Portia K. Maultsby Prize Grant

Portia K. Maultsby Prize Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Society for Ethnomusicology
Amount: US $500
Last Updated: February 13, 2026

Summary

The Portia K. Maultsby Prize, awarded by the Society for Ethnomusicology, honors the most distinguished English-language monograph in ethnomusicology, particularly focusing on African American music and the Black diaspora. Established in recognition of Portia K. Maultsby's significant contributions to the field, the prize highlights her commitment to supporting emerging scholars of color. The award includes a monetary prize of $500, aimed at fostering excellence in ethnomusicological research.

Overview

The Society for Ethnomusicology Mission The Society for Ethnomusicology was founded in 1955 to promote the research, study, and performance of music in all historical periods and cultural contexts. Portia K. Maultsby Prize The Portia K. Maultsby Prize is established in recognition of the scholarship and professional commitments of ethnomusicologist Portia K. Maultsby, frequently referred to as the dean of Black ethnomusicology. In her roles as professor, researcher, university administrator, book series editor, and museum exhibit curator, Maultsby has been and continues to embody the qualities of the quintessential scholar and leader within SEM. Her unswerving support of newer scholars of color, in particular, is evident in her work over the last fifty years, a period of productivity characterized by excellence, expansiveness of thought, and professional integrity. Purpose To recognize the most distinguished English-language monograph in the field of ethnomusicology, with the focus being African American music and/or Black music of the diaspora. Prize $500

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The monograph must have been published in the previous two years.The publication date for a book is the copyright year listed on the book’s copyright page.Applicants may submit only one title during an application cycle.

Ineligibility

Second editions of monographs, edited collections, and textbooks are not eligible. No book will be considered more than once.