Mrs. Jutta Gerber-Malm generously established a new endowment at CJS in March 2026 in honor of her late husband, Professor William P. Malm. Professor Malm was a longtime core faculty member of CJS, and it is impossible to overstate his profound impact on Japanese Studies, the University of Michigan, the field of ethnomusicology, and beyond.
Professor William P. Malm was one of the foremost ethnomusicologists of Japanese music and a founding figure in ethnomusicology in the United States. A faculty member at the University of Michigan from 1960 to 1996, Professor Malm authored the first English-language study of Japanese music and instruments and developed a distinguished graduate program that brought international perspectives to the field. He significantly advanced the understanding of music across Asia through research and teaching, and he was recognized with numerous honors, including the Fumio Koizumi Prize in Ethnomusicology and the Order of the Rising Sun from the Japanese government.
This generous endowment from Mrs. Gerber-Malm establishes the new William P. Malm Fellowship Fund for Japanese Arts and Traditional Culture. This fellowship reflects the spirit of Professor Malm, who was known not only for his groundbreaking scholarship but also for his deep care toward students, scholars, colleagues, and musicians. The Center for Japanese Studies is honored that Ms. Gerber-Malm chose to celebrate her late husband in such a meaningful way. Her gift provides impactful opportunities for our students, faculty, and community to research and celebrate Japanese arts and traditional culture in the spirit of Professor Malm.
To learn more about Professor Malm’s incredible legacy and illustrious career, we encourage you to watch the talk “In Honor of William P. Malm: Facilitating Global Musical Encounters.”
