Since I first joined the CMS Board in 2020 as Vice President, we have been in active conversation to expand our regional chapters to include international representation. The role of the CMS Vice President, in addition to serving on the CMS Executive Committee, is to work with the leadership of the CMS regional chapters, which at the time only served members in the United States, Canada, and U.S. territories. In 2020, CMS had between 80 and 100 CMS members living outside of the U.S. and Canada, both as expatriates and as academics and musicians from countries worldwide. While the CMS Board has had an International Initiatives Committee for years, our international members were essentially without representation and generally were asked to either participate with their home chapter as an expatriate or join a chapter that made the most sense for them. It quickly became apparent to CMS leadership that an international chapter would be essential for The College Music Society as we move further into the 21st century.
Undoubtedly, one of the biggest challenges in representing members worldwide is the expansive geography. It seems that The College Music Society’s regional chapter model emerged organically over the years as we were able to harness the energy already built amongst local relationships and various state membership organizations to build robust member relationships and conferences based upon geographic proximity.
However, one of the hidden benefits of our global pandemic was the adoption and emergence of new technologies in communication that enabled The College Music Society to consider redefining how we gather and communicate. With hybrid conferences and countless Zoom meetings spread across North America, we quickly realized that the constraint of geography as the organizing structure of CMS was no longer the primary limiter of our ability to organize.
Over the past several years, CMS has been working to create an International Chapter as proposed from a Call to Action of the former International Initiatives Committee under the leadership of Chair Don Bowyer. Prior to modern video conference technology, organizing an international chapter that spans six continents and 24 time zones was near impossible. While time zones are still a challenge, we have been able to organize an active board and create the new CMS International Chapter.
In 2022, the CMS Board, led by President Mark Rabideau, nominated Dr. Gwyneth Bravo (on the faculty at NYU Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates) to lead the CMS International Chapter for its first two years. Under Dr. Bravo’s leadership, the Board has formulated bylaws and governance procedures, established an Advisory Board, and defined how the Chapter can play a role in conferences and professional activities nationally and internationally. Gwyneth Bravo has been outstanding in her innovative role as the inaugural President of the International Chapter. She has moved this chapter forward with a bold vision and clear initiatives for the future.
As recently shared by Gwyneth Bravo, President, CMS International Chapter:
We aim to create a dynamic space for global engagement—one that builds upon the longstanding international conferences and projects that have already shaped CMS as a society with a global orientation.
Through our work as a CMS International Chapter, we are committed to embracing the diversity of identities, experiences, and perspectives within our community in service of a truly global vision for our initiatives. With the support of our CMS leadership, we are actively developing new pathways for involvement, ensuring that participation is both meaningful and accessible to all who share this commitment.
What excites me most is the depth of conversation and exchange of ideas within our leadership team—comprising twelve board and advisory members from across the globe, including the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, China, and Australia—and our growing membership. Despite different time zones, we come together to explore how we can best serve our membership and community and contribute to the further development of CMS as a more globally engaged professional society.
In this age of increased global tension, musicians and artists have an even greater imperative to expand our collective mindset and our initiatives to a worldwide platform. Similar to how world economics, science, and innovation have become true global enterprises, musicianship, artistry, community, and education seem poised to reimagine how we connect and work together on our shared goals now and into the future.
The CMS International Chapter will bring The College Music Society forward through generations to come as we connect our mission to make the world a better place through music on a global stage. As a musician and educator, I look forward to connecting with excellent teachers, academics, musicians, and students worldwide, each approaching their work from a unique and inspirational perspective.
In the coming months and years, you will see many opportunities and invitations from us to participate in the new CMS international chapter’s initiatives. Please join us as we work together to build The College Music Society's future as a true international organization.
International Chapter Board
- Gwyneth Bravo (President)
- Alexandra Zacharella (Vice President)
- Zijie Ma (Secretary)
- Phillip Doyle (Treasurer)
Advisory Council
- Susan Eldridge
- Yangmingting Fang
- Adalbert Grote
- Heather MacLaughlin Garbes
- Ana Moiseeva
- Linda Monson
- John O. Robison
- Mayco Santaella
BC
Brian Kai Chin
President, College Music Society
