The International Musicological Society East Asian Regional Association (IMSEA) is pleased to announce its upcoming biennial meeting under the theme:

 

 "Heritage and Community"

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at Yunnan University, China

from September 19 to 21, 2025

 

As a leading institution in the study of minority and traditional music cultures, Yunnan University provides a thriving platform for researchers to engage with diverse global musical traditions. Located in the capital city of Kunming in Yunnan Province, a culturally rich and diverse environment with several UNESCO World Heritage Sites,  this conference aims to bring together scholars dedicated to exploring the complex interconnections between musical traditions, heritage, and community. 

We invite proposals that address topics and issues related to the creation, transmission, and inheritance of musical heritage to promote understanding and shared values among music scholars. 

 

Key questions to be considered include:  

 

• How could music scholars contribute to and engage with diverse traditions and legacies from East and West?

• How could music scholars ensure inheritance of traditions and legacies?

• What common ground might be explored among scholars researching musical traditions, heritage, and community?

• How could scholars contribute further to the mutual understanding of humanity?

 

We welcome proposals from a variety of disciplines and methodologies dealing with topics including, but not limited to, tradition, performance, history, theory, sound, environment, cultural and transcultural studies, ethnicity, globalism, ritual, sustainability, technology, values, and ethics, that explore the interplay between music, heritage, and community.  

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We encourage submissions from scholars at all stages of their careers, including early-career researchers and graduate students. 

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We hope to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of ancient and modern musical traditions by bringing together these diverse perspectives.

 

 

Keynote Speech:

        Prof. Dr. Nancy Yunhwa Rao (Rutgers University)

Academic Opening Address:

        Prof. Dr. Hui Yu (Yunnan University)

 

 SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

 

CATEGORIES OF PRESENTATION:

1. Individual Paper: Each paper will be allotted 30 minutes, with 20 minutes for presentation and 10 minutes for Q&A.

2. Panel Session: Each panel will be either a 90-minute session with three presenters or a 120-minute session with four or five presenters. The 90-/120-minute slot includes discussions among presenters and the audience. Panels involving researchers from different regions and/or areas of specialization are particularly encouraged. The panel organizer should act as the corresponding author and submit the proposal as a package that includes the abstracts of each presentation as well as an overall description of the entire panel.

3. Poster/Media Display: A0-size poster or desktop display. ​

 

Poster and media displays may be presented in conjunction with the content of the individual paper or panel session.

 

An individual may submit up to one proposal in each category.

 

LANGUAGE:

Abstracts must be written in English. Presentations in any language are welcome. If the presentation is to be given in a language other than English, authors should prepare an English translation on the screen (using Word or PPT file). The choice of language for your presentation will not affect its acceptance.

 

 

SUBMISSION:

Proposals should represent original research.

Authors are invited to submit their proposals in a Microsoft Word file that includes the following information:

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1. Title of the presentation

                    - Please capitalize nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs according to the Chicago Manual of Style.

 

2. Abstract 

•  Category 1: Individual Paper

            - 250 words

                                 

• Category 2: Panel Session

 - 300 words for the overall panel description

 - 250 words for each presentation abstract

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• Category 3: Poster/Media Display

                     - 300 words description of display

          (If it is related to an individual paper or panel session, please specify the title of the proposal.)

 

3. Name of presenter, as you would like it to appear in the program (in Roman letters)

     For a panel: Names of the panel organizer, chair, and panelists

 

4. Affiliation of presenter(s), if available

 

5. Short bio of up to 100 words for each presenter

 

6. Presentation language

 

Submissions should be made via email to imsea2025@gmail.com

 

Submission Deadline: March 31, 2025

Notification of Acceptance: May 30, 2025

 

For any enquiries, please contact us at imsea2025@gmail.com