Earlier this week, SMRForum hosted an abstract workshop to exchange and discuss submissions for the many upcoming conference-proposal deadlines. Several abstracts received helpful feedback and guidance. Look for a good SMR showing at conferences in the upcoming season! photo: William van Geest

Last month, several SMR members attended the Annual Meeting of the Society for Ethnomusicology, held in Albuquerque, NM. Four of these—Conner Singh VanderBeek, Richard Smith, Casper Chan, and James McNally—presented papers (see abstracts below), three of these on a single panel that they organized, entitled New Methodologies in the Age of Social Media: Identities, Celebrity, … Continue reading SMR at SEM 2018

Last weekend, SMR members met for a White Elephant Holiday Gift Exchange. Gifts were exchanged (and variously coveted and pawned off), delicious desserts were consumed, and revelry and merriment abounded—a great way to finish off the semester and kick off the holidays. photo credit: Steve Lett

Last week, Anne Heminger delivered her Dissertation Oral Presentation at the Burton Tower between soundings of the carillon at quarter-hours. Her sizable audience, held in rapt attention, learned about shifting musical practices that attended the turbulent period of 1540–1560 England and how liturgical music both reflected and facilitated religious perspectives during this time (see abstract … Continue reading Anne’s Dissertation Oral Presentation

Last weekend, SMR members were in San Antonio for the annual meeting of the American Musicological Society and the Society for Music Theory. A number of SMR members gave talks, including an entire panel composed of U-M scholars (see complete list below). Congratulations, all, and excellent work! In addition to papers, meetings, and professional development, … Continue reading UM’s SMR at AMS/SMT 2018

Enjoy learning about what SMR member William van Geest was up to this past summer while away researching and studying in Germany. This summer, I spent two months in Germany studying German and researching. For the latter, I completed a four-week course at the Goethe Institute in Berlin (see photo). My participation in this course … Continue reading William’s Research and Language-Study in Germany

Last week, ethnomusicologist Ho Chak Law successfully defended his dissertation, entitled "Cinematizing Chinese Opera, Performing Chinese Identities, 1945-1971" (abstract below), before a crowd of distinguished guests. Congratulations, Ho Chak! We're proud of you, but sorry to have you leave us! Abstract On stage and on film, Chinese opera persisted in being an important means of … Continue reading Dissertation Defense: Ho Chak Law (ethnomusicology)