College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA)

The CBDNA Mike Moss Conducting Study Grants are professional development awards offered by the College Band Directors National Association. They fund conductors from underrepresented populations (women and people of diverse ethnicities) to attend leading conducting symposiums across the United States. The program is named after Dr. Myron D. Moss, a nationally recognized scholar of African American composers in wind band repertoire.

How the Mike Moss Grants Work

The CBDNA Diversity Committee administers the program. Participating conducting workshops each hold one participant conductor spot for a Mike Moss Fellow. Awardees are selected by the committee and granted the reserved spot at their assigned workshop.

Beginning in 2026, the program operates in two tiers:

Tier 1: Full Fellowship

• 12 applicants selected per cycle
• Waived participant conductor fee for one of three conducting workshops
• $650 travel and housing grant

Tier 2: Workshop Waiver

• 6 additional applicants selected per cycle
• Waived participant conductor fee for one of three conducting workshops
• No travel funding

Eligibility

• Open to women and conductors from historically underrepresented ethnic backgrounds
• Applicants must be CBDNA members
• Applicants select their preferred workshops from the three participating symposiums
• Applications are due March 15, 2026 at 10 PM EST
• Awardees are notified by mid-April 2026

Real-World Example

A female conductor pursuing a master's degree in wind conducting at a US university applies for the 2026 Mike Moss Conducting Study Fellowship. She lists her top three workshop preferences and submits her application by March 15. If selected as a Tier 1 awardee, she receives a waived participant conductor fee (typically $300 to $500 depending on the workshop) plus a $650 travel and housing grant. She attends the workshop, works with established conductors, and gains professional development credit that strengthens her CV for future university faculty applications.

In total, 18 conductors receive funding each cycle. The combined value of waived fees and travel grants across all 18 awardees exceeds $10,000 annually.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you are a conductor from an underrepresented background, the Mike Moss grants remove the financial barrier to attending professional conducting workshops. These workshops provide direct access to master teachers, feedback on your conducting technique, and networking opportunities with other conductors who can recommend you for teaching positions.

The key is to apply early and rank your workshop preferences strategically. Contact Andrea Brown (aebrown7@umd.edu) with questions about the application process. Make sure your CBDNA membership is current before applying, as only members are eligible.

CBDNA also supports students from small college and community college band programs through the Small College Intercollegiate Band (SCIB), which gives students from institutions with fewer than 5,000 students or from HBCUs the chance to perform at the CBDNA National Conference under a renowned conductor.

Eligibility Criteria

• Who can apply: Conductors from underrepresented populations. Specifically, women and conductors from historically underrepresented ethnic backgrounds.
• Membership: Applicants must be current CBDNA members.
• Instruments: Open to conductors of wind bands, concert bands, and related ensembles.
• Geography: Open to conductors in the United States. Workshops take place at various US locations.
• Education level: No specific degree requirement. Applicants range from graduate students to early-career faculty.
• Career stage: Designed for conductors seeking professional development through attending conducting symposiums.
• Tier 1 eligibility: Same as general eligibility. 12 applicants selected per cycle.
• Tier 2 eligibility: Same as general eligibility. 6 additional applicants selected per cycle.

Deadlines and Application Timeline

• Application opens: Typically opens in early 2026 for the 2026 cycle.
• Deadline: March 15, 2026 at 10 PM EST.
• Notification: Awardees are notified by mid-April 2026.
• Workshop attendance: Awardees attend their assigned workshop during the 2026-27 academic year. Workshop dates vary by symposium.

Past Recipients

The Mike Moss Conducting Study Grants have awarded over 100 fellowships since 2007. Recent recipients include:

A full list of recipients from 2007 through 2019 is available on the CBDNA Mike Moss Conducting Study Grants page.

Step-by-Step Application Process

1. Confirm CBDNA membership: Verify your membership is current at cbdna.org. Only members are eligible to apply.
2. Review workshop options: Select your preferred workshops from the three participating symposiums. Rank your preferences strategically.
3. Prepare your essay: Write a one-page essay outlining your personal philosophy of conducting and your approach to leadership as a conductor.
4. Update your resume: Prepare a one-page resume highlighting your education, conducting experience, teaching experience, and awards or recognitions.
5. Record your conducting video: Create a single video link (5 to 8 minutes) demonstrating your best conducting across a variety of styles. Upload to YouTube, Vimeo, or another hosting platform.
6. Submit by March 15: Upload your essay, resume, and video link through the CBDNA application portal. The deadline is March 15, 2026 at 10 PM EST.
7. Await notification: Awardees are notified by mid-April 2026. Contact Andrea Brown (aebrown7@umd.edu) with questions about the application process.

Program Videos

Similar Scholarships

• ACDA Scholarships - Choral conducting and education awards
• ASCAP Foundation Scholarships - Composer and songwriter awards
• Grammy Museum Grant Program - Music research and preservation grants
• NAfME Scholarships - Music education support programs

Related Opportunities

• Music Scholarships Directory for the full list of funding opportunities
• Music Schools Directory to find conducting programs
• ASCAP Foundation Scholarships for composers and songwriters
• Grammy Museum Grant Program for music research and preservation
• Visit the Mike Moss Conducting Study Grants page for official details