MEMECO x APME International Conference 2026: Full Schedule

Welcome to the APMExMEMECO Italy 2026 Conference!
Here you can register and update your Sched profile. A draft schedule will be available May 15th, when you’ll be able to explore sessions and build your agenda.

Questions? Visit our website or email [email protected].

Join us July 14–16 in Sulmona, Italy, as we share voices and shape the future of popular music, identity, and education.

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

10:00am CEST

An Intracultural Perspective on Allyship in Music Education

Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:00am - 10:20am CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

This session offers a Black intracultural perspective on allyship in music education, using Black Music Aesthetics as a conceptual framework. Through lived experience and musicological analysis, it examines how timbre, delivery mechanics, and style reveal performative allyship and proposes pathways toward authentic, justice-centered practice.

Speakers

Adrian Davis

Assistant Professor of Music Education, University of Minnesota

Dr. Adrian Davis Dr. Adrian Davis is a native of Memphis, TN, and he currently resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is a skilled and experienced educator whose contribution to the profession is developing programs that intentionally center the student voice, community uplift, sociocultural relevance... Read More →

Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:00am - 10:20am CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

global Y

10:25am CEST

"Migrant Music and Identity: Artistic Practice as a vehicle for language learning and intercultural dialogue"

Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:25am - 10:50am CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Imagine being at a Korean party, lost—until a familiar melody emerges. What do I feel? My project integrates migrant students’ native musical repertoires into Italian L2 learning. Through storytelling, songwriting, and embodied workshops, I show how music fosters motivation, identity, and intercultural dialogue, offering a replicable inclusive model.

Speakers

FEDERICA FELLI

STUDENT, CONSERVATORIO SANTA CECILIA IN ROME

I am a pianist and specialist in pedagogy, currently teaching Italian to migrant students at CPIA 3 in Rome (Provincial Centre for Adult Education). I earned my diplomas in Piano (1990) and Chamber Music (1993) at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome, and in 1997 I graduated in... Read More →

Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:25am - 10:50am CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

global Y

11:00am CEST

Inclusive Instrumental Music Education for Students with Dyslexia and Dyscalculia: A Comparative Case Study from Italy and Germany

Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:00am - 11:25am CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

The paper examined instrumental learning processes in students with dyslexia and dyscalculia through two qualitative case studies in Italy and Germany. Focusing on an inclusive pedagogical intervention, the study provides practical insights into adapting instrumental teaching to support students with special educational needs across different educational settings. The paper examined instrumental learning processes in students with dyslexia and dyscalculia through two qualitative case studies in Italy and Germany. Focusing on an inclusive pedagogical intervention, the study provides practical insights into adapting instrumental teaching to support students with special educational needs across different educational settings.

Speakers

Susanna Zanella Cavallero

PhD student, Universität Münster – Musikhochschule Münster, Germany. Department of Education, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy

Susanna Zanella Cavallero is a Ph.D. student in a joint doctoral programme between Universität Münster – Musikhochschule Münster and Roma Tre University. A professional musician, her research focuses on developing support strategies for musicians with special educational needs... Read More →

Amalia Rizzo

Associate Professor in Didactics and Special Education, Departement of Education, Roma Tre University

Amalia Rizzo, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in Didactics and Special Education at the Department of Education, Roma Tre University. A pianist and scholar, her research focuses on inclusive music education, evidence-based practices, and effective educational strategies to support participation and lear... Read More →

Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:00am - 11:25am CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

global Y

11:00am CEST

Looping in Pedagogy: Loop Station, Improvisation, and Cooperation in Music Education

Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:00am - 11:25am CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

The paper proposes an inclusive teaching model for secondary schools based on the Loop Station, inspired by the experience of one-man bands. The laboratory-based, error-free approach fosters improvisation, creativity, listening, self-correction, and cooperation, reducing individual protagonism and supporting the participation of students with Special Educational Needs in the daily school context.

Speakers

Andrea Orsini

PhD Student, Conservatorio La Sala di Benevento

I have a degree in music, science, and sound technology and am currently pursuing a PhD at the Benevento Conservatory with a project on live looping. I also pursue a career as a solo musician, performing live with a loop station, and in bands.

Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:00am - 11:25am CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

global Y

11:25am CEST

Canto popolare e canzone abruzzese d’autore negli studi di Ottaviano Giannangeli (1923-2017)

Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:25am - 11:50am CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Poeta, narratore, critico letterario, linguista, studioso di folclore e di poesia dialettale, Ottaviano Giannangeli (1923-2017) analizza, in una lunga serie di studi, le differenze tra canto popolare e canzone abruzzese d’autore, distinguendone le origini storiche e le caratteristiche tecniche, anche alla luce della sua esperienza come autore di canzoni e organizzatore di eventi musicali. Studiando sia le testimonianze letterarie (come la famosa Tutte le funtanelle riportata da D’Annunzio nel suo Trionfo della morte) che le raccolte musicali di Francesco Paolo Tosti, Ettore Montanaro e Tommaso Bruni, Giannangeli riconosce l’embrione del canto popolare abruzzese nello stornello o nello stornello doppio (caratterizzato da una struttura monostrofica e monotematica) che poi vede la sua trasformazione in canzone abruzzese d’autore, grazie a musicisti come Antonio Di Jorio e Guido Albanese, mediante l’aggiunta di un ritornello che va a sviluppare e a risolvere, sia poeticamente che musicalmente, quanto enunciato nella strofa (struttura dunque non più monotematica ma bitematica).

