Joint Conference — Music(s) in Context

 Canadian University Music Society, Canadian Network for Musicians’ Health and Wellness, Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition
Brandon University — Brandon, Manitoba
May 12^th – 15^th, 2024

Call for Papers, Sessions, and Round Tables
Deadline:  January 15, 2024
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This year, the Canadian University Music Society (MusCan) will hold its annual conference in conjunction with the Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition and the Canadian Network for Musicians’ Health and Wellness, hosted by the School of Music at Brandon University. The competition portion will be held from May 10th to May 12th, 2024, and the conference portion from May 12^th to 15^th, 2024. Brandon University is located in Treaty 2 territory, home to Anishinaabe, Dakota, Cree, Oji-Cree, and Dene peoples, as well as the homeland of the Red River Métis. Treaty 2 was signed in 1871 by the Crown and six Anishinaabe representatives at Manitoba House.

The conference theme “Music(s) in Context” explores the many ways in which music and music-making relate to multiple aspects of our lives. The conference theme invites us to reflect, through disciplinary or interdisciplinary lenses, on the reciprocal influences between music and location, wellness, community, but also on the personal experiences of composing, playing, or listening to music, and much more.

This year’s conference will be a connected event; paper sessions will be available to presenters and attendees in both in-person and virtual space, while other conference features will be available only to in-person attendees.

Proposals from all areas of academic inquiry, including musicology, music theory, ethnomusicology, composition, music education, electro-acoustic music, popular music studies, music recording and production, performance, and disciplines related to musicians’ health and wellness are welcome in English or French, from members and non-members. The deadline for all proposals and submissions is January 15, 2024.

Proposals on any topic are welcome, but we particularly encourage proposals that relate to this year’s theme, “Music(s) in Context” or that continue to build on the themes of Indigenization, decolonization, equity, and diversity within all areas of music study. With its Calls for Lecture-Recitals, Mini-Concerts, Scores, Papers, Sessions, and Round Tables, the Canadian University Music Society aims to bring together scholars from a wide range of perspectives for a vibrant discussion.

Papers: Papers should not exceed 20 minutes, including illustrations, and will be followed by a 10-minute period for questions and discussion. Those wishing to propose a paper must submit by the deadline: 1) an abstract of 250 words maximum for consideration by the Program Committee; 2) an abridged abstract (150 words); and 3) a biography (100 words). Abstracts must describe the subject of the paper proposal, its relationship to previous scholarship, the methodology, and the conclusions. Graduate students whose papers are chosen for presentation in any session of the MusCan conference may be eligible to compete for the George Proctor Prize; eligible students who wish to compete will be required to submit copies of their complete papers by April 29, 2024 (George Proctor Prize for student presenters: see separate call on our website).

Sessions: Those wishing to propose a session comprising three or four papers should submit: 1) a description and rationale for the session as a whole (maximum 250 words); 2) a 150-word abridged abstract; 3) the names and a 100-word biography for each proposed participant; 4) a proposed chairperson; and, 5) for each paper, an abstract that conforms to the session abstract described above (maximum of four abstracts).

Round Tables: Round tables are organized by an individual or group of individuals around a specific topic, with the participation of invited speakers/discussants. Round table sessions may be scheduled for a maximum of 90 minutes. Those wishing to organize a round table should submit an abstract of 500 words maximum, describing the topic and the method of presentation, the participants and the precise nature of each of their contributions. Proposals for Round Tables must also include an abridged abstract of no more than 150 words, and short biographies of no more than 100-words for each invited speaker/discussant.  Please note that Round Tables are the only proposals that will not be read blind, as the program committee must assess the contributions of those involved in order to consider the session within the overall program.

Conference registration and membership in MusCan: All presenters and speakers must be current members of MusCan before their submissions can be accepted for inclusion into the program.  They must also register for the MusCan 2024 conference as either an in-person or an online presenter. Annual dues for MusCan membership in 2024 are $95 for regular members, and $50 for part-time faculty, students, independent scholars, and retired persons. Membership may be purchased, for the current and next calendar year, online at www.muscan.org.

Submission: To submit a proposal, complete the online submission form by Monday, January 15, 2024. The submission portal can be found on our new website; it will be open to accept submissions beginning on November 30th, 2023. The author’s name, affiliation, title of the abstract, email address, and phone number should appear in the online form but not on the abstract or in any file names, as proposals will be read blind. All file submissions should be in .DOCX or .PDF format.

Submission of a proposal denotes willingness and ability to attend the MusCan conference in person or virtually. You will be asked to indicate whether you plan to present in-person or virtually at the time of submission and will have an opportunity to confirm your participation style by April 1, 2024.

Results: The results of the program committee’s deliberations will be announced no later than March 15, 2024.

For further information, visit the conference website or e-mail questions to: pastpresident@muscan.org or godinj@brandonu.ca

Programme Committee Co-Chairs: Caroline Ehman and Jon-Tomas Godin
Local Arrangements Committee Chair: Gretta Sayers and Nora Wilson