The 2024 Frances Densmore Prize is awarded to John R. Watson for an article titled "A Small Upright Piano from Pennsylvania: Relic from the Origins of the Piano and Made by John Clemm(?)," published in the 2022 volume of the Journal of the American Musical Instrument Society. Watson's article investigates the history of one of the earliest pianos made in America while detailing the construction of a playable copy, made in collaboration with Tom and Michele Winter. The article is meticulously researched and detailed, yet accessible to a non-specialist. The Densmore committee felt this to be a persuasive article of benefit to music scholars and beyond.
Densmore Prize committee: Lisa Beebe, James Kopp, Matthew Hill