The Association of Anglican Musicians announces the 2024 Brittenback-Meezan Presidential Award. Intended as a resource for small and mid-sized congregations in the Episcopal Church, the award is a $3,000 professional development grant, intended to demonstrate the value of continuing education as a means of enlivening worship and deepening Christian understanding through music. To that end, the grantee parish will commit an additional $1,000 to this award, for a total annual grant of $4,000.

Episcopal parishes with limited resources are encouraged to apply on behalf of their staff musician. Applications from rectors, in consultation with their church’s musician, will be accepted by AAM’s president who, under the advisement of its elected Board, will match the musician with a mentor from among its membership. That mentor will work with the
musician on skills necessary for leading worship in the Episcopal Church, and will be responsible for reporting to the board how the funds are used.

This program is intended to aid a musician who is inexperienced as an Episcopal church musician in developing the skills required to more successfully lead programs that live into the fullness worship in the Anglican tradition, including a deeper understanding of Episcopal liturgy, service playing on the organ, and training a choir to lead worship. Funds can be used for:
a) organ lessons with an AAM mentor and/or
b) choral conducting coaching with an AAM mentor and/or
c) the costs of attending AAM’s 2024 Minnesota Conference.

The award also includes a one-year subscription to the Journal of the AAM.

Guidelines

• Applications must be submitted by March 15, 2024.
• Grantee will be notified by April 15, 2024.
• The grantee must agree to submit a written report within one year of receiving funds.

This annual award is made possible by current AAM member, W. Michael Brittenback, in honor of his late husband, Bill Meezan.