The kickoff event for the exploration of our country’s rich musical heritage will be Forging an American Musical Identity in the Long Nineteenth Century, a diverse and exciting multidisciplinary conference in New York City (January 28-30, 2026). It will culminate with a concert at Carnegie Hall by the American Symphony Orchestra (Leon Botstein, conducting), including the modern premiere of George Frederick Bristow's Symphony No. 5. Niagara. For more information, the conference program, and registration information, follow the links below. You are encouraged to pre-register by 11:59pm EST on January 14th.
Conference Sponsors
Department of Music, Barry Brook Center for Music Research, and
Music in Gotham of The Graduate Center, City University of New York
New York Philharmonic
Neely Bruce Music Foundation
Leon Levy Foundation
Vanderbilt University
Wesleyan University
Society for American Music (SAM)
A-R Editions
Répertoire International de Littérature Musicale (RILM)
Additional Supporting Partners
American Symphony Orchestra
Bard College
The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Music and Recorded Sound Division