The Myrna Brown International Scholarship was established to honor Myrna Brown, the NFA’s first executive director, for her dedication to the National Flute Association. As an administrator, Brown encouraged collegiality and was a passionate advocate for cultural exchanges through music. During her tenure, Brown organized the first exchanges with flutists from China and Russia, setting the stage for the NFA’s warm relations with international flutists.
In memory of Myrna Brown, this biennial scholarship provides financial assistance to a flutist from another country to attend and present at the National Flute Association Convention, the largest annual flute event in the world. Recipients gain the opportunity to share their unique musical perspectives and experiences with a diverse group of flutists, promoting an enriching, cross-cultural dialogue.
The recipient of the Myrna Brown Scholarship will receive $3,000 to cover the cost of attending the 2022 NFA Convention in Chicago, Illinois. Funds may cover international travel and the cost of staying at the convention hotel for up to four nights during the convention. In addition to the scholarship, the recipient will be awarded a complimentary pass to attend the annual convention in Chicago, IL, August 11-14, 2022, and a one-year membership in the NFA.
To be considered for the Myrna Brown International Scholarship, the applicant must:
The deadline to apply for the 2022 Myrna Brown International Scholarship has passed.
"I am very grateful for being chosen as the 2022 NFA MBIS recipient. I am completely ecstatic with the news! With this grant, I will keep on disseminating Mexican flute music through such an important convention.
It will be a great pleasure to play the musical program, considering also that there are three world premieres, at the NFA Convention, sharing the stage with the Latin American flutists who were selected by me.
Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to use this scholarship for my professional advancement and my work as a Mexican flutist to contribute to the culture of my country."
—2022 Myrna Brown International Scholarship recipient Evangelina Reyes López, Mexico
To apply for the Myrna Brown International Scholarship, the applicant must submit the following materials by the deadline using the form below:
“My having grown up on the dusty streets of Soweto and then gone on to become the first African to win this competition gave hope to a lot of South Africans. Since the news broke, I have been featured in Cosmopolitan magazine; South Africa’s papers News24 and the Sunday Times; Music in Africa, and the global online newspaper Worldwide News; and was named as one of the top 200 young South Africans by the U.K.’s Mail and Guardian newspapers. I have also been interviewed on Classic FM and on ENCA news channel’s breakfast show. I had no idea when I applied that my winning would have such a huge impact.
When the audience gave us a standing ovation at the end of the concert, it was definitely a moment I will cherish for the rest of my career. I hope more flutists will incorporate South African flute music into their repertoire, as these works are both challenging and gorgeous.
Attending and performing at the NFA convention was a highlight experience and one I will treasure for a lifetime. I met and heard some of my all-time favorite flute players, including Susan Milan, Hélène Boulege, and Valerie Coleman.
The lectures and panel discussions were also amazing, and I learned a lot of things I can apply to my teaching and performing. Most valuable of all was the spirit of camaraderie and positivity that I felt from all the flute players I met during the convention in Salt Lake City.
I left the convention feeling like a better person.”
—2019 Myrna Brown International Scholarship recipient Khanyisile Mthetwa, South Africa
Submission Information
There are two components that must be submitted in order to be considered for the Myrna Brown International Scholarship:
The Myrna Brown International Scholarship is on a two-year scholarship cycle and will be awarded for attendance at NFA conventions in even years. For the 2022 NFA Convention, applicants must submit both the eligibility questionnaire and the application form by the stated deadlines in order to be considered. Applications not received in complete form by the deadline will be disqualified.
Assuming that the applicant meets the threshold criteria specified in "Eligibility Requirements" above, applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
By submitting an application for the Myrna Brown International Scholarship, the applicant agrees that if selected:
The Myrna Brown International Scholarship is funded solely by the NFA Endowment Myrna Brown Fund.