2026 CMS Think-Tank Summit

2026 CMS Think-Tank Summit
January 16-18, 2026
Moores School of Music at The University of Houston
Houston, TX

Ideas into Action:
Reimagining Music Schools for 2026 and Beyond

Program Support

CMS thanks our Summit sponsors whose support makes this gathering possible and impactful.

Dear CMS Members,

The College Music Society will host the 2026 Think-Tank Summit, scheduled for January 16–18 at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music. The Summit theme, “Ideas into Action: Reimagining Music Schools for 2026 and Beyond,” will invite participants to join their CMS colleagues to discuss how educators and administrators can focus on advancing career-focused curricula, fostering innovation, and supporting diverse pathways for today’s music students. Conversations will be centered around the four pillars of Belonging, Creativity, Technology, and Advocacy:

Belonging

• How can we sustain cultures of belonging regardless of upbringing and background?
• Does all music matter, and if so, how do we represent this value in our curricula? 
• How can we reimagine our programming to serve music for all?

Creativity

• How can we continue to amplify creativity in all that we do?
• What does it mean to balance technique with intention?
• How can we empower our students to sustain multifaceted careers in a rapidly changing creative and economic landscape?

Technology

• What is the role of technology and AI in the creative process?
• How can we prepare our students for the coming era of AI?
• What lessons from the pandemic ought we better integrate moving forward?

Advocacy

• How can we collectively advocate for the value of the arts in society?
• What does it mean to empower and encourage our students and community to engage in citizen artistry and socially inspired art?
• How can we make the case for music in higher education to government and society?

Following this weekend of action-oriented, expert-facilitated discussion and conversations, as well as peer-to-peer networking, participants of the 2026 CMS Think-Tank Summit will serve as active contributors to a guiding document outlining recommendations and strategies for implementing modern, career-focused programs across the academy and beyond.