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The Otto Kinkeldey Award honors each year a musicological book of exceptional merit published by a scholar who is past the early stages of their career. “Past the early stages” is here defined as more than twelve years beyond completion of the PhD degree.

The award is named after Otto Kinkeldey, Honorary President of the Society until his death in 1966. He held the first chair in musicology at a university in the United States at Cornell University between 1930 and 1946, was a charter member of the Society, and served as its President in 1935–36 and 1941–42. The Kinkeldey Award was first awarded in 1967.

Otto Kinkeldey
Otto Kinkeldey

Nominations

To be eligible for the Otto Kinkeldey Award, submissions must meet the following criteria. Eligible works:

  • Must be authored by a member of the AMS or a citizen/permanent resident of Canada or the United States.
  • Must have been authored by a scholar who is more than twelve years beyond completion of a PhD
    Must be a book published during the previous year.
    May be published in any language and in any country.

Nominations must be received via the AMS Award Nomination form by the submission deadline. Self-nominations are welcome, as well as nominations from colleagues and publishers. Nominators are asked to provide a digital review copy of the work, if available.

A committee of five scholars will choose a single award recipient from all eligible candidates. Award winners will receive a monetary prize, a certificate, and recognition at the Annual Meeting of the Society. An individual may receive the Kinkeldey Award only once. A book may receive only one AMS award.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if a publication was published in the “previous year”?

Eligibility for the Otto Kinkeldey Award is determined by the copyright date found on the imprint of a nominated publication. For instance, the 2024 Otto Kinkeldey Award considers works published in 2023.

What if I am not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or Canada?

AMS members are eligible to receive the Otto Kinkeldey award. If you are not yet a member of the AMS, we invite you to join here.

Can I nominate my own work for consideration?

Self-nomination is encouraged! To nominate your own work for consideration, follow the procedures on the AMS Award Nominations form.

Past Recipients

View past recipients of the Otto Kinkeldey Award.

Past Recipients

Current Nominees

View current nomineese for the Otto Kinkeldey Award.

Nominees

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