Workshop in preparation for a special issue (Journal of Musicological Research)
INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITIONS: Intersections of Art, Society, and Politics
April 7–8, 2027, mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (Austria)
“Le producteur de la valeur de l’œuvre d’art n’est pas l’artiste mais le champ de production”. With this statement, Pierre Bourdieu succinctly encapsulates his theory of the intricate relationship between artistic value and socio-institutional structures, as elaborated in Les Règles de l’art (1992). This sociological perspective on the conditions of artistic value has also left its mark on cultural studies-oriented musicology. This is evident in the growing emphasis on social, political, and institutional contexts in reflections on musical-cultural practices and aesthetic norms.
A sociocultural approach is equally valuable for examining international music competitions. After all, these events constitute cultural spaces in which (aesthetic) judgments about artistic performances are negotiated through institutionally regulated procedures, which in turn are significantly shaped by social and political contexts. Thus, while music competitions ostensibly serve as stages for assessing artistic excellence, they also simultaneously function as showcases for social values and cultural representation.
The numerous anniversaries that several internationally renowned classical music competitions will celebrate in 2027 provide an auspicious opportunity for deeper exploration. For instance, 2027 marks the centenary of the first International Chopin Piano Competition. Additionally, the 65th anniversary of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and the 50th anniversary of the Sydney International Piano Competition highlight how the culture of international music competitions has long since spread beyond European borders and established itself as a global phenomenon. This expanded scope is also reflected in the World Federation of International Music Competitions, which will celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2027.
With this in mind, the workshop aims to conduct an interdisciplinary and cross-sectional exploration of international music competitions over the past century as sites where art, society, and politics intersect, with no geographical restrictions.
Potential topics may include (but are not limited to):
Political contexts: Cultural policy and geopolitical conflicts; international representation and national profiling; globalisation and renationalisation.
Social structures and career development: Social selection (gender, class, origin); professionalisation and visibility.
Aesthetic evaluation: Evaluation criteria and logics; comparability of musical performance.
Repertoire: Programme design; canon formation; interpretation.
Institutional networks: Transnational cooperation in times of (geo)political crisis.
Media and the public: Communication of jury assessments; representation of cultural-political interests.
Contributions from all sub-disciplines of musicology, as well as related fields (e.g., cultural studies, social sciences, gender studies, political science, and history), are welcome for both the workshop and the special issue.
The workshop is conceived as preparation for a special issue of the double-blind peer-reviewed Journal of Musicological Research. Guest-edited by Bianca Schumann, the issue will assemble a selection of contributions presented during the workshop.
Interested scholars are invited to submit an abstract (max. 250 words) and a short biography (max. 120 words) in German or English by October 15, 2026 to schumann‑b[at]mdw[dot]ac[dot]at. Notifications of acceptance for the workshop will be sent by November 15, 2026. The workshop’s languages are German and English. The workshop will take place in person; hybrid participation may be possible in justified cases. Early career researchers may apply for financial support to cover accommodation and travel expenses.
Abstracts for the special issue are due by May 15, 2027. Submissions must be in English. After an initial review, selected authors will be invited to submit full manuscripts by June 15, 2027. Final manuscripts must be received by December 31, 2027 with publication in Journal of Musicological Research scheduled for July 2028.
Workshop website: https://www.mdw.ac.at/imi/internationale-musikwettbewerbe/