US-CHINA MUSIC INSTITUTE

Photo by Karl Rabe

CONFERENCES

Visiting scholars discuss historical and contemporary aspects of Chinese music in context with literature, philosophy, art history, sociology, and social history, while world-class musicians offer master classes and recitals in connection with the conference theme. An annual conference allows Bard students and faculty to connect in person with Chinese music scholars and artists from around the world.

Spring Conference 2023

Ancient Echoes and New Sounds: Guqin in the 21st Century | April 6-8, 2023

The fifth annual conference of the US-China Music Institute is a three-day series of scholarly, interactive, and musical events looking at how this ancient instrument has been revived and reimagined for today, bringing together renowned guqin scholars and performers from China and the US to consider and demonstrate how the guqin has found new life in contemporary musical culture. All events are open to the Bard community and the general public.

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Spring Conference 2022

Ink and Sound: A Conference on Chinese Music and Visual Arts | April 8-9, 2022

The 2022 conference of the US-China Music Institute, Ink and Sound: a Conference on Chinese Music and Visual Arts, presented two days of scholarly, interactive, and musical events exploring the interrelationship between Chinese visual arts (including calligraphy and ink painting) and musical composition. The conference was co-presented by Bard’s Asian Studies Program as an extension of the Ink Art and New Music Project, a collaboration between the US-China Music Institute, the Bard Conservatory, the University of Hong Kong and M+, Hong Kong.

Spring Conference 2021

Harmony and Compassion: Music in Buddhist Ritual | April 8-10, 2021

The third annual conference of the US-China Music Institute explored forms of Buddhist musical practice through online discussions, performances, and demonstrations. Speakers provided historical, sociological, and musicological context for musical rituals in Buddhist traditions. Performances drew from different regions and styles of traditional chanting, ceremonial music, and contemporary composition.

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Pipa virtuoso Wu Man

Spring Conference 2019

Tradition and Discovery: Teaching Chinese Music in the West | March 9–12

With the rise of China as a global musical, cultural force, music education can play a major role in creating cross-cultural connections and understanding. For the second annual conference of the US-China Music Institute we explored the successes and challenges in teaching Chinese music in the United States, Canada, and Europe, through lectures, workshops, and performances.

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Spring Conference 2018

Harmony and Power: The Role of Music in the Cultivation of the Literati in Ancient China | March 30–31
To be considered fit to govern, officials in ancient China needed to be cultivated in the arts, especially music. An international group of scholars explored this phenomenon and its reverberations in contemporary china, from the perspectives of history, literature, musicology, art history, and philosophy.

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Contact the US-China Music Institute

Bard College | PO Box 5000 | Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504-5000 | [email protected] | 845-758-7026