To ensure the quality of the ICTMD-MEA 20th Anniversary and 9th Symposium, the conference was originally planned to be held onsite and in person only. However, considering that some participants may be unable to travel to Taiwan due to health conditions or visa issues, the Program Committee and Local Arrangement Committee has decided to accept applications for virtual participation under exceptional circumstances. Applicants must include a brief explanation of their reason for requesting virtual participation and provide relevant supporting documentation in their submission. Requests without such information will not be considered. Please note that the conference will not be livestreamed, and approved virtual presenters will only be able to participate in designated online sessions. For inquiries, please contact the Program Committee and Local Arrangement Committee of the ICTMD-MEA 20th Anniversary and 9th Symposium at 2026ictmdmea@gmail.com. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

The 20^th Anniversary and the 9^th Symposium

of the ICTMD Study Group on Musics of East Asia
Taipei, Taiwan

July 2–5, 2026

Since its inaugural meeting in Yilan, Taiwan, in 2006, the ICTMD Study Group on Musics of East Asia (MEA) has gradually developed into an important international hub for East Asian music research. In 2026, MEA will celebrate its 20^th anniversary and return to Taiwan, hosted by the Graduate Institute of Ethnomusicology at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) in collaboration with NTNU’s College of Music and co-organized with the Taiwan Music Institute. The four-day event will take place at NTNU and the Taiwan Music Institute.

This year’s symposium will open on July 2 with a special “ICTMD MEA 20^th Anniversary Forum.” The forum will bring together founding members, past and current executive committee members, and scholars from around the world to reflect on ICTMD MEA’s organizational development and scholarly achievements. In addition to showcasing organizational contributions to East Asian music research, the forum will also explore possibilities for closer regional cooperation in the future.

Following the anniversary forum, the 9^th symposium of ICTMD MEA will feature a diverse range of activities, including paper presentations, workshops, roundtable discussions, lightning sessions for early-career scholars, an ethnographic film showcase, and music and theater performances. Over the three days, more than 70 research papers will be presented across multiple panels, forums, and workshops, fostering cross-national and cross-disciplinary dialogue, interaction, and in-depth discussion. The Lightning Session is designed specifically for students and emerging researchers, who will deliver 10-minute presentations followed by feedback from senior scholars, encouraging intergenerational academic exchange. The ethnographic film showcase will continue as a key feature of the symposium, now expanded to include curated submissions highlighting both Taiwanese and international music research through film.

Throughout the symposium, a series of live performances of traditional Taiwanese music and opera will allow international participants to experience the richness of Taiwan’s performing arts firsthand. In addition, simultaneous interpretation and bilingual subtitles in Chinese and English will be provided, ensuring high-quality international exchange and strengthening the visibility and global connections of musicological research on musics of East Asia.

The 20^th Anniversary and the 9^th Symposium

of the ICTMD Study Group on Musics of East Asia (MEA)

Call for Papers 

Host Institute: National Taiwan Normal University

Co-organizer: Taiwan Music Institute, Taiwan Traditional Theatre Center 

Location: National Taiwan Normal University and Taiwan Music Institute

Dates: 2-5 July 2026

Deadline for submissions: 31 October 2025

Notification of acceptance: Late December 2025

Submission email: 2026ictmdmea@gmail.com

Theme

In this conference, we invite scholars to submit original papers not presented elsewhere. We invite scholars to submit original, unpublished papers engaging with:

1.        Integration of music research with contemporary society (e.g., archiving, preservation, education, advocacy, interaction with new technologies)

2.        Musics and dance of East Asia in broader regional contexts (e.g., regional development of music research, diasporic experiences)

3.        Other new and relevant topics outside the named issues

Eligibility

1.        Presenters must be current members of ICTMD (formerly ICTM) by the symposium date.

2.        Students are particularly welcome to attend and present a 10-minute lightning sessions paper.

Presentation Formats

1.        Individual Presentation – 20 min + 10 min discussion

2.        Organized Panel – 90 min (include audience Q&A) within the session.

3.        Roundtable – up to 90 min; short presentations (≤10 min) to allow in-depth discussion

4.        Workshop – up to 90 min; informal, interactive, hands-on session on one topic.

5.        Film/DVD – up to 30 min screening + 15 min. Recently completed or in-progress films, video programs, or excerpts thereof. Works-in-progress can focus on highlights of the project with contextualization.

6.        Lightning Session – for junior scholars, 10 min each, with senior discussant. Depending on demand, one or two session slots will be dedicated to lightning session presentations.

7.      In addition to the presentations and performances organized by the Local Arrangements Committee, a workshop on professional development for young scholars will be held as part of the regular conference program.

Abstract Submission Guidelines

1.        Format: Word (.docx) or PDF

2.        Length:

1)        Individual / Workshop / Film / Poster – max 300 words

2)        Panel / Roundtable / Workshop organizers – session statement max 200 words + each presenter’s abstract (max 300 words), compiled into one file

3.        Language: All proposals and presentations in English

Abstract submissions not accepted as full presentations may be accepted as lightning session presentations. Please indicate if you are not willing to offer your presentation as a lightning session presentation.

All proposals will undergo an anonymized peer review

Submission & Contact

1.        Email abstracts to: 2026ictmdmea@gmail.com

2.        You should receive an email within 7 days of your submission. If you do not receive a response, please contact the host institute—the Graduate Institute of Ethnomusicology of National Taiwan Normal University—at giem@deps.ntnu.edu.tw.

Committees

Program Committee (listed in the order of first names)

Man-Ying Sheryl Chow (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)

Meng-Tze Chu (Tainan National University of the Arts)

Hyelim Kim (Bath Spa University)

Naoko Terauchi (Kobe University)

Shuo Niki Yang (Central Conservatory of Music)

Anna Yates-Lu (Seoul National University)

Local Arrangements Committee

Chia-Wei Lin (National Taiwan Normal University)

Chun-Zen Huang (National Taiwan Normal University)

Hsin-Wen Hsu (National Taiwan Normal University)

Shih-Che Lai (Taiwan Music Institute)

Chi-Tsun Hsiao (Taiwan Music Institute)