WMU alumnus Zachary Earle awarded Elite Margriet Tindemans Early Strings Scholarship
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—In a remarkable achievement that bridges centuries of musical tradition, 2024 Western Michigan University alumnus Zachary Earle has been named the 2025 recipient of the Margriet Tindemans Early Strings Scholarship, one of the most prestigious honors in the field of early music. Administered biennially by Early Music America, this distinguished award supports advanced study of Medieval, Renaissance or Baroque bowed stringed instruments outside North America and provides up to $25,000 in funding.
Earle is celebrated for his unique ability to blend contemporary expression with historically informed performance. His selection for the Tindemans Scholarship underscores not only his exceptional technical skill and artistic vision, but also his deep commitment to education and community engagement.
“This award will not only contribute to my education at the Royal Academy of Music in London,” Earle stated, “but will also provide me with the resources necessary to create a multimedia database for string musicians of all stages to access. This database will serve as an educational resource for young musicians with big aspirations and to expose them to an alternative way of learning their instrument free of societal barriers.” This forward-thinking vision perfectly embodies the transformation of passion into practice, preparing artists to hit the ground running in their chosen field.
Earle’s path to this distinguished honor was significantly shaped by formative experiences and mentorship. A Michigan native, he studied under Will Preece of the Grand Rapids Symphony before enrolling at Western Michigan University. Here, he earned his Bachelor of Music in cello performance under the guidance of Bruce Uchimura. During his time at WMU, Earle distinguished himself as a recipient of the Rhea Yeager Fetzer Scholarship, the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra’s Artist Scholar for the 2022–23 season, and winner of the 2024 WMU Concerto Competition.
Beyond his academic pursuits, Earle immersed himself in the world of early music through participation in renowned programs such as the Amherst Early Music Festival, the Smithsonian Haydn Quartet Academy, and the Smithsonian Academy Orchestra. His mentors in historical performance—Isaiah Chapman, Cullen O’Neil, and Keiran Campbell—were instrumental in shaping his nuanced approach to the baroque cello and other early stringed instruments.
In fall 2025, Earle will commence a master’s degree in historical cello at the Royal Academy of Music in London, studying under Professor Jonathan Manson, a leading figure in the field. The Tindemans Scholarship will directly support his studies abroad, allowing him to deepen his expertise and contribute significantly to the global early music community.
The Margriet Tindemans Early Strings Scholarship itself honors the enduring legacy of Margriet Tindemans, a revered performer and teacher of early stringed instruments. Established in 2018, the award seeks to recognize musicians whose work reflects originality, versatility, and a profound dedication to their craft.
“Being awarded Early Music America’s Margriet Tindemans Early Strings Scholarship is an immense honor, one that I do not take lightly,” Earle stated. “I am incredibly grateful to Early Music America for granting me this scholarship and look forward to helping the next generation of artists, from early music specialists to contemporary musicians alike—continuing the legacy of Margriet Tindemans.”
As he prepares to cross the Atlantic, Earle carries with him not only the aspirations of his mentors and peers but also the promise of a new generation of historically informed performers. His journey powerfully underscores how Western Michigan University prepares artists to launch meaningful careers and reminds us that the music of the past continues to inspire, challenge and transform the artists of today.