CFP (deadline extended): New Music & The North American Academy

Call for Papers: [DEADLINE EXTENDED TO WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012]

New Music & The North American Academy
An Interdisciplinary Symposium
SUNY Potsdam, April 13 - 14, 2012

For many producers of new music, institutions of higher education provide an important source of patronage, employment, and shelter from the conservative tastes of the concert-going public. Meanwhile, countless conservatory and music department mission statements celebrate colleges and universities as necessary access points for community members to enjoy contemporary fine arts. As colleges and universities grow and assume new roles in the twenty-first century, relationships between new music and the academy are continually redefined. This symposium hopes to promote lively discussion of the rich history of these partnerships and speculation upon possible future directions.

Part of a series of events throughout the 2011-12 academic year, this meeting celebrates the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. Throughout its history, the Crane School has been an active and enthusiastic player in the world of contemporary music. This history includes associations with many important musical figures of the 20th century, including conductors (Nadia Boulanger, Sarah Caldwell, Lukas Foss, Howard Hanson, Herman Scherchen, Robert Shaw, Leopold Stokowski, Michael Tilson Thomas) and composers from whom the Crane School has commissioned works (Norman Dello Joio, Libby Larsen, Vincent Persichetti, William Schuman, Virgil Thomson).

Possible topics for consideration include:

* Careers and lives of individuals (performers/conductors/composers) that have been affected by their involvement with such institutions

* Analysis/discussion of works by composers associated with the academy—particularly works that were commissioned by one or more institutions

* How do the politics of institutions translate to the inclusion, or exclusion, of individuals and aesthetic preferences?

* The role of new music in the music theory/history curriculum, with particular emphasis on how it contributes to music education programs

* How do the relationships involving North American institutions compare with their European counterparts?

Paper presentations will be twenty minutes in length, followed by ten minutes for questions. Lecture recitals and non-traditional presentations are both welcome and encouraged. The deadline for proposals is Wednesday, February 15, 2012.

Submissions should include:

1. A 250-word proposal submitted by e-mail in Word or PDF format to newmusicsymposium@potsdam.edu. Only electronic submissions will be accepted. Do not include any identifying information in the proposal itself. Please place any examples, figures, or bibliographies at the end of the proposal.

2. In the body of the e-mail, please list the author's name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, and affiliation, as well as all required equipment, such as piano, projector, CD player, etc.

More information may be found at the symposium website:

http://www.potsdam.edu/academics/Crane/125years/newmusicsymposium/index.cfm