the December concert.
Letter of Reference 1:
RECOMMENDATION LETTER FROM: Wendy Gillespie
Dear Marie and committee,
Russell and Hiroko have asked me to be one of those who recommend their GiA proposal. I think Hiroko's application, taken in combination with the treatment they gave us and the interest they showed at Conclave, make this proposal a no-brainer. It looks as if they are going to bring young members to the Society and get a great deal of pleasure out of their undertaking, and they have certainly put their own money where their mouths are, so I have no hesitation enthusiastically recommending that they receive the full amount of their request. Do just let me know if you require a more formal re-phrasing of this, otherwise I hope it will suffice.
Wendy
Letter of Reference 2:
RECOMMENDATION LETTER FROM: Sarah Mead
To Marie Szuts and the GIA committee:
I was pleased to have the chance to spend some time with both Hiroko Sproesser and Russell Murray this summer during Conclave (which was practically in their own back yards).
I heard a great deal from Hiroko about Russell's work with the UDel Collegium Musicum, with which she is very impressed. Russell welcomed us to his campus and was able to use the Conclave - and especially the Beginners' Class - as a springboard for adding viol players to his student ensemble. He and Hiroko have done an admirable job of seeking out funds to purchase viols, as well as making donations themselves. I'm impressed that they were also able to elicit a deal for bows from the ever-generous Louis Begin.
I think that their wish to foster interest in the viol at UDel and their focused way of going about it is admirable, and that support from the VdGSA in the form of a GIA award in the full amount would be a very appropriate use of those funds.
Sarah Mead