Gary Stegall, professor of music at Coastal Carolina University, has been awarded a five-month Fulbright Scholars grant to conduct research during the Spring 2011 semester at the Royal Conservatory of Music and the Royal Albertine Library in Brussels, Belgium.

Stegall’s research will focus on the Belgian composer Joseph Jongen (1873-1953) and on Brussels as a cosmopolitan cultural center of Europe in the 19th century.

The Fulbright Program offers grants for international educational exchange for scholars, educators, graduate students and professionals. Founded in 1946 by the late Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the program’s purpose is to build mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the rest of the world.

Stegall earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the North Carolina School of Arts, a Master of Musical Arts degree from the University of South Carolina, a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Maryland and the Diplôme/prix d'excellence avec grande distinction from Académie de musique de Boitsfort of Brussels, Belgium.

Stegall leads a distinguished career as a soloist and chamber musician, having performed throughout the United States, Europe, South America, Asia, Africa and Canada. He has served as resident pianist for the Beau Geste Trio, the South Carolina Chamber Orchestra Soloists and as guest artist with the dePasquale String Quartet of the Philadelphia Orchestra.