SIMM research seminar #15 on participatory opera and music theatre projects
Vienna, 24-26 February 2027 @ the mdw-University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.
The 15th SIMM research seminar will be organized by the Music in Dialogue Division of the Department of Music Education Research and Practice, in collaboration with the Academic Chair Jonet / CESAMM (Ghent), the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (London) and the research platform SIMM.
Following the 3 previous such seminars on participatory opera and music theatre organised in June 2023 in Barcelona, in September 2024 in London, and in July 2025 in Darmstadt, this research seminar is planned to take place from 24 to 26 February 2027 in Vienna.
The seminar will take place behind closed doors, and expects to be able to welcome a small group of up to maximum 20 post-graduate students, early-career researchers as well as experienced researchers – who are all involved in ongoing research on participatory opera and music theatre programmes – to spend a 3-day seminar during which they will share their research experiences with each other.
Experienced facilitators will help the scholars participating to share their experiences and ideas and research methodologies with the others.
The scientific committee for this seminar is composed of: Axel Petri-Preis (mdw-University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna), An De bisschop (chairholder Chair Jonet), Sean Gregory (Guildhall School) and Lukas Pairon (SIMM & Chair Jonet).
You can also read the report of the previous such seminar in Barcelona (here), and listen to the 2 episodes (#17 and #18) of the SIMM-podcast which we broadcasted on the practice and research on participatory opera and music theatre, including interviews with Imogen Flower, Graça Mota, François Matarasso, Paulo Lameiro, Sarah Théry and Claire Pasquier.
Call for participants:
Expressions of interest should be sent no later than 15th September 2026 by email to Lukas Pairon (lukas.pairon@simm-platform.eu).
This should include your name, institutional affiliation, current professional role(s), a maximum 200-word statement including relevant professional experience and background, why you wish to participate in this research seminar, and what your interest and experience is in research on the role of music composition in social and community music projects.
The selection of those welcomed to be part of this seminar will be communicated the latest before 15th October 2026.
There will be no registration fee asked for attending this seminar, but those selected will need to themselves cover their travel costs, meals and accommodation in Vienna.