The Center for Life Beyond Reed

Jim Kahan Music Performance Summer Fellowship

In honor of Virginia Hancock

Jim Kahan '64 was an active folk dancer as a Reed student, and as an alumnus he has continued that participation and expanded his interests to include all the performing arts. The stipend is made possible by his generous gift to Reed College. 

The fellowship will provide a stipend or stipends of up to a total of about $4000 to enable students, during summer 2024, to develop or make a major contribution to a music performance. Each applicant should submit a proposal for a project that will culminate in a presentation open to the Reed community during the academic year 2024-25, at the conclusion of which the student(s) will remain for a "talkback" with the audience.

See previous recipients.

Application Deadline

The deadline for submitting applications is Wednesday, March 27th 2024 at 12 PM noon PDT. 

What May Be Supported

Because the primary purpose of the fellowship is to enable students to spend time during the summer to prepare for a performance, a priority is to cover, for students who are on need-based financial aid, funding that these students are required to earn during the portion of the summer that will be devoted to the fellowship. It may also include money for summer living expenses and any travel expenses connected with the project. In addition, the fellowship can support the expenses of special courses, master classes, or equipment related to the project. 

Eligibility

Eligible recipients are students in any major enrolled during the current academic year, in good academic standing, and who will be returning full time in the fall semester following their summer experience. Students may apply individually or in groups of up to four students.

Joint Awards

Kahan fellowships may be combined with grants from similarly established summer fellowship funds (e.g. the Locher endowment, and the Student Opportunity Subsidy). It may not be combined with a Rothchild Stipend. 

Apply

Applications should include the following parts, which should be sent (as pdfs or Word documents) via e-mail to Monica Ohuchi.

1. A description of the proposed project and performance component (no more than 750 words).

2. A personal statement that describes your interest in and qualifications for carrying out the project (no more than 500 words).

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Please note: in your description and/or statement, you should make clear exactly what the performance component will be, and in what way that component will benefit from the proposed project.

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3. An approximate budget and timetable; the timetable should specify what portion of the summer you plan to spend on the project.

4. If the project involves lessons or participation in some kind of organized workshop, class, or internship, evidence that you have been accepted by the teacher or into the workshop, class, or internship.

5. Two confidential letters of recommendation from people who know you and the proposed project. At least one of these letters must be from a Reed faculty member. In preparing the application, you may consult anyone you wish, including faculty and staff of the music department. These letters should attest to the feasibility of the project.

6. Answers to these questions:

  1. Are you on need-based financial aid?
  2. Are you applying for support from other fellowships? If so, which?

7. If necessary, finalists may be notified for an interview date.