Dr Emily Dollman at the 36th World Conference for the International Society of Music Education (ISME)

'I started Semester Two with a trip to Helsinki to attend and present at the 36th World Conference for the International Society of Music Education (ISME). Hosted by the Sibelius Academy, the event saw 1500 attendees gather from across the world for presentations covering best practice in classroom, instrumental and community music education, music and well being, music and social justice and the training of professional musicians. The theme of the conference was 'Advocacy for Sustainability in Music Education' and the keynote speeches included visions of music impacting the world. Professor André de Quadras spoke of his experiences as the Artistic Director of Common Ground Voices, a choir that poignantly connects singers from Palestine and Israel. The Research Leadership team from UniArts delivered a multi-media presentation entitled 'Beyond Advocacy: Engaging with the Political in Music Education' and composer Kristina Arakelyan outlined how her collaborative compositions engage communities more deeply with their landscape. My presentation focused on the importance of orchestral musicians' abilities to connect with their audiences and communities for the sustainability of the profession. A wonderful week connecting and reconnecting with fellow passionate music educators, and the energy infusion of the conference managed to see me through the 30-hour flight home!'

– Dr Emily Dollman