The Outstanding Early Career Paper in Music Education Award recognizes an outstanding music education paper presented at the AERA annual meeting by an early career music education researcher. The completed paper is the basis for the final determination for the award. The Outstanding Early Career Paper Award in Music Education may be awarded annually. A certificate will be presented to the winner at the Music Education SIG business meeting. The Outstanding Early Career Paper Award winner will also receive a $200 travel reimbursement stipend.

2025 Recipient
Christian Folk, Strategic National Arts Alumni Project

Criteria
To be eligible for the Outstanding Early Career Paper Award in Music Education, a researcher must (a) have a paper accepted for presentation by the Music Education SIG at the AERA annual meeting, (b) submit a sole-authored paper, and (c) have received a doctorate or other terminal degree within the past six years. Then, the author must submit a final paper (@20-25 pages), which presents the results of a disciplined analysis of data with theory/theoretical framework and advances the cumulative knowledge in the field. Finally, the researcher must register for and present that paper at the annual meeting.

Application Process
Applications for the award will include: (a) final paper, (b) abstract, (c) proof that the researcher was awarded a doctoral degree within six years of the application (such as a pdf of the signature page from a dissertation, a downloaded pdf of their dissertation from Proquest, or a transcript from the institution), and (d) a cover letter e-mailed to the Awards Committee Chairperson by January 9th 2026. This final paper must be of journal submission quality in size and substance. The cover letter must include the following information: a statement that the paper is a submission for the Outstanding Early Career Paper in Music Education Award; the nominee’s name, institutional affiliation, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address; and a statement indicating the form of proof that the researcher was awarded a doctoral degree within six years of the application that is attached to the application.

Please send all submissions to Lorelei Batisla-ong, AERA Music Education SIG Awards Committee Chair, Secretary/Treasurer:  batislao@uwm.edu