Speakers

Andrea Giampietro

Deputazione Abruzzese di Storia Patria

Andrea Giampietro nasce a Popoli (PE) nel 1985, ma trascorre l’infanzia a Pratola Peligna (AQ) per poi stabilirsi a Sulmona. Autore di raccolte poetiche e di traduzioni, è attivo anche come saggista e critico letterario (collabora con riviste come “Poesia”, “Nuovi Argomenti... Read More →

Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:25am - 11:50am CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

11:25am CEST

What do we sing in family?

Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:25am - 11:50am CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

The research investigates singing habits and repertoires for early childhood in family contexts in Italy, comparing them with the proposals of music educators. A profound misalignment is highlighted, which may nevertheless prompt reflection on the role and social potential of music education as proposed by professionals and the media.
The research investigates singing habits and repertoires for early childhood in family contexts in Italy, comparing them with the proposals of music educators. A profound misalignment is highlighted, which may nevertheless prompt reflection on the role and social potential of music education as proposed by professionals and the media.

Speakers

Gabriele Greggio

PhD student, University of Milano Bicocca, Deparment of Human Science for Education "Riccardo Massa"

Gabriele Greggio is a social pedagogist and musician, PhD student in Education at Milano Bicocca University. Since 2011 he work as music educator in early childhood context (family, schoolgarden).

Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:25am - 11:50am CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

global Y

12:00pm CEST

"That makes it too easy!" - Why music production isn't established in German music education.

Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:00pm - 12:25pm CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

In this session, I will explore the question: Why is it so difficult to integrate certain musical practices into music lessons? In workshops and training courses, I have repeatedly encountered resistance to digital music production in music education. How can this aversion be explained?

Speakers

Arne Wachtmann

Lecturer for Music Media Practice, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg

Arne Wachtmann is a sound engineer and media culture scholar. Since earning his Bachelor's degree in Recording Arts, he has worked as a sound engineer, music producer, and in various other areas of media production. After completing his Master of Arts in Integrated Media, he worked... Read More →

Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:00pm - 12:25pm CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

global Y

12:25pm CEST

Performare la sostenibilità e l’inclusione: teatro, musica, danza.

Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:25pm - 12:50pm CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Lo studio analizza l’impatto ambientale dello spettacolo dal vivo, evidenziando fonti di inquinamento e relative emissioni di CO₂. Propone soluzioni sostenibili, tra cui energie rinnovabili, trasporti a basse emissioni e tecnologie audio innovative. Attraverso casi studio di concerti green, dimostra il ruolo dell’innovazione nel promuovere modelli performativi sostenibili e responsabili.

Speakers

Bruno Tatulli

Laurea Magistrale in Media Arti e Culture - Laurea in Sassofono jazz, Conservatoro Gaetano Braga Teramo

Bruno Tatulli, titolare dell'azienda Eventi sonori Service che si occupa principalmente di servizi per lo spettacolo, in particolar modo noleggio di materiali audio, video, luci ed assistenza tecnica per concerti ed eventi. All'interno dell'azienda rivesto il ruolo tecnico di Sound... Read More →

Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:25pm - 12:50pm CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

global Y

4:00pm CEST

Popular Music and Translanguaging: Insights from Young Children's Music Making

Tuesday July 14, 2026 4:00pm - 4:25pm CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Childhood is marked by a vivid imaginative engagement with sound, rhythm, and movementthrough which children begin to communicate and make sense of their environment. Drawing onresearch on early musicality and language development, this presentation explores therelationship between music, multilingual development, and translanguaging in early childhood.Because music and language development seems to be deeply intertwined in early childhooddevelopment, playing with music can become crucial in supporting communication, emotionalattunement, and early linguistic development, particularly for children growing up with morethan one language. Building on translanguaging theory, in this presentation I consider whetherand how music can function as a translanguaging space in early childhood settings, reflecting ondata from three early childhood contexts: multilingual music classes in a university setting and ina center for refugee and asylum seekers; and interviews collected with Italian expatriate families.The aim is to illustrate how children and adults use singing, chanting, movement, playfulvocalizations along with folk and current pop songs from their culture of origin to navigate andintegrate linguistic and cultural resources.Considering the contemporary musical landscapes, shaped by globalization and digital media, itis critical to analyze children's everyday musical experiences, and understand how music maysupport the development of their identities as individuals navigating diverse linguistic andcultural environments. A comprehensive analysis of the most salient aspects involved in theconstruction of translanguaging musical spaces in early childhood contexts will serve todemonstrate how musical play enables young children, along with the significant adults aroundthem, to explore multiple languages, exercise agency, and participate actively in shared meaning-making practices. The presentation will further explore the role that popular music and culturallyrelevant songs play within the complex multilingual and multicultural contexts in which youngchildren are currently immersed.

