AMS Allegheny and Capital Chapter Meeting
28 February 2026 - 1 March 2026
The Allegheny and Capital Chapters of the AMS are excited to announce a joint conference to be held 28 Feburary–1 March 2026 at Gettysburg College. The conference will feature guest speaker Dr. Rodrigo Sigal (composer and sound studies specialist) and a colloquy on musicology pedagogy today. The program committee invites proposals for individual papers, lecture-recitals, seminar panels, or other presentation formats on any subject of musicological interest. Preceding the conference, participants will have the opportunity to attend a Friday night concert by the Gettysburg College Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dr. César Leal, featuring music by Sigal.
The chapters invite faculty to participate in a Micro-Colloquium titled Musicology and Practice, a one-hour session focused on sharing innovative, practical approaches to teaching undergraduate music history. The chapters welcome brief, four-minute presentations on topics such as curricular innovations, performance-informed teaching, communicating musicology to younger generations, and navigating the “new normal” in today’s higher education crisis. Proposals should be around 100 words. No full papers are required, just fresh ideas and lively discussion.
The chapters encourage proposal submissions for a number of scholarly presentation formats:
- Individual papers: a 20 minute presentation with 10 minutes of discussion.
- “Lightning” sessions papers: individual 8-10 minute talks with additional discussion or media. The entire session will fill a one-hour slot.
- Video presentation: a presentation of variable length with 10-minutes of discussion. Abstracts should include information on the goals, format, and length of the presentation. Additional guidelines will be distributed with acceptance.
- Seminar panels: 3-4 papers that will be distributed ahead of the conference and comprise an extended discussion of the topic followed by questions.
- Additional formats (workshops, roundtables, lecture-recitals) should fill an hour time slot. Please identify session format, musicological significance, and participant roles in your abstract.
Please submit an abstract of up to 250 words along with the proposed title and presentation format via this form by 5 January 2026.
Student members of the Allegheny Chapter are eligible for the annual Deane L. Root Student Paper Award, sponsored by the Center for American Music in the University of Pittsburgh Library System.
Student members of the Capital Chapter are eligible for the annual Lowens Student Paper Award.