The Editorial Board of the North American Saxophone Alliance invites grant applications for research projects pertaining to the history, literature, pedagogy, and/or sociology of the saxophone. Primary research should occur between October 15, 2026, and August 31, 2027.
Thomas Liley Memorial Saxophone Research Grant awards provide a stipend of up to $500. Grants may be used to cover travel, supplies and materials, equipment, and other costs related to the dissemination of findings.
Eligibility
Any individual applying for a Thomas Liley Memorial Saxophone Research Grant must be a member of the North American Saxophone Alliance at the time of application and through the duration of the proposed research project. No currently serving member of the NASA Editorial Board (The President, Director of Scholarly Initiatives, Jazz Coordinator, Saxophone Symposium Editor, and Saxophone Symposium Assistant Editor) are eligible to apply.
Guidelines
Each applicant should prepare a Project Narrative of no more than 3 pages, single spaced, in 12-point font, with 1″ margins. The narrative should address the following:
- Project Abstract–Include an abstract of 250 words or fewer for your project that describes your research in a clear, logical manner and explains how your research will contribute to collective knowledge regarding the saxophone.
- Project Description
- Specific Aims/Objectives–Clearly describe the specific aims and objectives of your research project.
- Research Methodology–Describe how you will seek to answer your research questions.
- Impact of Project–How will your research project advance our understanding of the saxophone, its history, its pedagogy, or otherwise?
- Dissemination of Results–How do you plan to disseminate your results? (Please see below for minimum dissemination requirements.)
- Project Timeline–Please include a clear, logical, and detailed timeline of proposed activities for your project from start to finish.
- Project Budget–Please include a detailed budget for your project, including the use of external funds (if applicable).
- Please indicate whether you are seeking or have been awarded other research funds for this project. Priority will be given to projects lacking additional funding.
All applications are due on August 31, 2026. The 2026–2027 awards will be announced by October 15, 2026.
Follow-up project activities
Prior to October 15, 2027, recipients will submit a brief (2–3 page) report of their project’s activities and findings to the NASA Executive Committee. To be eligible for future grants, all grant awardees will be required to submit a paper to The Saxophone Symposium or to propose a presentation at a NASA conference based upon their research within two years of the termination of the grant period.