Speakers

Claudia Calì

Assistant Professor of Music Education, Queens College

Claudia Calì is Assistant Professor of Music Education at Queens College (CUNY) in NewYork. A native of Italy, Claudia Calì holds a Degree in Piano Performance from the Conservatoryof Perugia, as well as degrees from the University of Perugia and the Catholic University ofMilan... Read More →

Tuesday July 14, 2026 4:00pm - 4:25pm CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

5:00pm CEST

Fusing Musical Cultures: Developing Intercultural Competencies

Tuesday July 14, 2026 5:00pm - 5:25pm CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Have you heard Bluegrass-Grunge, Ska-EDM, or Funk-Irish Jig? This research presentation explores undergraduate music education majors’ experiences, discoveries, and musical products that influenced their perspectives on learning approaches, non-institutionalized musics, culturally valid performances, and intercultural competencies.

Speakers

Tamara Thies

Area Director of Music Education, California State University, Long Beach

Tamara T. Thies, PhD is Area Director of Music Education for the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music and Co-Coordinator of Music Education for the Single Subject Credential Program in the College of Education at California State University, Long Beach. Currently, she is the Music Education in Higher Education Rep... Read More →

Tuesday July 14, 2026 5:00pm - 5:25pm CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

global Y

5:00pm CEST

Gen Z and performative storytelling: an ethnographic analysis for music education.

Tuesday July 14, 2026 5:00pm - 5:25pm CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

The study explores the role of TikTok in Gen Z’s identity construction and their artistic-musical expressiveness. Using digital ethnography and thematic analysis of PoV videos, it examines short musical performances to highlight their community-building dynamics, through music, and its implications in the field of music education.

Speakers

Chiara Guarino

independent researcher, Università degli Studi Roma Tre

Teacher and singer, she holds a degree in modern philology and a degree in music education. She completed a Master's degree in Artistic Research in Music at Conservatorio Santa Cecilia in Rome. Her education path has been enriched by international experiences, including an Erasmus... Read More →

Tuesday July 14, 2026 5:00pm - 5:25pm CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

global Y

5:25pm CEST

Re-engaging Students Through Structured, Activity-Based Learning in Sound Design and Creative Synthesis

Tuesday July 14, 2026 5:25pm - 5:50pm CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

An action research case study showing how structured, activity-based tasks in aSound Design and Creative Synthesis module increased engagement and improvedassessment submission. Attendees will gain evidence-based strategies to energisepopular music technology teaching and foster sustained, student-centredparticipation.

Speakers

James Rees

AD Education UK

Tuesday July 14, 2026 5:25pm - 5:50pm CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

5:25pm CEST

Ben-essere e performance innovazione pedagogica nella formazione musicale

Tuesday July 14, 2026 5:25pm - Thursday July 16, 2026 5:50pm CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

This roundtable builds on the submitted abstract and previews forthcoming analyses. Alongside psychological resources across conservatory pathways, discussion will address popular and classical music training, assessment practices, equity and inclusion, gendered experiences, relational climates, wellbeing indicators, and institutional cultures, drawing on the broader survey datasets to frame future research directions ahead of the conference.

Speakers

LUIGIA BERTI

Docente Pedagogia Musicale, Dipartimento di Didattica della Musica, Conservatorio Licinio Refice- Frosinone

Luigia Berti è docente di Pedagogia Musicale presso il Conservatorio Licinio Refice di Frosinone. La sua attività didattica e di ricerca si concentra sulla pedagogia musicale, sui processi educativi con particolare attenzione ai processi interculturali.

... Read More →

ANTONIO DIROMA

Medico, Radioterpista, Medico Palliativista, Pianista, Responsabile Ricerca ed innovazione Clinica FSR, Commissione Arte e Cultura OMCEO roma., FSR- Fondazione Sanità e Ricerca | Roma

Antonio Diroma (03.01.1985) è un radioterapista e medico di cure palliative italiano , attualmente in servizio presso la Fondazione Sanità e Ricerca (Roma, Italia), dove ricopre anche il ruolo di Responsabile della Ricerca Clinica e Innovazione .
È Segretario del Com
... Read More →

RICCARDO SANTOBONI

Docente di Composizione, Conservatorio Licinio Refice- Frosinone

Riccardo Santoboni è compositore e studioso di musica, docente di Composizione presso il Conservatorio di Musica “Licinio Refice” di Frosinone, Santa Cecilia e Università Tor Vergata di Roma dove tiene corsi di composizione a più livelli... Read More →

SARA SCHIETROMA

Professor, Pontifical Salesian University of Rome.

