[ecrea] Conference: Classical music, critical challenges

Classical music, critical challenges

King’s College London, The Council Room (K2.29 King's Building), October 
17th 2014: 9.30 – 5.30


This one-day conference builds on the success of the conference on May 
23rd: Classical music as contemporary socio-cultural practice: critical 
perspectives. This event drew on expertise from sociologists, 
musicologists and practitioners to bring to offer critiques of 
inequality and discrimination in the classical music industry; analysis 
of ways in which classical music education can sometimes entrench 
existing exclusions; and the enabling as well as the constraining 
influence of existing cultural norms, institutions, and modes of 
practice. 'Classical music: critical challenges' aims to continue 
providing new perspectives while also offering challenges to existing 
practices, and discussion of ways forward. Similar to our previous 
conference, the discussion will involve academics, practitioners and 
cultural sector partners. We hope that this dialogue will allow existing 
debates to shift in new directions, particularly in relation to 
analysing existing power inequalities.

We have an exciting interdisciplinary line-up of speakers which includes 
practitioners and academics. A central issue will be classical music's 
hegemonic status and how this has been produced and maintained; this 
will be discussed by Professor Mark Banks (Leicester University), 
Professor Bev Skeggs (Goldsmiths, University of London), and Laudan 
Nooshin (City University). Following the critical questions raised at 
the panel on education at our May conference, a further panel on 
education featuring Pamela Burnard (University of Cambridge) and 
Christine Bates (Leeds College of Music) will examine ways in which 
classical music education is changing, taking examples from practice.

Possibilities for change will also be the focus of a panel examining 
changes which new music practices have made to classical music norms, 
and how institutions have enabled or constrained these. This panel will 
feature musicologists Stephen Graham (Goldsmiths, University of London), 
Roddy Hawkins (Manchester University), and Nick Williams (Huddersfield 
University). Music teachers' perspectives will be discussed by Fran 
Hanley from the Musicians Union. Finally, Professor Roe-Min Kok from 
McGill University will discuss her new work, a post-colonial analysis of 
the ABRSM's history, sharing a panel with Rachel Beckles-Willson from 
Royal Holloway, talking about her new book, 'Orientalism and musical 
mission: Palestine and the West'. A full programme will be available in 
September.

Registration is free but places are limited, allocated on a first come, 
first served basis. Please email (christina.scharff /at/ kcl.ac.uk) to reserve 
your place.

Public Event: What lies beneath? Exploring the hidden currents of the 
classical music world

The conference will be followed by a wine reception, after which 
conference delegates may wish to stay on for a public event taking place 
as part of the Kings College London Arts and Humanities Festival, 'What 
lies beneath? Exploring the hidden currents of the classical music 
world'. Conference attendees are required to book separately for this 
event. Booking for the festival will open on September 17th and further 
information can be found here.

This public event will ask how it is that classical music remains so 
unequal. If talent and self-application matter, why is it that those in 
positions of power tend to fit into quite a narrow - mainly male, white 
and middle-class - demographic? And given that there is strong support, 
at least theoretically, for more inclusive practices, why is it that 
racial, classed and gendered inequalities prevail? By excavating 
personal and musical stories, research data, and musical cultures, this 
panel discussion aims to dig deeper into the underground of the 
profession to explore why demographic background, rather than talent and 
hard work, seems to matter.

Panellists:

ANNA BULL is currently engaged in PhD research, funded by the ESRC, 
examining the pathways of young classical musicians to illuminate 
questions of class, authority, and bodily practice in classical music.

ALICE FARNHAM is Course Director of Women Conductors at Morley – a 
programme to encourage women into the profession.

BEVERLEY MASON, director at medar pysden international, is a consultant 
researcher and advisor in the cultural and creative industries.

CHRISTINA SCHARFF is lecturer at King’s and has recently won the 
prestigious ESRC Future Research Leaders grant to conduct extensive 
research on the working lives of classically trained, female musicians.

JESSICA DUCHEN is a classical music journalist, novelist and playwright 
who writes regularly for the Independent as well as leading classical 
music publications

And with music from:

AYANNA WITTER-JOHNSON is a young, up and coming composer and performer. 
www.ayannamusic.com







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