Conference

The Northeast Chapter of the Society for Ethnomusicology welcomes abstracts for our 2026 meeting, which will take place at Brandeis University, in Waltham, Massachusetts, on May 1 and 2.

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As one of the most active regional branches of the Society for Ethnomusicology, the Northeast Chapter brings together scholars, artists, archivists, educators, and community researchers from across the region and beyond. Our annual meeting fosters dialogue across diverse methodological, geographic, and disciplinary perspectives, with a particular commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices and supporting emerging scholars in the field. We invite proposals for individual papers, panel sessions, workshops, and demonstrations. Please send your submissions to NECSEM email (necsem2025@gmail.com) by February 16 using the subject “NECSEM2026.” Applicants can expect notification of acceptance in early April, allowing sufficient time for travel planning. Proposals and abstracts should be included in the text of the email and attached as a .pdf or .docx file. Please include your full name and institutional affiliation, if any, in the email.

 

Students who wish to be considered for the graduate or undergraduate paper prizes should list the prize for which they are eligible. Please follow the instructions for submission below. All submissions will be evaluated through a double-blind review process by the Program Committee based on clarity of argument, methodology, and contribution to the field of ethnomusicology.

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Individual Paper:

Papers will be given twenty minutes, with ten minutes allotted for questions and discussion afterwards. Paper abstracts (250 word maximum) should demonstrate a clear focus or statement of the problem, a coherent argument, knowledge of previous research, and a statement of the implications for ethnomusicology.

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Organized Panel:

An organized panel session is 1.5 or 2 hours long. A 1.5-hour panel consists of three papers. A 2-hour panel consists of either four papers or three papers plus a discussant. Each presentation (a paper or a discussant’s formal response) is 20 minutes long, followed by 10 minutes of questions and general discussion. The Program Committee reserves the right to suggest the addition of a panelist when an independently submitted abstract appears to fit a panel. A proposal for an organized panel should be submitted by the panel organizer. Include the panel abstract (describing the rationale for the panel as a whole) and abstracts for the individual papers.

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Workshop/Demonstration:

Proposals for workshops and demonstrations of either 20-minute or 50-minute duration will also be considered. Include in your 250-word abstract estimated set-up time, and any pertinent logistical considerations, spatial or otherwise.