Sara Schietroma è psicologa e psicoterapeuta, nonché docente a contratto di Psicologia Sociale presso la Pontificia Università Salesiana di Roma . Il suo lavoro accademico e professionale si concentra sulla psicologia sociale e clinica, sui processi educativi e sul benessere psicosociale nei contesti dell'istruzione superiore... Read More →

Tuesday July 14, 2026 5:25pm - Thursday July 16, 2026 5:50pm CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

global Y

10:00am CEST

The Study of Solfeggio: For a Historically Informed Music Pedagogy

Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:00am - 10:25am CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Using seventeenth- to nineteenth-century solfeggio sources, this session explores how historical materials can inform today’s music teaching. Participants will discover contrapuntal and spoken solfeggio traditions and discuss practical strategies, opportunities, and challenges in adapting these sources for lower secondary school classrooms and for developing students’ musical literacy and creativity.

Speakers

Paolo Sullo

Professor of History and Historiography of Music, Conservatorio di Musica "Licinio Refice" di Frosinone

Paolo Sullo graduated with honours in 2005 in Performing Arts, Music and Theatre Studies (Discipline delle Arti, della Musica e dello Spettacolo) at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”. He obtained diplomas in Violin, Viola and Composition from the Conservatorio “San Pietro... Read More →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:00am - 10:25am CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

10:00am CEST

"El Sistema” in Naples, re-building territories through community music education

Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:00am - 10:30am CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Session should be about music education in collectivity and how these music practices are grounded to communities and fragile territories. In this case, music is seen not only as an art, but also as a tool for social improvement and empoverment.

Speakers

Giovanni Conelli

Phd candidate, Academy of Fine Arts of Naples

Giovanni Conelli is a musicologist who graduated from University of Milan, with a dissertation on contemporary performance in Anselm Kiefer’s adaptation of Strauss’s Elektra at Teatro San Carlo in Naples. In 2017, he published an article titled "Syrian music genres, performing... Read More →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:00am - 10:30am CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

global Y

10:25am CEST

Closing the gaps in Popular Music singing pedagogy: What teacher training is still needed?

Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:25am - 10:50am CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

A discussion centred around the results of two recent surveys conducted to investigate what type of training may still be needed for UK based Popular Music (PM) singing teachers, and to assess their thoughts on and experiences of teaching PM singing styles at school and Higher Education (HE) levels.

Speakers

Jo Sear

Doctoral student, Royal Northern College of Music, UK

A professional singer of Popular Music (PM) genres for over 30 years, and a teacher of them for 20 years, Jo’s research is driven by a desire to promote the value of PM voice training and elevate its educational status in the UK. Her PhD - supervised by RNCM Music Education specialists... Read More →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:25am - 10:50am CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

global Y

11:00am CEST

How Conflicts of the Past and Present Have Shaped and Changed the Lebanese Music Industry’s Cultural Identity

Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:00am - 11:25am CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

This session explores how political conflict has shaped Lebanon’s popular music industry and everyday listening practices. Highlighting music as a resource for memory, resilience, and community, it offers educators practical strategies for culturally responsive teaching, critical listening, and approaches that connect music learning to lived social and cultural experiences.

Speakers

Carla Mattar

Post Grad Student, Leeds Beckett University

Carla Mattar (also published as Carla Ross), is a Canadian-based singer-songwriter, music educator, and emerging researcher currently completing a Master’s degree in Music Production at Leeds Beckett University. She holds undergraduate degrees in Music and Education from the University of Calgary and has three years of exp... Read More →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:00am - 11:25am CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

12:00pm CEST

Empowering children beyond the margins: A community music project in South Tyrol, Italy

Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:00pm - 12:25pm CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

In this session, we will present the results of a joint educational and research project involving children from three primary schools with a high density of migrants. We will show how inclusive and participatory musical activities led to the development of social skills, such as group solidarity, self-expression and autonomy.In this session, we will present the results of a joint educational and research project involving children from three primary schools with a high density of migrants. We will show how inclusive and participatory musical activities led to the development of social skills, such as group solidarity, self-expression and autonomy.

Speakers

Carlo Nardi

Lecturer, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano

Carlo Nardi is lecturer in music education and sociology at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano. He obtained his PhD in musicology from the University of Trento with a thesis on audio mastering. His research interests focus on the use of technology from a sensory perspective, authorship... Read More →

Johann van der Sandt

Professor, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano

Johann van der Sandt completed his studies at the University of Pretoria. Before his appointment as Professor of Music education at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano in Italy he was Professor of Choral conducting at the University of Pretoria and Choir director and Musical rector... Read More →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:00pm - 12:25pm CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

global Y

12:00pm CEST

From a Recording Studio to an International Music Campus: Music Education, Entrepreneurship and Cultural Growth in Southern Italy

Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:00pm - 12:25pm CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

The journey of Antonio Boezio and Bobo Studios describes the transformation of a small recording studio in Southern Italy into an international music university campus, combining British education, artistic production, entrepreneurship and territorial development, showing how music can generate cultural, professional and social growth within peripheral contexts.

