The Society for Ethnomusicology will hold its 54th annual meeting, November 19-22, 2009, in Mexico City, hosted by Centro Nacional de Investigación, Documentación e Información Musical Carlos Chavez of the Instituto Nacional de los Artes (CENIDIM-INBA); Escuela Nacional de Música, Universidad Autónoma de México (ENM-UNAM); Escuela Superior de Música-INBA; Museo Nacional de Culturas Populares de la Dirección General de Culturas Populares (MNCPI-DGCPI); Escuela Nacional de Conservación, Restauración y Museografía (ENCRM) of the Instituto Nacional de Antropología (INAH); Comisión de los Pueblos Indios (CDI); Fonoteca del Centro Nacional de las Artes of the Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes (CNA-CONACULTA); and the Secretaría de Cultura del Departamento del Distrito Federal (SC-DDF).

For updates on all meeting arrangements, please visit the SEM website (www.ethnomusicology.org) and select “Conferences.”

The annual Charles Seeger lecture will be delivered by Steven Feld, Distinguished Professor of Anthropology and Music at the University of New Mexico and Professor of Music Anthropology at the University of Oslo. A MacArthur and Guggenheim fellow, Feld has done research and recording in Papua New Guinea, Ghana, Japan, and six countries in Europe. His publications include the books Sound and Sentiment, Music Grooves, and Senses of Place, and CDs and DVDs for Folkways, EarthEar, and VoxLox. He is especially known for his experimental soundscape recordings and his work on acoustemology and schizophonia.

The conference theme for the 2009 meeting will be “Borderless Ethnomusicologies.” Topics will include the following:

1. Cultural Policy, Cultural Property, and Intangible Heritage
2. Instruments and Organologies
3. Ethnomusicology in the Megalopolis
4. Musical Borderlands
5. Social Dimensions of New Media
6. Ethnomusicology of/in Mexico/Latin America

Proposals on any other topics relevant to the field of ethnomusicology are welcome. We also encourage workshops on the following: Professional Development, Copyright, Multiculturalist Pedagogies, Multimedia Scholarship, and other practical applications.

SEM Sections, Special Interest Groups, Committees, and other groups are encouraged to sponsor organized sessions at the meeting. In addition, individuals preparing abstract proposals for organized sessions are encouraged to seek sponsorship from SEM groups.

Abstract proposals should be submitted using the online forms available at www.ethnomusicology.org under “Conferences.” Those without Internet access who require a paper copy of the submission form may contact the SEM Business Office at 812-855-6672 or sem@indiana.edu to obtain a copy. The online and postmark deadline for submission of SEM proposals is March 16, 2009.

The Pre-Conference Symposium, to be held on November 18, will be devoted to the theme “Music Research in Mexico.”

The SEM 2009 Program Committee consists of Arturo Chamorro (Universidad de Guadalajara), Jane Florine (Chicago State University), Michael Frishkopf (University of Alberta), Javier León (Indiana University), Kiri Miller (Brown University), Ana Maria Ochoa (Columbia University), Dale Olsen (Florida State University), Jane Sugarman (CUNY Graduate Center), and Brenda Romero (University of Colorado) as Chair. For further questions about the program, please contact Brenda Romero at Brenda.Romero@Colorado.edu. Do not send proposals or abstracts to this address; please see the Call for Papers forms for the proper address.

The SEM Local Arrangements Committee consists of Gonzalo Camacho (ENM-UNAM), José Luis Sagredo (Conservatorio Nacional de Música del INBA), Alfonso Muñoz (Fonoteca del CNA), Roberto Medina (Escuela Superior de Música-INBA), Fernando Hijar (Museo Nacional de Culturas Populares), Xilonem Luna (Comisión Nacional para el Desarrollo de los Pueblos Indígenas (CDI)), Alejandro Madrid (University of Illinois, Chicago), Rodolfo Palma (INAH), and Guillermo Contreras (CENIDIM-INBA and ENM-UNAM) as Chair. For questions about local arrangements, please contact Guillermo Contreras at musicademex@yahoo.com.mx.

