November 2023 - Kate Hamori

Kate Hamori is a PhD student in musicology at the University of California, Los Angeles. She currently serves as the student member on the CMS Board of Directors and has been an active member of the Student Advisory Council since 2019. Kate holds master’s degrees in musicology and library science from Indiana University Bloomington. Her recent musicological work has focused on intersections of cultural trauma, girlhood, and sonic violence as mediated by popular music and sound on social media platforms. Her interests in music librarianship include ethical cataloging practices, library instruction, information literacy, and social media outreach. A pianist and soprano, Kate is an active choral singer and enjoys accompanying the occasional high school musical whenever the opportunity presents itself.

We recently had the opportunity to reach out to Kate Hamori to talk about her work with CMS, and we hope you enjoy reading her responses!

Q: How did you begin your involvement with CMS, and what led you to join the CMS Student Advisory Council? 

Reason to be Optimistic

Our gathering in Miami was filled with joy, connection, and hope as we grappled with some of the most pressing challenges and promising opportunities facing our profession. Many thanks to Mihoko Watanabe, Jeff Nytch, Gabriel Alegria, Mayco Santaella, Rachel Roberts, Charlie Chadwell, and the entire CMS Executive Staff for the great vision and thoughtful execution of our national conference. 

The Presidential Task Force for Reimagining How We Gather in 2025 and Beyond, under the leadership of Tracy Cowden, delivered its report, and painted a vision for and piloted in real-time future conference formats. Michael Buchler led a Think Tank session on strategies and tactics for combating attacks on academic freedom. Tayloe Harding focused our energies on the inseparable connection between art, artist, and audiences. Suzanne Hall challenged us to imagine pedagogy, curriculum, and music schools centered upon creativity. Trotter Lecturer Omar Thomas invited us on his personal journey of discovering his artistic voice as a first-generation Guyanese-American and offered ways forward for creating more inclusive, creativity-rich music schools of the future. And Gabriel Alegria’s Afro-Peruvian Jazz Sextet lit up Miami with their one-of-a-kind artistry at the intersection of Peruvian rhythms and American Jazz. Wow!

The College Music Society is excited to announce the implementation of CMS Cohorts, a new initiative that will allow CMS members to connect with one another through shared professional goals, academic affinities, pedagogical initiatives, and career experiences. 

With plans to expand in scope and range of disciplines, the first CMS Cohorts will encompass the following areas of focus:

1. Aspiring Academic Leaders Cohort - The Aspiring Academic Leaders Cohort aims to nurture and prepare future academic leaders with a music focus in higher education. This cohort will focus on professional development, fostering essential leadership skills, and exploring the responsibilities of academic leadership roles. 
2. Early-Career Music Faculty Cohort - The Early Music Faculty Cohort aims to support and empower early-career music faculty members in their professional development. For the purposes of this cohort, “early-career” faculty are defined as those who are within 5-7 years of completion of their terminal degree. This cohort will provide a platform for peer mentorship, networking, and skill-building to navigate the challenges of the early stages of an academic career. 
3. Inclusive Pedagogy Cohort - The Inclusive Pedagogy Cohort aims to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racist pedagogy in music education. This cohort will serve as a platform for educators to learn about and discuss inclusive teaching practices, exchange ideas, and collaborate on fostering equitable learning environments. 
4. Music Administrators Cohort - The Music Administrators Cohort aims to create a supportive network for music administrators within The College Music Society. This cohort will focus on addressing the unique challenges and opportunities faced by administrators in music units, facilitating professional development, and promoting best practices in music administration. 
5. Collegiate Music Student Cohort - The Collegiate Music Student Cohort aims to bring CMS student members together across disciplines to foster conversation and bring attention to timely issues facing students in institutions of music higher education. This cohort will be facilitated by members of the CMS Student Advisory Council.