Hello to the members of The College Music Society,
I have something exciting to share…
Proposal applications for the upcoming innovation summit next January are now open!
I would like to invite all members to apply to present at the 2026 CMS Think-Tank Summit this coming January in Houston, Texas. Even if you do not submit a proposal, this summit is not a conference in the traditional sense, as we intend for every attendee to be an active participant in the conversation about the future of music in higher education. This is a crucial period in time as we fight to articulate the importance of the arts and the role of intellectualism to an ever-skeptical population. It has become increasingly important that we proactively evaluate the intentions and methods by which we inspire, cultivate, and prepare the next generation of musicians.
This summit is designed to explore the future of music and higher education through four pillars: Belonging, Creativity, Technology and AI, and Advocacy. I will aim to unpack each of these pillars in this newsletter in a four-part series over the next four months. Designed by an all-star group of music leaders, the 2026 CMS Think-Tank Summit will focus on creating inspiring programming in each of these four pillar areas.
As a CMS member, you are encouraged not only to attend the summit yourself but also to bring a cohort of leadership, faculty, and students from your institution to participate in helping to generate a vision for advancing music in higher education.
This call, open until June 26, is intended to inspire maximum participation. You have three modalities from which you can submit proposals:
1. Ideas Into Action
The first are Ideas into Action talks. Each pillar will have six Ideas into Action slots to address big, bold ideas that challenge us to action. These sessions will be open to the entire summit and will be in a TED Talk-style format. The goal will be to both live stream and promote these ideas virally across our communities.
2. Innovation Presentations
The second way you can participate is by submitting an Innovation Presentation proposal. These are designed to be 15-minute sessions to present aspects of innovative curricular or structural design that you or your institution has accomplished or initiatives you are hoping to accomplish.
3. Sound Bites
Finally, you can participate in Sound Bites. These are lightning round five-minute pitches designed to create a platform for big, bold, and even radical ideas.
I would like to invite all of you to consider applying to one or all of the above platforms to present at the summit in January. Again, even if you do not propose a session or are not accepted, every attendee at the 2026 CMS Think-Tank Summit in January will be an active participant and a contributing member to the conversation about what it means to prepare the next generation of musicians.
Use this link to apply by June 26th!. If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact [email protected] or the [email protected].
I hope you and your colleagues can join us in Houston next January!
BC
Brian Kai Chin
President, College Music Society