Speakers

Antonello Boezio

CEO, Bobo Studios

Antonio Boezio is a musician, entrepreneur and educator with over twenty years of experience in music education, artistic production and the development of international academic projects. As founder and didactic director of Bobo Studios – MAST Music, he has led the organisation’s... Read More →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:00pm - 12:25pm CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

12:25pm CEST

Student Delineation, Marginalization, and Popular Music Education in U.S. Schools

Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:25pm - 12:50pm CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

In many cases, the inclusion of popular music course offerings does not necessarily represent a move towards equitable access to music education. This presentation explores this phenomenon with particular attention to the delineation and marginalization of students according to class and ability. In many cases, the inclusion of popular music course offerings does not necessarily represent a move towards equitable access to music education. This presentation explores this phenomenon with particular attention to the delineation and marginalization of students according to class and ability as well as race and gender.

Speakers

M. W. Degan

Doctoral Candidate, Boston University

M. W. Degan is a public-school music teacher in Massachusetts, U.S.A., and a doctoral candidate in Music Education at Boston University, where he also earned Masters in Music Education and Ethnomusicology. His research interests include investigating how individuals conceptualize... Read More →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:25pm - 12:50pm CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

global Y

12:25pm CEST

The Business of Songwriting: Teaching Creative Careers in the Modern Music Industry

Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:25pm - 12:50pm CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Today’s songwriters must navigate not only the musical aspect of the craft, but also branding, publishing, intellectual property, and digital distribution. For educators, bridging these domains presents both a challenge and an opportunity: how can we teach students to sustain creative lives in an ever-evolving industry without sacrificing artistry?

This session examines “The Business of Songwriting,” a pedagogical model that integrates career development and industry knowledge directly into creative coursework. Drawing from experience teaching this course at Berklee, this session outlines a holistic approach to helping students understand their songs as both art and assets. It will explore strategies for encouraging entrepreneurial thinking that supports long-term creative practice.

Participants will receive adaptable lesson structures, and reflection frameworks that can be implemented across educational settings. Discussion will include how to foster authentic artistic identity within commercial contexts, how to teach collaboration as a professional skill, and how to cultivate financial and creative sustainability.

By reimagining songwriting education through an integrated creative-business lens, educators can empower emerging writers to build resilient, self-sustaining careers grounded not only in musical excellence but in an understanding of how songs live, move, and earn in the world.

Speakers

Kat Reinhert

Professor/CEO, Berklee College of Music/Songwriting for Music Educators

Kat Reinhert is a genre-defying songwriter, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and bandleader. She has released five independently produced albums and collaborated with artists like Anat Fort, Jo Lawry, Ross Pederson, Michael Leonhart, Josh Logan, Stephen Lit, and David Cook. Her songwriting... Read More →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:25pm - 12:50pm CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

global Y

4:00pm CEST

Hiding in Plain Sight: A Brief History of Coded Meanings, Slang, and Innuendo in American Popular Music

Wednesday July 15, 2026 4:00pm - 4:25pm CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Hidden meanings are ubiquitous in popular styles, embedded in the musical DNA of American music. This presentation will survey types of meaning created through symbols, double entendre, and coded messages contained within popular styles, and how their methods have been used to engage audiences over time.

Speakers

Dr. Robert Sabin

Faculty, Manhattan School of Music

Dr. Robert Sabin is a double bassist, composer, author, and educator specializing in jazz and contemporary music. He has appeared alongside such artists as Oliver Lake, Jean-Michel Pilc, Dick Oatts, Donny McCaslin, Ingrid Jensen, Louis Bonilla, Tony Moreno, Rich Perry, John Yao... Read More →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 4:00pm - 4:25pm CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

global Y

4:00pm CEST

Popular Music as Educational Nourishment? Tracing Historical Roots in Music Pedagogy

Wednesday July 15, 2026 4:00pm - 4:25pm CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Music pedagogy attributed educational value to widely shared musical practices. Popular music, often learned within informal educational context, played an important role in early musical development. However, popular music was frequently neglected and marginalised in educational discourse. The paper aims to shed light on this phenomenon through an interdisciplinary approach at the intersection of history and music education in the Italian context, with particular focus on the pedagogical framework of the twentieth century.

