Call for Lecture-Recitals and Performances

Submission Deadline: 11:59pm Mountain Time Friday, January 3, 2025

The College Music Society (CMS) is pleased to announce its 68th National Conference in Spokane, Washington, October 30th - November 1st, 2025, in conjunction with the 2025 National Conference of the Association for Technology in Music Instruction (ATMI). 

CMS’s 2025 Conference Theme is “Creative Ecosystems: Music, Research, Practice, and Impact.” This conference aims to explore the interplay between music, research, practice and their collective impact in the 21st century.

The 2025 Program Committee invites submissions from across the full spectrum of our profession, including (a) those in academia (full-time and adjunct faculty, students, and retired faculty), (b) independent musicians and scholars, and (c) professionals in the music industry, business, and entrepreneurship.

In line with the 2024-2025 Common Topic—Grow. Create. Lead.—we welcome and will prioritize lecture-recitals and performance submissions that:

• Showcase how creative ecosystems, through collaborations with academic institutions, arts organizations, and industry partners, drive community growth and shape performance in the 21st century
• Propose strategies on how to maintain performance and curricular efforts relevant and impactful within the evolving creative ecosystems of music, research, and its practice
• Provide musicians and educators, whether experienced or new, wide-ranging opportunities for learning, critical thinking, and professional growth. This includes engaging with innovative practices, such as AI, in conducting research, and collaborating in the context of creative ecosystems
• Incorporate diverse musical voices into CMS conversations, including Jazz, Contemporary and Commercial Music, Music of the Americas (covering Indigenous, folk, popular, and classical styles), African American Music, Electronic Music, Film Music, Musical Theater, Wellness (such as music therapy), Asian Music (including traditional, folk, popular, and contemporary styles), as well as music composed by those belonging to the LGBTQIA2S+ and other marginalized communities
• Elevate presentations and conference delivery formats by integrating interdisciplinary strategies to create a more dynamic, immersive, and cross-disciplinary experience; in short, engage with audiences through interactive participation and music-making 

Performances are intended to present live music, and therefore speaking is generally limited to brief introductory comments. Please plan for your introductory comments for a performance to be no more than 20% of the total performance (i.e., 5 minutes of speaking in the duration of a 25-minute performance program). 

NOTE: While performances can feature new music, please note that this is not the appropriate submission venue for works by CMS composers. 

Two types of performances are possible:

1. Stand-alone Performance: A single performer or ensemble may propose a 25-minute program featuring music by one or more composers. This time limit includes both set-up and tear-down.

2. Showcase Performance: Performances of 10 minutes or less may be proposed and will be part of a larger concert organized by the Program Committee. This time limit includes both set-up and tear-down.

Lecture-recitals are limited to 25 minutes, including delivery, discussion, and/or questions as appropriate. They differ from performances in that a minimum of 50% (12.5 minutes) of the presentation time must be dedicated to speaking.

NOTE: The same repertoire may not be submitted as both a lecture-recital and performance.

CONSIDERATIONS

• If the program is transitioned from an in-person to an online format, the Program Committee may request that presenters adjust the duration and structure of their presentations to better suit the virtual setting.
• Before submission, proposers must communicate with all co-presenters regarding their interests and availability. Proposals not listing all participants will be deemed incomplete and will not be considered.
• All individuals whose work is selected for the program are expected to register for and attend the full conference. If a proposal is accepted, the proposer must ensure that all participants in the presentation are registered by early summer 2025. The Program Committee may, at its discretion, exempt specific individuals, such as non-music professionals, from registration and membership requirements. The proposer is responsible for notifying conference planners of any non-music professionals involved in their presentation and requesting such exemptions upon acceptance.
• Performers are responsible for providing their own instruments, including all percussion (with the exception of piano, which will be provided). Proposals requiring two pianos will not be considered, but 4-hand works on a single piano are welcome. Pianos may not be prepared or altered in any way, including inserting objects into or onto the strings.
• The College Music Society does not fund the travel expenses of accepted presenters.
• Proposers must submit their own work and may not submit proposals on behalf of their students or others.
• Proposals of a commercial nature that promote products and services will not be considered.

ELIGIBILITY

• The Primary proposer must be a current member of The College Music Society. First-time CMS members can sign up for a six-month trial membership at a discounted rate of $20. Persons interested in submitting a proposal should check their membership status well in advance of the submission deadline. Please note the processing time for membership applications and renewals is 1–2 business days.
• It is not necessary for the co-facilitator(s) to be a current member of CMS at the time of submission; however, if invited to the program, they must join the organization.

