The Bonnie Cummins Fielder Grant for Career Advancement was established in 2005 and augmented in 2008 and 2013 to provide grants totaling $12,000 biennially to singers, ages 22 to 32, with promising vocal careers.
The purpose of the grant is to assist young singers with expenses incurred in pursuit of a professional career in classical music. The grant has been funded by past Music Club President Bonnie Cummins Fielder.
Applicants must be between the ages 22 to 32, a U.S citizen and a Texas resident.
The next Fielder Grant competition will take place in person, in Austin, Texas during the 2027-2028 season. An application & instructions for the grant will be available here in summer 2027.
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Winners of the grant from its inception follow:
2025 (pictured below L to R) Kaswanna Kanyinda, Madeleine Lyon, Anna Thompson and Joeavian Rivera
2023 (pictured below L to R) Kathleen Felty, Sara Kennedy, Sarah Dyer, Bree Nichols. To read more about these winners click here.
2021 (pictured below L to R) Brian Yeakley, Catherine Goode, and Krista Renee Pape. To read more about these winners, click here.
2019 (pictured below L to R) Ivy Calvert, Rebekah Howell, BronwynWhite and Emily Helenbrook
2017 (pictured below L to R) T. Hastings Reeves, Sydney Anderson, Cristina Bakhoum, Anna Laurenzo and Rainelle Krause.
2015 Sarah Mesko, Rebekah Howell, Galeano Salas, Chelsi Clark, and Julia Taylor
2013 Calvin Griffin, Christina Bakhoum, Amanda Kingston, Sara Ann Mitchell, Samuel Schultz, Claire Shackleton
2012 Abigail Corbett, Will Hearn, Ashley SIgmon and Christina Taylor (tie)
2011 Katie Bolding, Juan Jose deLeon
2010 Casey Finnigan, Brad Raymond and Katie Bolding (tie)
2009 Michael Sumuel, Jonathan Blalock
2008 Betsy Uschkrat, NaGuanda Nobles
2007 Elizabeth Cass, Erin Roth
2006 Lauren Zoghby, Katie Horn, Désirée Ellen Wattelet