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Music, Mental Health, and Human Flourishing Symposium - Friday 26 June, 2026

Join us for 'Music, Mental Health, and Human Flourishing', a joint symposium hosted by the Centre for Music Education and Human Flourishing and the Institute for Mental Health Research at York. This event brings together international experts Professor Kelly Jakubowski (University of Durham, United Kingdom), Professor Liesl van der Merwe (North-West University, South Africa), and Professor Kira Vibe Jespersen (Aarhus University, Denmark) to explore how music can support mental health and social connection across different contexts and stages of life.

Through research talks and an interactive roundtable, the symposium will consider themes across music education, community musicking, everyday listening, memory, and sleep, with opportunities for audience questions and discussion. The event will take place on Friday 26 June, 11am–3pm, at the Ron Cooke Hub, University of York, and will run in a hybrid format (in person and online), with refreshments and lunch provided for in-person attendees in this lakeside campus venue.

This symposium will be of interest to researchers, practitioners, students, and organisations with an interest in music, mental health, and wellbeing. You are warmly invited to join us for all or any part of the day.

Programme

10.30–11.00 In-person arrivals and refreshments

11.00–11.45 Talk 1: Professor Kira Vibe Jespersen

11.45–12.30 Talk 2: Professor Liesl van der Merwe

12.30–13.15 Lunch (provided for in-person attendees)

13.15–14.00 Talk 3: Professor Kelly Jakubowski

14.00-15.00 Roundtable of all guest speakers, with audience contributions, and closing reflections

Registration for attendance is free. Further details and a registration link will be made available shortly.

Funding for this symposium has been provided by the Humanities Research Centre at York.

Launch Event – You Are Warmly Invited

Please join us for the Launch Event on 30 April, 4:30–6:00 pm (with in-person arrivals and refreshments from 4:00 pm), held in the Lakehouse at the Ron Cooke Hub and online.

The event will feature a roundtable discussion chaired by Emeritus Reader Liz Haddon, short research presentations from Centre members, and opportunities for networking and discussion. 

For the roundtable, we are delighted to welcome guest speakers: 

• Pamela Burnard (Professor of Arts, Creativities and Educations at the University of Cambridge)

• Scott Cairney (Professor of Sleep and Mental Health, and Director of the Institute for Mental Health Research at the University of York)

• Sean Chandler (DeaF musician, teacher, presenter, and consultant)

• Simon Procter (Professor of Creativity and Mental Health, and Director of Converge at York St John)

• Joanne Yau (Partnerships Manager at York Music Hub)
  
  

All are very welcome to attend. Drinks and nibbles will be provided before and after, and an informal trip into the city centre for dinner will follow the event for those who wish to continue the conversation :)

We look forward to seeing you there!