Our Mission
The mission of the Society for American Music is to stimulate the appreciation, performance, creation and study of American musics of all eras and in all their diversity, including the full range of activities and institutions associated with these musics throughout the world.
Oscar Sonneck (1873-1928)
The Society for American Music was founded in honor of and originally named for the first critical scholar and bibliographer of American Music, Oscar G. T. Sonneck.
The Sonneck Circle was established in 2003 to honor the memory of Oscar Sonneck, and offers its members additional benefits. To see a list of contributors and read more about the Sonneck Circle click here.
Announcements
§ Call for Papers for the 2013 SAM conference
Proposals are now being accepted for the 39th Annual SAM Conference, to be held in Little Rock, AR from March 6-10, 2013.
Voices Across Time: American History Through Music
Voices Across Time was created to help teachers harness the power of song as primary source to supplement any secondary American Social Studies, Language Arts, and Music curriculum.
Voices Across Time is a project of the Center for American Music in partnership with the Society for American Music.
§ The Society is pleased to present our Honorary Member for 2012: Doc Watson
The Society for American Music inducted North Carolina native Doc Watson as its newest Honorary Member at the 2012 conference in Charlotte. An iconic figure in the folk-music revival, he has been both a preserver of old-time Appalachian music and an innovator whose influence manifests in country, folk, and bluegrass styles. Those wishing to learn more about Doc Watson's career and immeasurable contributions to American music can visit: http://www.folkloreproductions.com/DocWatson.html.
§ Congratulations to our Award Winners Announced at the Annual Meeting in Charlotte!
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Donald Krummel (read Don's response)
- Distinguished Service Citation: Paul Wells
- Irving Lowens Book Award: Larry Stempel for Showtime: A History of the Broadway Musical Theater
- Irving Lowens Article Award: Amy Wlodarski for “The Testimonial Aesthetics of Different Trains” (published in Journal of the American Musicological Society)
- Wiley Housewright Dissertation Award: Nathan Platte for “Musical Collaboration in the Films of David O. Selznick, 1932-1957” (University of Michigan)
- Mark Tucker Award: Glenda Goodman for
“A 'Phrenzy of Accomplishments';
or, the Power of Sentimental Songs”
- H. Earle Johnson Publication Subvention: Sheryl Kaskowitz, God Bless America: The Surprising History of an Iconic Song and Carol Hess, Representing the Good Neighbor: Music, Difference, and the Pan American Dream.
- Sight & Sound Subvention: Jamie C. Davidson (UCLA), for “How Ya Gonna Cross That Water?: New Orleans Second Lines as Experiential Media for the Visually Impaired”
- Adrienne Fried Block Fellowship: Carolyn Guszki, “Race at the Opera: Artists of Color at the Metropolitan, 1916-1926”
§ New Board Members!
Congratulations to Judy Tsou, President Elect, Mark Clague and David Brackett, Members-at-Large. You can see their photos and read about them here. A big thank you to Neil Lerner for agreeing to a second term as Secretary. Welcome to the Board!
§ Renewal notices for 2012 have been emailed!
(Notices for those who do NOT have email are being sent by postal mail.) If you have not received an email renewal notice, contact the SAM office. Returning members can RENEW HERE.
§ New Membership Category For Non-Academic Institutions Announced!
The Non-Academic Institutional Affiliate membership provides discounts and benefits, in addition to increased interaction with our international membership. Does your non-academic institution qualify? Check here.
§ The Future of SAM: Diversity and Development.
Read the background on the current long range planning process, view the results of the recent survey, and review a summary of the forum held in Cincinnati. You can also provide feedback! Let us know what you think.
§ Support American Music scholarship. Contribute to the Society!
Give a JSAM Gift Subscription
The Society for American Music is pleased to announce that it is now possible for you to share the in-depth and quality research presented in each issue of the Journal of the Society for American Music with family and friends. Gift subscriptions are only $50.00 per year! These are only available to current members of SAM and can be renewed annually. We'll even send the recipient a card letting them know about your gift! Simply complete the JSAM Gift Subscription Form and mail or fax it back to us.