Successful Musicology Student Secures Reputable National Grant
In a significant achievement, Ashley Dao, a third-year undergraduate student in Musicology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), has been awarded the highly competitive Beinecke Scholarship. This marks the first time since 2015 that a student from UCLA has won this distinguished accolade.
The Beinecke Scholarship is one of the most competitive scholarships in the United States, supporting exceptional students in the arts, humanities, and social sciences with substantial funds for graduate study. The scholarship is awarded to juniors who demonstrate academic excellence, a strong research proposal, and a genuine commitment to their field of study.
Dao's research focus is on the nostalgic musical practices of a three-generations-old refugee community in Little Saigon, the metro Los Angeles area. Her work aims to challenge colonial histories in ethnomusicology and musicology, and to uplift marginalized communities.
Dao's research approach emphasises empathy, proposing to understand these musical practices as acts of resilience, healing, and world building. Her work has been highly praised by notable figures in the field, including Ray Knapp, Elisabeth Le Guin, professor emerita, Jenny Johnson, and Jordan Hugh Sam, a Ph.D. student in musicology and a teaching assistant. Jacquelyn Ardam, director of the Undergraduate Research Center for the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, has also expressed her support for Dao's research.
Dao's work with the Undergraduate Research Fellows Program, a competitive program directed through the Office of the Dean for Undergraduate Education and administered by the Undergraduate Research Center-Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, has positioned her for continued important work in musicology beyond her undergraduate education at the School of Music.
Dao's undergraduate research paper was so impressive that Jordan Hugh Sam encouraged her to expand it and submit it to conferences. Her work on the journal, MUSE, an undergraduate peer-reviewed journal, expanded its reach significantly, and the conference she organized was a success.
Dao acknowledges the importance of mentorship in her growth as a student, researcher, and person, particularly from her faculty mentor, Ray Knapp, and others in the School of Music.
The Beinecke Scholarship will provide Dao with the resources to pursue her graduate studies in musicology. After graduation, she plans to enroll in a graduate music studies program.
For more specific information about Ashley Dao and her achievements, we encourage you to check UCLA's news releases or contact the Beinecke Scholarship Program directly.
Ashley Dao's research in the nostalgic musical practices of a three-generations-old refugee community in Little Saigon, focusing on challenging colonial histories in ethnomusicology and musicology, is a testament to her commitment towards education-and-self-development, championing personal-growth and learning. Her work, supported by notable figures in the field, has already made an impact through Undergraduate Research Fellows Program, MUSE journal, and successful conferences, setting the stage for further contributions to musicology in her graduate studies.