Speakers

Giovanna Carugno

Full Professor of Music History Pedagogy, Conservatory of Benevento

She holds various M.A. diplomas in musical disciplines (Music Education, Piano, Harpsichord, Fortepiano, Early Music, Chamber Music) and has specialized in Music Education (University of Padua), Scientific Research Methodology for Music Education (Accademia Filarmonica di Bologna... Read More →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 4:00pm - 4:25pm CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

global Y

4:25pm CEST

HI–AI–MI: A Human-Centered Framework for Ethical AI Integration in Popular Music Education

Wednesday July 15, 2026 4:25pm - 4:50pm CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

This presentation introduces HI–AI–MI, a human-centered framework for ethical AI integration in popular music education. Grounded in qualitative research, the model positions AI as a creative partner guided by human judgment in service of musical identity, agency, and culturally situated popular music practice.

Speakers

Amira Ehrlich

Dean of the Faculty of Music Education, Levinsky- WIngate Academic College

Amira Ehrlich is a Dean of the Faculty of Music Education and Chair of Graduate Studies in Music Education at Levinsky- Wingate Academic College in Tel Aviv. Amira is a music educator with more than twenty years’ experience in the field of music, as a teacher, producer, and researcher. Ami... Read More →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 4:25pm - 4:50pm CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

global Y

4:25pm CEST

In search of the gods of childhood: education and music in Sardinian tradition

Wednesday July 15, 2026 4:25pm - 4:50pm CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

The contribution offers a reflection on the educational concept in Sardinian culture, expressed in the traditional music heritage of songs and nursery rhymes dedicated to children.
This repertoire is analyzed to define musical structures and educative function, and an operative didactic proposal is articulated, in acculturation and identity recovery perspective

Speakers

Maria Bonaria Monne

Teacher, Istituto Comprensivo "Barrotzu Nuoro", Associazione "Diapason" APS (Nuoro)

Maria Bonaria Monne teaches Music at the Middle School, and she is currently president and artistic director of the DIAPASON association in Nuoro.She is the author of research works on traditional Sardinian music, and he performs both as a solo soprano and as a choir conductor. She... Read More →

ELISABETTA PIRAS

Professor, Conservatorio "GPL da Palestrina" Cagliari; Conservatorio "G.Braga" Teramo, Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna

Elisabetta Piras teaches Music Pedagogy for Music Education at the “GP da Palestrina” Conservatory in Cagliari. She is an adjunct professor and subject expert in “Methodology of Music Education” at the Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, and collaborates with many... Read More →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 4:25pm - 4:50pm CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

global Y

5:00pm CEST

Student Agency Through Choice: Valuing the Creative Process in Popular Music Assessment

Wednesday July 15, 2026 5:00pm - 5:25pm CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

This presentation explores how embedding meaningful choice into project briefs can strengthen student agency and foreground the creative process in popular music education. Through practical examples, the session shows how flexible assessment design supports authentic music-making, reflective practice, and deeper student ownership of learning.

Speakers

Nicolas Sykes

Chief Examiner for Music Performance and Production, University of the Arts London Awarding Body

Nicolas Sykes is the Chief Examiner for Music Performance and Production at UAL Awarding Body, overseeing assessment, moderation, and qualification design. As a performer, composer, and educator, he has contributed to curriculum development and innovative course design in music education... Read More →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 5:00pm - 5:25pm CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

global Y

5:25pm CEST

The Audiovisual Essay as an Educational and Epistemic Resource in Musical Collaborative Action Research / L'Audiovisual Essay come risorsa educativa ed epistemica nella Ricerca-Azione Collaborativa musicale

Wednesday July 15, 2026 5:25pm - 5:50pm CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

This paper frames the audiovisual essay as an educational and epistemic resource within Musical Collaborative Action Research. Through three case studies (musical heritage recovery, historiographical analysis, and video art) it demonstrates how videographic editing catalyzes critical thinking, validates embodied musical and sonic knowledge, and ensures the effective documentation and dissemination of the musical artistic process. // Il presente studio inquadra l'Audiovisual Essay come risorsa educativa ed epistemica nella Ricerca-Azione Collaborativa musicale. Attraverso tre casi studio (recupero patrimoniale, analisi storiografica e videoarte), dimostra come il montaggio videografico catalizzi il pensiero critico, validi la conoscenza musicale incarnata e garantisca l'efficace documentazione e diffusione del processo artistico.

Speakers

Sara Navarro-Lalanda

Associate Professor, Università degli studi Roma Tre

Associate Professor at Roma Tre University (since 2024). She holds PhDs in Music History (2013) and Education (2023) from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), supported by competitive fellowships and contracts (FPU, CAM, and UAM), including research residencies in France and... Read More →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 5:25pm - 5:50pm CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

global Y

10:00am CEST

Constraint-Based Songwriting: Creativity Through Limits

Thursday July 16, 2026 10:00am - 10:25am CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

What happens when songwriters are asked to work within limits? Rather than restricting expression, creative constraints can act as catalysts for discovery. In professional songwriting settings from co-writing sessions to industry briefs, songwriters frequently work under specific parameters of style, theme, and form. Bringing those constraints into the classroom not only mirrors real-world practices but also offers powerful tools for cultivating creativity and confidence.

