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Program & abstracts

Registration

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Dear friends and colleagues,

The Finnish Musicological Society (MTS) and the Department of Musicology at Åbo Akademi University, in collaboration with the Department of Musicology at the University of Turku and the Finnish Society for Ethnomusicology, invite all researchers of music to participate in the Finnish Music Researchers’ National Symposium, which will be held in Turku on April 22–24, 2026.

The theme of the symposium is ”sounding sense of community.” The history of music research in Finland is closely linked to nationalism and the need to create a sense of community in a small country that was building legitimacy as an independent nation. At the same time, music research also supported the creation of other communities, a good example of which is the music department at Åbo Akademi University (the Swedish-language university of Finland), which is now celebrating its 100th anniversary.

Today, the idea that music and musicking have the ability to create community is widely accepted in research. This idea also means that music simultaneously separates and creates opposites and contains various power structures. In a broader sense, this also applies to our entire sound environment.

The concepts of ”sound” and ”community” should be understood broadly as themes of the symposium. From this perspective, sound can refer not only to music and, more broadly, to sound, but also to the soundscape, audiovisuality, the production, distribution, and listening of sound, the psychological and physical properties of sound, etc. Similarly, community can refer to the community of music researchers, but also, for example, to musicians or different audience groups, nation, minority, ethnicity or a gender community, groups formed by  institutions of musicking, etc.

The theme of the symposium is intended as a platform for discussions covering a wide range of research areas, methodologies, and research topics. Presentation proposals may be directly or indirectly related to the theme of the symposium. Proposals on topics outside the main theme will also be considered. We also welcome presentations that break with or renew the traditional presentation format, as well as presentations that combine research and art.

The year 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of the musicology department at Åbo Akademi University. The program will feature a panel discussion on the theme ”Why music research is important”. 

Keynote speakers

The deadline for abstract submissions was January 15, 2026.

Questions and inquiries can be sent by email to mts.toimisto@gmail.com. 

The symposium has received financial support from the Åbo Akademi University Foundation, the Federation of Finnish Learned Societies, and Åbo Akademis Jubileumsfond 1968. 

Welcome!

Symposium Organizing Committee

Johannes Brusila, Åbo Akademi University
Meri Kytö, University of Turku, MTS
Markus Mantere, Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki
Inka-Maria Nyman, Åbo Akademi University
Iiris Olkkonen, MTS, symposium secretary
Saijaleena Rantanen, Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki