A Letter From the AMS President

Dear Colleagues,

I am writing as a crisp and colorful fall brings a renewed energy and sense of purpose to those of us in the northern hemisphere. As we turn our thoughts to the autumn ritual of our Annual Meeting, I hope this letter finds you well, wherever you may be. The AMS Annual Meeting is a time-honored tradition that allows us to come together as a society, reflect on our achievements, and plan for an exciting year ahead. It’s a time to reconnect, celebrate our shared goals, and lay the groundwork for another successful year.

This fall is bittersweet for me, as I prepare to pass the gavel to my successor, Julie Cumming, at the end of the Business Meeting in Chicago. What an incredible privilege it has been for me to serve as your president over the past two years! I have learned so much from each of you, and I am deeply grateful for your support, your ideas, and the passion you bring to our shared mission. Despite the challenges, it has been one of the most fulfilling administrative roles I have ever held. Together, we have come through difficulties, comforted each other over the loss of beloved colleagues, and inspired each other through the models we have set and the encouragement we have offered. I am confident that under Julie’s leadership, the society will continue to flourish and grow in exciting ways, and I hope that it can continue to offer a gathering place and a haven for all who engage in the study of music.

Perhaps the high point of my term as president has been the time I spent as AMS ambassador to the recent meeting of IMS/ARLAC, the Regional Association for Latin America and the Caribbean within the International Musicological Society. The conference took place at the Facultéd de Musica UNAM in Coyoácan, a picturesque Mexican village within the borders of Mexico City. In addition to hearing many excellent papers and panels, I had the pleasure of meeting with the Board of the IMS, comprised of the heads of each Regional Association, to discuss how the AMS could partner with ARLAC and other IMS divisions to invite more global participation. One idea for future collaboration we discussed was to invite ARLAC and other divisions, such as the East Asian Division (IMSEA) to participate in future online Annual Meetings of the AMS beginning in 2026. (As you may recall, we meet every three years online as a way of promoting accessibility and sustainability.) Preliminary response has been enthusiastic, and representatives from each society will meet in the New Year to hammer out details. Many thanks to Kate Van Orden, president of the IMS, for her warm invitation to ARLAC and for meeting with me from the beginning of my presidency to envision possibilities.

Finally, I want to thank the Board, the Office staff, the Council, our donors, and all of our committees for the valuable contribution they make to the vitality of our Society. Most of all, thanks to all of you for your membership, for your presence at our gatherings, and most of all for the valuable service you perform everyday in the trenches of your teaching, your research, and your service to the profession and to the Society. It has been a pleasure to work with all of you, and I bow in awe before the fierce commitment to the discipline and to the Society you demonstrate year after year. May your energies and your efforts return to you a thousandfold!

As we prepare for the Annual Meeting, I encourage you to reflect on the past year and think about the contributions you’d like to make moving forward. We welcome your ideas, your financial support, your efforts as a volunteer, or just your friendship and mutual support in the face of the challenges that lie ahead. Our collective strength lies in the diversity of perspectives and talents each of you brings to our mutual efforts to advance scholarship in the field of music.

I look forward to seeing all of you in November as we gather to continue shaping the future of our Society in a spirit of collaboration and mutual support. My goal as president, and as immediate past president in the coming year, is to meet and get to know every one of you, so please find me, introduce yourself, and share your thoughts and feelings if you catch a glimpse of me in Chicago! And please drop by the Board of Directors’ Meet and Greet table in the Book Exhibit to chat, learn more about their work, and offer suggestions. Finally, do not hesitate to contact me at pastpresident@amsmusicology.org.

With all best wishes and gratitude for all of you, collectively and individually,

Georgia J. Cowart
President
American Musicological Society