Jennifer Lamont

"Jennifer Lamont, Honors in the Major Student and Fall 2021 Bess H. Ward Thesis Award Winner"
JENNIFER LAMONT

Thesis: Sapphism in English Art Songs by Queer Women Composers (Anticipated Completion: Fall 2022)

Thesis Director:  Dr. Rachel Lumsden, Music Theory & Composition Program

"In Fall 2021, I was a recipient of the Bess H. Ward Thesis Award. I can confidently say that my Honors in the Major project would not have been possible without such a generous grant. My Honors in the Major project is entitled 'Sapphism in Song: Art Songs by LGBTQ+ Women Composers from 1900 to the Present' and blends the creative aspects of music performance with academic research. My thesis is based on the emergent field of queer musicology, and my project includes many classical compositions that have not been the subject of much research. In fact, for many of the compositions included in my thesis, my project will be the first performance and research on these works. This would not have been possible if not for the Bess H. Ward Thesis Award. This award made it possible for me to purchase newly published scores, books, and materials that I would not have the ability to obtain otherwise. I was able to explore less-well known subjects, and read different analyses from a multitude of scholars in the field. The financial support was invaluable, allowing me to explore new perspectives and ideas I previously would not have considered if not for this award. It encouraged me to be a better scholar and dedicate myself to researching works, people, and subjects that have been systematically under-researched and ignored. I am so grateful for the opportunities that the Bess H. Ward Thesis Award has offered me."

-Jennifer LamontFall 2021 Bess H. Ward Thesis Award Winner