This session introduces the pedagogical framework of constraint-based songwriting as a means to jump-start creativity, eliminate writer’s block, and encourage craft development. Drawing from both artistic practice and classroom application, this session will feature adaptable exercises that employ lyrical, formal, harmonic, and production-based limitations.

Participants will experience how limitations can lead to freedom by redirecting focus toward process, exploration, and intention. The session positions constraint not as a barrier but as an essential structure that deepens expressive range. Attendees will leave with hands-on strategies, adaptable prompts, and a renewed understanding of how teaching “within the box” can open creative doors for both students and professionals alike.

Speakers

Kat Reinhert

Professor/CEO, Berklee College of Music/Songwriting for Music Educators

Thursday July 16, 2026 10:00am - 10:25am CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

global Y

10:00am CEST

What are they listening to? A thematic analysis of children’s music preferences from disadvantaged backgrounds

Thursday July 16, 2026 10:00am - 10:25am CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

In this session, preliminary findings will be presented on what music means to children from disadvantaged families. Thus, a critical discussion of the influences on children's music culture will be presented, and the importance of hearing their voices in shaping future music education will be emphasized.

Speakers

Sehnaz Sünnetcioglu

Associated Professor Dr., BURSA ULUDAG UNIVERSITY

Sehnaz Sünnetcioglu, PhDDr. Sehnaz Sünnetcioglu is an associate professor in the Department of Primary Education at the Faculty of Education, Bursa Uludağ University. She completed her doctoral degree in the 2009-2016 Integrated Arts Education Program. Her research interests include... Read More →

Thursday July 16, 2026 10:00am - 10:25am CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

global Y

10:25am CEST

From Listening to Growth: Reconnecting Music Education and Contemporary Human Needs

Thursday July 16, 2026 10:25am - 10:50am CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

This paper reconceptualizes music education through the concept of musickability, understood as the human capacity to build meaningful relationships with music across the lifespan. It argues for re-centering guided listening as an active, transformative, and relational practice that supports emotional, social, and educational development, especially in preadolescence.

Speakers

Valentina Chiola

Professor of Music Pedagogy, Conservatorio di Musica "Luisa D'Annunzio" - Pescara

Valentina Chiola is a lecturer in Music Pedagogy at the “Luisa D’Annunzio” Conservatory of Music in Pescara, within the Department of Music Education and Musicological Studies. She has been working in the field of music education since 1985. She completed parallel studies in Piano Performance... Read More →

Thursday July 16, 2026 10:25am - 10:50am CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

global Y

10:25am CEST

Musical Pathways to Bilingual Identity: A Collaborative Autoethnography of Parental Music Practices in American–Chinese and Italian–Chinese Musician Families

Thursday July 16, 2026 10:25am - 10:50am CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Music is a powerful medium through which bilingual families negotiate culture, language, and emotion. This study examines how parent-musicians in American–Chinese and Italian–Chinese households use everyday musical practices to shape their young children’s bilingual identities, agency, and developmental trajectories.

Speakers

Danqing Zhou

Professor of Music Education, Conservatory of Adria

Dr. Zhou is a dedicated music educator whose mission is to help students discover happiness, a sense of ownership, and confidence in learning. She currently works at the Conservatory of Adria, Italy, where she teaches music pedagogy and English. After spending 12 years studying and... Read More →

Thursday July 16, 2026 10:25am - 10:50am CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

global Y

11:00am CEST

The Voices Method: Your Voice in your Body is your Voice in the World

Thursday July 16, 2026 11:00am - 11:25am CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Christiane Karam presents The Voices Method, an innovative approach using the human voice as a somatic healing tool. Through improvisation, breathwork, toning, and Eastern singing traditions, participants explore trauma release, self-discovery, and empowerment. This transformative work addresses vocal, mental, physical, and spiritual health, guiding individuals from internalized voices toward authentic expression and freedom.

Speakers

Christiane Karam

Professor, Berklee College of Music

Born into a legacy of resilience—with genocide in her DNA as the descendant of Armenian genocide survivors and having grown up amid violent conflict— Christiane Karam has transformed personal trauma into a powerful healing methodology. As a Professor of Voice, Ensemble, and Songwriting... Read More →

Thursday July 16, 2026 11:00am - 11:25am CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

global Y

11:25am CEST

Finding Voice Through Presence: Mindfulness-Based Practices for Music Educators and Performers

Thursday July 16, 2026 11:25am - 11:50am CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

This demonstration introduces mindfulness-based, embodied listening practices for music educators and performers. Through a short experiential exercise and guided reflection, participants explore how presence, awareness, and energy can support performance readiness, expressive confidence, and authentic musical voice in teaching, rehearsal, and performance contexts.