Proposals are invited in nine categories. Please see below for details.
All proposals must include two components—the proposal form and an abstract. When submitting your proposal, first select the appropriate form. Note that two types of forms are used for submitting proposals:

1. “Individual Presenters Form” for single papers, performances or lecture-demonstrations, film/video programs, poster (media) sessions, and workshops (participatory) proposals.
2.  “Organized Sessions Form” for organized panels, forums/roundtables, workshops (participatory), and films/videos (the film or video itself is the presentation).

Please note that poster (media) presentations are welcome and presenters may set up their presentations on their own laptops in the poster presentation area at the conference.

PROPOSALS TO BE SUBMITTED ON THE “INDIVIDUAL PRESENTERS FORM”:

1. Single Papers: Individual paper presentations are 20 minutes long and will be followed by 10 minutes of discussion. Individual paper proposals must include:
1. The Individual Presenters Form
2. A 250-word maximum abstract. Abstracts over 250 words will not be accepted.
2. Performances or Lecture-Demonstrations: Up to one hour long. Proposals must include:
1. The Individual Presenters Form
2. A 250-word maximum abstract. Abstracts over 250 words will not be accepted.
3. Film/Video Programs: Recently completed or in-progress films or video programs up to two hours long. Sessions may include an introduction and discussion time. Submit titles, subjects, and formats, and indicate the exact duration of the proposed films/videos and introduction/discussion. Proposals must include:
1. The Individual Presenters Form
2. A 250-word maximum abstract. Abstracts over 250 words will not be accepted.
4. Poster (Media) Sessions: Display stations will be set up in a room where presenters can exhibit work in a variety of media and remain on hand for scheduled two-hour periods for discussion. Displays might include posters, audio-visual presentations of research, instrument building, as well as written work made available in a form suitable for informal presentation in a table-top or wall display. Special display requirements (e.g., computer equipment and monitors) will be the responsibility of the presenter. Displays should be designed with the other presenters in the room in mind. Proposals must include:
1. The Individual Presenters Form
2. A 250-word maximum abstract describing the subject, purpose, and physical/audible characteristics of the display as well as the audio/visual equipment, wall, or table space required. Certain special display equipment will be the responsibility of the presenter. Abstracts over 250 words will not be accepted.
5. Workshops (participatory): Informal, interactive hands-on session on one topic (e.g., music performance, dance, recording technology) for a maximum of two hours. The presenter must submit:
          a. The Individual Presenters Form (if led by one person)
          b. A 250-word maximum abstract describing the subject. Abstracts over 250 words will not be accepted.

PROPOSALS TO BE SUBMITTED ON THE “ORGANIZED SESSIONS FORM”:

6. Organized Panels: Organized panel sessions are 90 minutes or two hours long. A 90-minute panel consists of three papers. A two-hour panel consists of either four papers or three papers plus a discussant. Each presentation (a paper or a discussant’s formal response) will be 20 minutes long followed by 10 minutes of questions and general discussion. Panel abstracts will be evaluated individually as well as collectively. The program committee reserves the right to suggest the addition of a panelist where an independently submitted abstract appears to fit a panel. (Those interested in a more flexible format with more participants may want to consider proposing a forum/roundtable.) Proposals for organized panels should be submitted by the panel organizer and must include:

1. The Organized Sessions Form
2. A 250-word maximum abstract describing the rationale for the panel as a whole. While the individual abstracts are necessary, the overall panel abstract is the linchpin of the panel.
3. A 250-word maximum abstract for each presenter. Abstracts over 250 words will not be accepted.
   

7. Forums/Roundtables: Forum/Roundtable sessions provide opportunities for participants to discuss a subject with each other and with members of the audience. Sessions of up to two hours long should include at least four but no more than five presenters. We encourage formats that stimulate discussion and audience participation. The organizer will solicit position papers of up to 15 minutes from each presenter and will facilitate questions and discussion for the remaining time. Proposals for forums/roundtables should be submitted by the session organizer and must include:
1. The Organized Sessions Form (include affiliations of all participants)
2. A 250-word maximum abstract outlining the purpose/agenda and organization of the session, as well as the anticipated contributions of its members. Abstracts over 250 words will not be accepted.

8. Workshops (participatory): Informal, interactive hands-on session on one topic (e.g., music performance, dance, recording technology) for a maximum of two hours. The organizer must submit:
1. The Organized Sessions Form (include more than one but no more than six session leaders, with affiliations)
2. A 250-word maximum abstract describing the subject. Abstracts over 250 words will not be accepted.

