Call for Papers

The program committee for the 2027 North American Conference on Nineteenth-Century Music invites proposals for presentations on topics related to the “long” nineteenth century. The conference will be held Wednesday June 23 – Friday June 25, 2027, at Northeastern University in Boston, MA.

The conference will feature a keynote address by Dr. Jennifer Walker (Williams College).

Proposals for individual papers, lecture-recitals, and organized panels on all topics relating to the history, analysis, and reception of music during the long nineteenth century (ca. 1789-1914) will be considered. The committee would especially welcome proposals for individual papers, lecture-recitals or organized panels related to:

●  Globalizing and/or decolonizing the study of nineteenth-century music

●  Performance and pedagogical practices of the nineteenth century

●  Teaching nineteenth-century music in the twenty-first century

●  Musical communities & activities, broadly conceived, in nineteenth-century Boston and the greater New England area

●  Beethoven, marking the 200th anniversary of his death

●      Lecture-recitals that explore nineteenth-century historical performance practices

Researchers from traditionally underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply and to voluntarily self-identify when submitting a proposal.

Proposals for individual papers and lecture-recitals should include all of the following:

1. A presentation title and abstract of no more than 300 words;

2. A brief biography of the author(s) for inclusion in the conference program;

3. A note providing proposal title and contact information for the presenter(s).

4. For lecture-recitals only, please include a recording (audio or video) of the repertoire to be performed, or of a substantially similar performance by the presenter(s). Recordings may be submitted as a file attachment or as a link to a streaming platform (e.g., YouTube, SoundCloud, Vimeo) accessible without login credentials

Proposals for organized panels (of three to four 20-minute presentations, shorter “lightning talks,” or roundtable discussions) should include all of the following:

1. A panel title and abstract for the entire panel of no more than 300 words;

2. A presentation title and abstract of no more than 300 words for each presentation;

3. A brief biography for each member of the panel for inclusion in the conference program;

4. A note providing proposal title and contact information for each member of the panel.

All presentations will be allotted 30 minutes, including questions and discussion; therefore, papers should be kept to 20 minutes. Lecture-recitals will be allotted up to 60 minutes at the discretion of the program committee.

Please submit proposals by email no later than January 15, 2027 to nac19cm@gmail.com. Applicants can expect to receive a decision in March 2027.

Inquiries may be sent to nac19cm@gmail.com.

The organizing committee consists of Hilary Poriss (local arrangements), Tekla Babyak, Jack Blaszkiewicz, Christopher Campo-Bowen, Nathan Dougherty, Deirdre Loughridge, and Kendall Winter (program chair).