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION & PARTICIPATION POLICY

• Each member may submit only one proposal in response to this Call.
• Each member may submit a maximum of two proposals across all Calls for this conference (e.g., one panel and one paper). 
• If a member submits more than one proposal to the conference, each submission must be unique. Content cannot be duplicated across submissions, whether responding to this Call or any other Calls for the conference, including those submitted to ATMI.
• Each member may be added by others as a co-presenter (e.g., panelist or accompanist) to a maximum of two proposals.
• A member may participate in a maximum of two presentations on the conference program. If more than two proposals involving the same member are accepted—whether submitted by the member or added to another’s proposal—the individual must select the two presentations in which they will participate.

PREPARATION OF MATERIALS

• Electronic submissions are required. Proposals sent by mail will not be considered.
• To ensure an anonymous review process, do not include the following: names or affiliations of anyone involved in the presentation—such as the ensemble, performers, dedications, or commissioners—in the title, abstract, program notes, file names, or supplementary materials. 
• Submissions are reviewed anonymously, and proposals that reveal the identity of the proposer or co-presenters will be disqualified. Names and affiliations may be listed in the 'Collaborators' section and in submitted biographies, as the review committee will not have access to this information.
• The College Music Society's conference submission process is powered by Submittable. To submit a proposal:
  1. Log in to the CMS members-only website using your username and password and
  2. Click the ‘Submit’ button at the bottom of this Call. You will be directed to Submittable to complete your proposal. If you don't already have a Submittable account, you will be prompted to establish one. 

A complete proposal includes: 

1. The proposal’s title and format.
2. Abstract / Program Notes

• Lecture-recital proposals must include an abstract of 250 words or less. The Program Committee primarily evaluates presentations based on this abstract, so it is crucial to craft a clear and comprehensive summary. 
• The abstract should clearly outline the main point of the presentation, the key supporting points, and the evidence provided. It should offer a concise overview of what will be covered (e.g., even someone who has not attended the presentation should be able to understand in brief its key points and evaluate its contribution to our knowledge and understanding of music). 
• Aim for clarity that caters to a broad audience of musicians and music educators, avoiding overly technical language or excessive contextual background. The abstract should not simply describe the topic or list the points but should communicate the essence and significance of the presentation.
• Performance proposals must include program notes of 250 words or less, a list of all titles, movements, and composers, details of the instrumentation, and the duration of each work. If the proposal features lengthy pieces that will not be performed in their entirety, please specify within the program notes which sections will be included.

A Complete Checklist for Performance Proposals: 

• A list of required equipment and internet needs (please note that internet connections are not guaranteed).
• Submit two audio samples to demonstrate the proficiency of the soloist or ensemble. Each recording must be between 3 and 8 minutes in duration. Preference will be given to recordings of the proposer performing the actual work being proposed. If this is not possible, the examples should be in a similar style, genre, or historical period. Most audio file formats are supported by Submittable. Ensure that file names do not identify the proposer or any collaborators, and remove any metadata that might reveal this information.
• If performing a work based on music notation, please submit PDF reference scores to accompany the audio samples.
• In addition to the two required audio samples of the performer(s), you may optionally include an additional reference recording of the proposed work performed by someone else. This is only recommended if the proposer(s) have not recorded the proposed work themselves.
• You may include up to 3 optional supporting materials with your proposal, such as printed music examples, photos, or any relevant data. Please do not submit lengthy documents, such as dissertations, CVs, resumes, or PowerPoint presentations.
• Contact details and a brief biography of the proposer, not exceeding 250 words.
• Name of the performing ensemble, if applicable.
• Biographies of all collaborators 
  • If the presentation will be given by a named ensemble (e.g., Viva Trio), include a biography of the ensemble (not to exceed 250 words). The biography may briefly mention the achievements of each ensemble member; however, separate individual biographies are not required.
  • If the presentation is not by a named ensemble, include biographies of each individual performer (not exceeding 250 words per person). 
• Contact details for all collaborators, including email addresses, mailing addresses, phone numbers, and institutional affiliations (if applicable).
• When referencing their own previously published research, proposers should use the third person to maintain anonymity. For example, instead of writing, “My article, ‘XYZ,’ summarizes pertinent issues,” a proposer should write, “D. Graham’s article, ‘XYZ,’ summarizes pertinent issues.” This will ensure the proposer’s anonymity and avoid linking their identity to their previously published work.
• Submissions that do not conform to the above guidelines will not be considered.

TIMELINE

• Proposals must be submitted by 11:59pm Mountain Time on Friday, January 3, 2025.
• Proposers will be notified of their status at the end of March 2025.

QUESTIONS?

Questions regarding this Call should be directed to: 
[email protected], 2025 Program Chair

Questions concerning conference operations should be directed to:
[email protected], CMS Conference Planner