9. Films/Videos: Recently completed or in-progress films or video programs up to two hours long. Sessions may include an introduction and discussion time. Submit titles, subjects, and formats, and indicate the exact duration of the proposed films/videos and introduction/discussion. The organizer must submit:
1. The Organized Sessions Form (include affiliations of all participants)
2. A 250-word maximum abstract describing the subject and a list of participants. Abstracts over 250 words will not be accepted.
   

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ABSTRACTS: Abstracts should demonstrate a clear focus or statement of the problem, a coherent argument, knowledge of previous research, and a statement of the implications for ethnomusicology. Do not include the names of any participants in the body of the abstract. If submitting a hard copy abstract proposal by mail only, please format your abstract as follows: Abstracts should be typed, single spaced. Include your name and institutional affiliation (for session abstracts, the session organizer’s name) and the title of your paper (for session abstracts, the name of the session).

Guidelines:

1. Abstracts must not exceed 250 words. Abstracts over 250 words will not be accepted.
2. Abstracts must appear as a single paragraph.
3. Because abstract review is anonymous, do not include your name, the names of other panelists, or the names of fellow researchers in the body of the abstract. Abstracts identifying presenters or other participants will not be accepted.

Special Notice for 2009: Abstracts may be submitted in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. If submitting an abstract in English, please provide a Spanish translation if possible (a translation is not required). Please see the abstract-submission website for further instructions.

SUBMISSIONS, REQUIREMENTS, AND DEADLINES:
Proposal submissions: Abstract proposals should be submitted using the online forms at www.ethnomusicology.org (follow the links to the abstract-submission site), available after January 15, 2009. The deadline for online submissions is March 16, 2009.

If you do not have Internet access, you may contact the SEM Business office at 812-855-6672 or sem@indiana.edu  to obtain a paper copy of the form. Mail your form and abstract to the address listed below, postmarked by March 16, 2009.

Address for submissions:

*Online: www.ethnomusicology.org (see “Conferences”)

*Postal mail:
Indiana University Conferences
Attn.: SEM 2009 ABSTRACT SUBMISSION
801 N. Jordan
Bloomington, IN 47405 USA

Deadline for submissions: All submissions must be submitted online or postmarked by the published deadline—March 16, 2009—or the abstract will not be reviewed.

Charles Seeger Prize: Students interested in having a paper considered for the Charles Seeger Prize should consult the guidelines in the January 2009 issue of SEM Newsletter or on the SEM website (www.ethnomusicology.org).

Pre-registration fees: Following SEM policy, all participants whose proposals have been accepted for the program must be SEM members and must pre-register for the meeting by August 2. This requirement applies also to those who have agreed to be waitlisted. SEM members whose proposals have been accepted will be sent pre-registration materials around June 8, at the time of notification of their acceptance to the program. If by June 26 you have not received a message from the Program Committee indicating whether or not your abstract was accepted, please contact Karin Reece, Senior Conference Coordinator, at Indiana University Conferences, semconf@indiana.edu.

Note: Guest speakers at sessions sponsored by SEM sections must be SEM members and must register for the meeting. If necessary, Sections should arrange to use their dues to cover membership and registration fees for their guest speakers.

Limit on the number of presentations: SEM policy specifies that each presenter may give one paper (individually or as part of an organized panel) OR act as a discussant for a panel OR participate in one forum/roundtable, workshop, performance, lecture-demonstration, or poster session OR present one film/video program during the regular sessions. Presenters may, however, also serve as chair of one panel, forum/roundtable, or workshop.

Please note that you may only submit one abstract proposal. (Organizers of panels may submit an individual presenter abstract as well as the panel abstract.)

Cancellations and no-shows: No-shows inconvenience the chair, discussant, fellow panelists, and audience members attending the session. Participants who discover they are unable to attend the meeting should notify the Program Chair and semconf@indiana.edu immediately. SEM policy does not allow someone else to read your paper in your absence. Pre-registration cancellations made after September 10 will not qualify for a refund.

Special requests: Please indicate potential scheduling conflicts. If notified in advance, the Program Committee will attempt to accommodate requests but cannot guarantee a particular time slot.