Biennial symposia on music historians

The biennial symposia have established themselves as one of the most prestigious events in music history.

The biennial symposia brings together leading music historians from around the world in Helsinki. The total number of papers presented at the event is around 40-50. Most of the speakers come from outside Finland, from all continents. 

Two books based on the conference presentations have been published by academic publishers: De-canonizing Music History, ed. Kurkela & Väkevä, Cambridge Scholars Press 2009; Critical Music Historiography, ed. Kurkela & Mantere, Routledge 2015, and Music History and Cosmopolitanism, edited by Belina & Kilpiö & Scott, Routledge 2019.

The Sibelius Academy Music History Symposia have established themselves as one of the most prestigious events in music history. The number of proposals for papers received has been high.

The symposium series offers an excellent opportunity to present Finnish music history research to foreign experts. In these events, Finnish researchers and postgraduate students will also be able to hear the results of the latest research and theoretical developments in music history.

The previous symposia: