Call for Papers and Invitation to Research Collaborators: Women and (Musical) Histories, 1789-1914

The Royal Academy of Music warmly invites submissions for a two-day international conference (3-4 September 2026), exploring the role of women in shaping historical narratives of music across the long nineteenth century. Recognising the diversity, complexity and nuance of female engagement with musical historiographies, we invite proposals that consider the agency women exercised as performers, composers, scholars, teachers and recorders of musical practice. 

We warmly encourage submissions from colleagues working across related fields of language, literature, gender studies, history and the performing arts.

Further information, and submission guidelines, can be found on the conference web page. All proposals must be submittedby the 31 January 2026.

This project emerged in part through Music Futures collaborations, and we are therefore eager to invite the communities of the IAS, UCL and the wider University of London federation to participate in this event.

Associated with this project, the Academy is beginning to develop a research group exploring the diverse ways that women sought to shape and narrate all kinds of cultural and social histories across the long nineteenth century. We hope to convene an interdisciplinary study and professional development day on this theme in the early summer, targeted particularly at building networks among emerging researchers (PhD candidates and Early Career Researchers). 

Queries regarding the conference can be addressed to the administrator, Victoria Hodgkinson:wmh1conference@ram.ac.uk. If you are interested in participating in a research group and/or study day, please contact Professor Emily Kilpatrick: ekilpatrick@ram.ac.uk.