ABOUT US

The Musicological Society of Australia exists to foster greater understanding and valuing of music, musical thinking and musical life by:

• Providing an Australian forum for communication about music
• Encouraging excellence in music research and research training
• Facilitating the dissemination of the outcomes of music research

THE SOCIETY

The MSA was founded in 1963 at the University of Sydney and achieved fully national status in 1976. Its nine regional chapters (ACT, Hunter, Northern New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Sydney, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia) provide local activities, research networks and support groups for members. The Society also attracts a significant international membership from individuals and institutions. It is incorporated as an Association in the Australian Capital Territory (Associations Incorporation Act 1991), and affiliated with the International Musicological Society (IMS) and the International Council for Traditional Music (ICTM).

It is conscious policy of the Society to build a community of music scholars by fostering interaction and a sense of common purpose. The activities and publications of the Society, including the journal, Musicology Australia, reflect this inclusive approach, with Western historical musicology, ethnomusicology, and music theory all regularly represented. Research areas of members are wide-ranging, yet with a confluence of interests in topics of Australian significance, including investigation of Western art and popular music in Australia, and of indigenous music of Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.

Membership is open to all persons interested in music research, and who embrace the Society’s aims. These are to:

• Foster debate and encourage scholarly investigation of music
• Promote education and training to the highest level of those engaged in music research
• Encourage and assist co-operation between individuals and institutions involved in music research
• Facilitate publication of current research
• Organise conferences and symposia on themes apposite to the Society’s interests

PUBLICATIONS

The journal of the MSA, Musicology Australia, published annually since 1985, is a refereed journal of international standing. Articles and reviews cover a broad spectrum of sub-disciplines, including historical musicology, ethnomusicology, popular music, theory and analysis, organology, performance practice, and psychology of music. Also included are articles of a general theoretical, methodological or philosophical nature. This journal is the successor to the Society's earlier publication, Musicology. The MSA Newsletter, issued biannually, includes reports of the Society's activities at a national and chapter level, notices of and reports on national and international conferences and upcoming events. The Society publishes biennially an Annotated Membership List (distributed to individual members only). Some of the Society's chapters also publish newsletters or bulletins, available to members of that chapter.

WEBSITE

The MSA website can be found at www.msa.org.au. Information includes:

• the Society's policy documents 
• benefits of membership and downloadable membership form 
• National Committee, publication editors and state chapter contacts 
• an archive of the contents and article abstracts for Musicology Australia (since 1964)
• a complete archive of the Society's Newsletters (since 1997) 
• information on forthcoming conferences and events 
• registers of Members' Publications and of Australian theses in music 
• useful links

YAHOO! EMAIL GROUP

CONFERENCES

The MSA annually holds a National Conference, hosted by local chapters in turn. Keynote speakers of international repute are invited and papers are contributed by local and overseas scholars. The Society has also hosted symposia for the International Musicological Society (1979, 1988), and the World Conference of the International Council for Traditional Music (1995). 
Conferences since 1998:

• 1998, November 27-29, Adelaide, held in conjunction with an International Wagner Symposium 
• 1999, June 30-July 4, Perth 
• 2000, April 27-30, Sydney, held jointly with the New Zealand Musicological Society 
• 2001, April 18-22, Melbourne 
• 2003, November 27-30, Wellington, New Zealand, held jointly with the New Zealand Musicological Society : “Music and Locality; Towards a local discourse in music”
• 2004, IMS/MSA/ICTM joint conference: SIMS, Melbourne
• 2005, September 28 – 1 October, Sydney: “Music and Social Justice”
  
• 2006, September 27 – 1 October, Armidale, Northern NSW: “Music as Local Tradition and Regional Practice"
• 2007, November 22-25. Brisbane: “Islands”
  

MSA MEMBERSHIP

The benefits of membership include:

• Receipt of the Society’s journal Musicology Australia and (if wished) issues of the Newsletter
• Concessional registration and preference if applying to give papers at conferences
• Notification of Chapter activities
• Rights to vote and hold office (excluding institutional members)

To join please go to our How to join the MSA page

• Executive, National Committee and Conference Convenors

Copyright © 2007 Musicological Society of Australia Inc. GPO Box 2404, Canberra ACT 2601     
Additions, corrections and comments, please contact: webmanager@msa.org.au
Hosted by the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies at the Australian National University
Last Updated May 9, 2008 11:37 AM