The European Music & Art School Symposium (EMSS) is the leading international meeting place for music and art school researchers, teachers, leaders, former and current students, university and conservatoire teachers and professors, representatives from music and art school organisations and from municipalities, and others who are committed to the development of strong, inspiring, and resilient music and art schools.
This year’s topic is The Ethical Horizons of Music & Art Schools, inviting reflection and scholarly work on ethical commitments that emerge in this educational and institutional context, from interpersonal spheres to local communities and wider society. By focusing on questions related to what might be considered right, good, fair, and obligatory, the EMSS 2026 hopes to engage participants in conversations about the many and sometimes challenging ethical dimensions of music school activities. Participation is possible on location in Vienna or online.
EVENT DETAILS:
4th European Music & Art School Symposium
The Ethical Horizons of Music an Art Schools
25–26 September 2026
mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna,
Department for Music Education Research and Practice (IMP)
Collaboration partners:
European Music School Union (EMU)
Conference of Austrian Music School Associations (KOMU)
Musikschulen der Stadt Wien
Keynotes:
Prof. Dr. Alexandra Kertz-Welzel,
Professor and Chair of Music Education at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich:
Educating for an uncertain future: Ethical dimensions of music and arts schools’ societal mission
Bildung für eine ungewisse Zukunft: Ethische Dimensionen des gesellschaftlichen Auftrags von Musik- und Kunstschulen (the address will be given in English and in German)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Guadalupe López-Íñiguez,
University Researcher in Instrumental Pedagogy and Performance Science, Research Council of Finland Fellow, Sibelius Academy/University of the Arts Helsinki:
Musically gifted children, exceptionalised and erased: Care ethics amid the ethical cracks of music education (the address will be given in English with German subtitles)
The traditional Friday concert will be in chamber format and designed by Karin Meissl, a musician and music mediator whose outstanding creative work with artists and audiences of all ages has led her to collaborate with institutions such as the Vienna Philharmonic, the Wiener Symphoniker, the Vienna State Opera, Staatsoper Unter den Linden Berlin, and numerous ensembles and festivals.
Am Samstag Nachmittag wird eine Österreich-Session (auf Deutsch) stattfinden, die für den Austausch über ethische Dimensionen der generationenübergreifenden Arbeit in Musikschulen konzipiert ist.
Further information and registration:
