On July 4, 2026, the US will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This milestone offers a moment to reflect not only on our nation’s past but also on the musical and artistic achievements that have shaped and defined American culture. It is an opportunity to honor the diverse body of artists, musicians, and creators whose voices have expressed the hopes, struggles, and triumphs of a nation. This moment also offers an opportunity to look ahead to a future where the arts continue to foster connection, creativity, community, and a shared vision for who we are and who we aspire to be.
In connection with other celebratory and commemorative events, the Society for American Music is soliciting proposals from members at all career stages who wish to share their knowledge on an American music topic with their local communities as part of a larger outreach initiative. While we encourage musical topics with local, state, or regional resonance, this is not required. As a Society, we are dedicated to stimulating the appreciation, performance, creation, and study of American musics in all their diversity, thus, we embrace music in North, Central, South America, and the Caribbean, as well as in Puerto Rico, Haiti, and Trinidad and Tobago, and aspects of these cultures everywhere in the world. We are open to traditional and non-traditional presentation formats, including, but not limited to, performances of American musics, lectures, lecture-recitals, and exhibits geared toward non-specialists.
It is our goal to sponsor at least one presentation in each state during the 2026 anniversary year. To engage a broader public with the work of the Society we encourage presenters to consider non-academic settings such as community centers, senior centers, public libraries, churches, outdoor meeting spaces, public concert venues, or parks as appropriate for the planned event.
The Society will offer a standard publicity package to all presenters and advertise events through our print and digital media. SAM has a small budget to help defray the cost of space rental, video recording, and personnel if the designated site does not provide these things gratis. Members are encouraged to itemize their needs. We encourage presenters to limit traditional lecture formats to 30 minutes and performance formats to 45 minutes. Recordings of all events and related materials will be archived on the Society’s webpage and available to all members. Presenters must be members of the Society for American Music during the 2026 calendar year.
Deadline for Submissions: March 15, 2026. For inquiries, please contact societyamericanmusic250@gmail.com.
All proposals will be evaluated by a committee of Society for American Music members. The committee will notify those selected to participate on a rolling basis.
SAM 250 Committee
Dana Gorzelany-Mostak, Professor of Music, Georgia College & State University
Andrew Granade, Professor of Musicology and Associate Dean of Academic and Faculty Affairs, UMKC Conservatory
Samantha Lampe, Ph.D. Candidate, Musicology Department, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Megan MacDonald, Executive Director, Society for American Music
Howard Pollack, John and Rebecca Moores Professor of Music, University of Houston
Dwandalyn Reece, Curator of Music and Performing Arts, Smithsonian Institution National Museum of African American History and Culture