Speakers

Raffaela Di vincenzo

Dr. In Psychology | mindfulness & music therapy practitioner

Raffaela is a dr.i inpsychology specialized in music therapy. She works with mindfulness and healing-oriented practices, using sound, breath, and body awareness to support presence and emotional balance. She explores how energy, listening, and awareness can help people connect more... Read More →

Thursday July 16, 2026 11:25am - 11:50am CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

11:25am CEST

On-Screen Portrayals of Music Teachers Causing Treble: Exploring the Depictions of Popular Music Educators in Films

Thursday July 16, 2026 11:25am - 11:50am CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

This paper analyses and critiques the depiction of popular music educators within films released in English/with English subtitles from 1940–2025. It explores how tropes such as the rejection of school policy, a lack of teaching qualifications, and depictions of binge drinking may contribute to the delegitimation of popular music education.

Thursday July 16, 2026 11:25am - 11:50am CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

global Y

12:00pm CEST

Musica Popolare Italiana: Voices of the Past and the Future

Thursday July 16, 2026 12:00pm - 12:25pm CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Questa sessione presenta una ricerca sulla musica popolare italiana in Puglia e Lazio, analizzando il contesto sociale del dopoguerra, le tradizioni orali e la loro reinterpretazione contemporanea attraverso interviste, analisi delle trascrizioni e pratiche compositive sviluppate nell’ambito del Global Jazz Institute

Speakers

Valerio Apuzzo

Student, Berklee College Of Music

Valerio Apuzzo è un trombettista ed educatore italiano specializzato in musica jazz e classica, attualmente basato a Boston. È studente con borsa di studio completa al Berklee College of Music, dove frequenta il master in performance al Global Jazz Institute.Dopo una formazione... Read More →

Thursday July 16, 2026 12:00pm - 12:25pm CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 4 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

global Y

12:25pm CEST

From the Levant to Lubbock Texas: Bridging Cultures through Music

Thursday July 16, 2026 12:25pm - 12:50pm CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

This presentation highlights the impact of an engaged scholarship initiative that brings Palestinian violist and composer Ramzi Aburedwan and his Dal’Ouna Ensemble to Texas Tech University for a week-long residency connecting students, artists, and the local Arab community through music of the Levant region. Building on successful residencies in 2018 and 2024, the 2025 project expands the collaboration to include a research component designed to measure the impact of cross-cultural music-making on student learning, community engagement, and cultural perception.

Through lectures, masterclasses, collaborative composition, and a culminating public concert, undergraduate and high school students work alongside world-class musicians to explore Levantine/Mediterranean popular music traditions that are underrepresented on American music programs. Participating students learned not only about musical systems and popular songs associated with the Medditerranean, but also about the role of art in society and in culture creation. Surveys and qualitative reflections gathered from students and audience members assess how musical collaboration fosters empathy, curiosity, and intercultural understanding.

Our findings suggest that experiential, cross-cultural, and collaborative encounters with global popular musics such as those presented by the Dal'Ouna ensemble can transform how students perceive both music and the world around them. The presentation situates this project within broader conversations about popular music education and global music traditions as well as how to incoporate these through education, community engagement, and musical performance. It offers a replicable model for how universities can partner with international artists, students, and local communities to bridge cultures, strengthen community ties, and foster cross-cultural understanding through music.

Speakers

Sarai Brinker

Associate Director for Academic Studies and Affairs, Texas Tech University

Sarai Brinker is the Associate Director for Academic Studies and Affairs at the Texas Tech University School of Music, where she also serves as a professor of practice of music humanities. Her courses examine a variety of popular music styles, and she is perhaps best known across... Read More →

Thursday July 16, 2026 12:25pm - 12:50pm CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

Research

global Y

4:25pm CEST

From Galant Schema to Pop Hit: the Romanesca between Historical Tradition and Contemporary Popular Music

Thursday July 16, 2026 4:25pm - 4:50pm CEST

Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 @ PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

This paper traces the Romanesca schema from eighteenth-century gallant traditions of contemporary pop music, examining its semantic, rhetorical, and emotional functions across repertories. Combining schema theory, semiotics, and historical musicology, it argues that the Romanesca survives as a flexible tonal archetype functioning as a rhetorical cliché, shaping listener expectation and expressive continuity across cultures.

Speakers

Marco Pollaci

Conservatory of Music "F. Torrefranca", Vibo Valentia

Dr Marco Pollaci holds degrees from the University of Rome Tor Vergata and a PhD in Music from the University of Nottingham. His research focuses on eighteenth- and nineteenth-century music, opera studies,music analysis, partimento traditions, schema theory, and the history of music... Read More →

Thursday July 16, 2026 4:25pm - 4:50pm CEST
Liceo Ovidio - Room 3 PIAZZA XX SETTEMBRE 13, 67039 SULMONA (AQ)

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