Anthony B. Cius, Jr. Student Composer Support Fund

Anthony B. Cius, Jr. was born in 1938 in Buffalo, NY. He studied piano, percussion, and music theory as well as composition and was an accomplished pianist and conductor. He received his Masters and Doctoral degrees from the University of Kansas under the tutelage of Edward Mattila and John Pozdro (both now professors emeritus) where he distinguished himself as an outstanding student and composer. He also studied abroad in England, Japan, and the U.S.S.R.

After his untimely death in 1987, a friend who met Dr. Cius when they served in the military during WWII established the Anthony B. Cius Memorial Award which has become a University of Kansas tradition to honor an outstanding student composer each year. Three years later in 1990, the Student Composer Support Fund was established.

The purpose of this fund is to support KU student composers in a variety of ways. The funds may be used to defray costs of application fees to conferences or competitions, postage for scores being submitted to conferences or competitions, expenses incurred during score and/or parts preparation for a performance, recordings of student works, tuition for master classes or symposiums, promoting new music concerts, travel associated with the art of composing, contracting off campus musicians for performances, funding for a student composers organization, and perhaps other things. All serious proposals will be carefully considered.

Who may apply

To be eligible for funding, you must be a full time student studying music composition at the University of Kansas. Both graduate students and undergraduates are encouraged to apply.

How to apply

Fill in the brief form and include any relevant supporting materials. Deliver to Dr. Bryan Kip Haaheim, 424 Murphy Hall. A committee of members of the Music Theory & Composition Division faculty will consider the application and contact you shortly. Be sure to allow three weeks for processing.

If your application is accepted, you will be notified regarding the amount of the award. You will need to keep all relevant receipts to receive reimbursement from the Cius Award Fund.

Download the application for the Anthony B. Cius, Jr. Award.

Past Award Winners

• 1987 - Leslie Ann Hogan
• 1989 - Enrique Moreno
• 1990 - Komei Harasawa
• 1991 - Melissa Brown
• 1992 - Komei Harasawa
• 1993 - Chin-In Chu
• 1994 - Scott Murphy
• 1995 - Kelly Mahon
• 1996 - Ian Coleman
• 1997 - Andrew Bonacci
• 1998 - Jay Batzner
• 1999 - Todd Hershberger
• 2000 - Todd Hershberger
• 2001 - Zechariah Goh
• 2002 - Zechariah Goh
• 2003 - Joseph Eidson
• 2004 - Brian Egan
• 2005 - Sabin Levy
• 2006 - Daniel Forrest
• 2007 - Brian Bondari
• 2008 - R. Douglas Helvering
• 2009 - Daniel Musselman
• 2010 - Jeremiah (Li Kai Han)
• 2011 - Jason Charney