WMSHC Travel Grants

Western Massachusetts Sacred Harp Community, Inc. (WMSHC) encourages singers to travel to established singings in order to learn from experienced singers and to participate in the broader Sacred Harp community. In order to support singers in this capacity, WMSHC, Inc. provides a limited number of grants each year to assist singers with travel expenses.

Travel Grant Applications

You can also download, fill out, and return the form below by email (wmshc-grants@googlegroups.com)

Travel Grant Criteria

1. Applicant must be a singer who:

  • Participates regularly in western Massachusetts who wishes to travel outside of western MA to sing, or
  • Sings outside of Western Massachusetts who wishes to travel to a WMSHC event, such as our yearly convention in March or our All Day singings in June/July and November.

2.  Applicant must be intending to travel to a full day events, including:

  • 2-day conventions or double all days
  • All day singings
  • Camp FaSoLa or other all-day or multi-day singing school workshops

Preference will be given if you:

  • Are a new singer (started singing within the past 2 years)
  • Have not traveled extensively to sing
  • Have not received a grant in the previous calendar year
  • Are a student
  • Would find it difficult to travel without a grant. (We do not investigate your financial situation.)

You are ineligible for a grant if you: 

  • You or a member of your family is currently serving on the travel grant committee
  • You or a member of your family is currently serving on the WMSHC board
  • Have already received a grant in this calendar year

Other information: 

How much can I request? 
Grants may be requested between $50 and $500; our standard grant is $200

How do I receive my grant?
In person, via mail, or via email, please provide your receipts up to the grant amount to the committee or the WMSHC treasurer. Copies and/or emails are fine. We will then give or mail you a check! 

When should I apply?
Applications must be submitted before your planned travel. Applications after the fact will not be considered. 

If you are a local singer looking to travel, you may submit applications at any time.  Applications will be reviewed on the 21st of the month for travel in the following months; for example, if you would like to travel to the Young People’s in LA on May 30th, we will review your application on April 21st. Please note that you may submit your application more than one month out (for instance, by March 21st). 

If you are a visiting singer, applications will be reviewed the 1st and 21st of the month preceding our convention or all-day singings. You may also submit applications earlier, which will be reviewed on the 21st of the month as described above. 

 

If you are interested in applying for a travel grant, please read and fill out the application and return it via email to:
wmshc-grants@googlegroups.com.