This Month at CMS - May 2026

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In Conversation with President Brian Pertl

Dear harried, super-busy, world-changing colleagues,

As we all steam towards the end of Spring semester, or towards the middle (!) of Spring quarter, we all, students, staff and faculty are acutely aware of too many obligations crammed into too little time. We are exhausted, overwhelmed, and hoping we can drag ourselves over the finish line, with the promise that then we can finally breathe, recuperate, and relax. And this happens Semester after semester, quarter after quarter every year.  Maybe it is time to seriously ask “WHY?”

CMS May 2026 Spotlight

Dr. Jane Palmquist

Dr. Jane Palmquist joined the Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music faculty in 1998, where she has led music education initiatives and taught a wide range of undergraduate and graduate courses. A specialist in string teacher education and music in general studies, she regularly presents her research at national conferences. Her recent work includes a book on teaching strings in the 21st century and an open educational resource for general music instruction. She currently serves on the CMS Board as the Member for the Council on Music in General Studies.

Conference & Calls

Registration for the 2026 CMS National Conference

The College Music Society (CMS) invites you to Grand Rapids, Michigan, from November 12–14, 2026, for our Sixty-Ninth National Conference held in conjunction with ATMI, NACWPI, and Pi Kappa Lambda. This year’s theme, "Adaptive Advocacy: Collegiate Music Training at a Crossroads," challenges us to envision a sustainable future for music-making.

REGISTER NOW to join us in the vibrant heart of the Midwest to help shape the next decade of music education and artistry! (Early Bird discount available through July 7!)

Calls for Proposals

The submission deadline for the 2027 CMS International Conference is 3 weeks away! Proposals are due 11:59pm Mountain Time on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.

More details about specific proposal submission formats and the full conference description can be found on the conference website.

From November 12–14, 2026, members of The College Music Society will gather in Grand Rapids, MI, for the 69th CMS National Conference. This fall’s conference theme is “Adaptive Advocacy: Collegiate Music Training at a Crossroads” and the submission deadline for Supplemental Calls is one month away! Proposals are due 11:59pm Mountain Time on Friday, May 29, 2026.

More details about specific proposal submission formats and the full conference description can be found on the conference website.

Call for Nominations: National Board Elections

On behalf of the College Music Society, we invite you to help identify members who will provide national leadership in the coming years.

At the present time, CMS seeks nominations for the following offices:

• President-Elect
• Treasurer-Elect (a new role)
• Secretary
• Board Member for Composition
• Board Member for Music in General Studies
• Board Member for Music and Sound Technology (a new role)

We welcome all nominations, including self-nominations, anytime by the deadline of June 5, 2026. Please note that nominees should be members of The College Music Society or possess the ability and intention to join before nomination confirmation. We encourage nominations for those with all levels of service experience who desire to work to ensure the longevity, sustainability, and accessibility of CMS as an organization.

Please forward your nominations using this form.

Engaging with Alumni Data

CMS is gathering information on people who are currently doing work on the career outcomes of our music alumni. Inspired by the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP), we aim to move beyond broad arts data to address the unique challenges and goals specific to music institutions.

By sharing best practices and potentially aggregating data, we can better align our curricula with the professional realities of our graduates. Whether you have a robust survey in place or are just beginning this journey, please fill out this form to engage in this conversation.

Publications

Symposium Journal: Call for Editor

College Music Symposium, Journal of the College Music Society is now accepting applications for a Music Technology Review Editor. We seek engaged candidates who want to generate dialogue and help share forward-looking knowledge. Positions are for three years and are unpaid.

The Music Technology Review Editor will solicit 4–8 technologies or online resources per year. These may include apps, software, electronic equipment, digital repositories, and online educational platforms, drawing from both academic and industry sources. Editors will receive or identify technologies, assign specialist reviewers, and, if necessary, coordinate access to materials. The Editor will guide reviewers through the submission and publication process (approximately 500 words per review) and will edit final submissions according to Symposium guidelines.

For consideration, please submit a curriculum vitae and a brief letter of interest highlighting your qualifications using this link. Deadline: May 10, 2026 or until filled.

CMS Emerging Fields in Music

The CMS Emerging Fields in Music series, published by Routledge, provides concise monographs designed to help the profession re-examine artistic excellence and equip 21st-century musicians with the entrepreneurial and technological tools needed for a shifting cultural landscape. These short-form volumes offer vital insights for students, faculty, and administrators as they navigate institutional change and redefine the future of the musical career.

The series welcomes new proposals beginning in February 2026 and encourages highly motivated potential authors to schedule time with the Series Editor, Mark Rabideau ([email protected]), in advance of submitting a proposal. These short-form books (25,000-50,000 words) can be either single-authored works or contributed volumes comprised of 3 or 4 essays on related topics.

Learn more about the call and proposal requirements on the CMS Website.

Virtual Events

CMS Cohort Meetings

• May 7, 2026 | 7-8:30PM ET - Early Career Music Faculty
• May 12, 2026 | 7-8:30PM ET - Inclusive Pedagogy
• May 20, 2026 | 7-8:30PM ET - Cultivating Academic Leadership

CMS Cohort sessions are open to current CMS Cohort members. Not a member but interested in joining one of the sessions above? Email [email protected] or visit this page to learn how you can become a cohort member.

Auralia Webinar

‍8-Bit Soundworlds: Aural Skills & Musicianship through Video Game Music

Thursday, May 14, 7:00PM ET | Registration link

Join Dr. Thomas Yee (Assistant Professor of Instruction, Music Theory & Composition, University of Texas at San Antonio) to explore how video game music from the 8-bit era to contemporary soundtracks offers fertile ground for ear training and musicianship. Participants will experience live walkthroughs of related Auralia & Musition worksheets that map these strategies to core music theory concepts, fostering both fundamental skills acquisition and creative exploration.

Open to all!

CMS Innovation Forum

Beyond the Algorithm: Rethinking Music with AI

Upcoming Session – The Future Stage: AI and Live Performance

Thursday, May 21, 6:00–7:00PM ET | Registration link

Hosted by Rey Sanchez (Frost School of Music), this yearlong forum brings together scholars, artists, and educators to explore the creative, ethical, and pedagogical implications of artificial intelligence in music.

Open to all! | Recordings & supplemental materials available to CMS members only.

Save the Date: Upcoming Summer Events

Get ready for a summer of professional growth and collaboration. Mark your calendars for these upcoming virtual sessions!

CMS Interdisciplinary Roundtables

Hosted by the Councils on Music Education and Musicology

• Dates: June 19 | July 17 | August 15
• The Focus: Imagining a culturally responsive 21st-century curriculum that addresses evolving student needs and the rapid rise of AI and technology.
• Stay tuned—more information is coming soon!

Collaborate: Practical Strategies for Teaching Aural Skills and Music Theory

Hosted by the Council for Music Theory

• Date: August 8, 2026
• Registration details are coming soon.

ASTA Virtual String Teacher’s Summit

• VSTS Dates: July 13–14
  Register here!
  • Professional
  • Student
• Special Preview Event: May 14, 2026
  Interested in attending? Join the preview event to learn more and get a head start on the summer summit. RSVP for the Preview Event at this link.

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