Southampton Centre for Music Education and Social Justice

12/04/2026

Forwarding:
🎶 Call for Performers – Charity Acoustic Night 🎶

A group of University of Solent Students are organising a charity acoustic night, Rock Beats Cancer (Unplugged), taking place at Heartbreakers on 27 April. They are currently looking for local musicians and student bands who would be interested in performing.

This is a great opportunity to:
Perform in a live venue
Support a meaningful cause
Connect with other musicians in the local scene

⚠️ Please note: There is a small sign-up/participation fee for performers (details are provided in the event link below), so do check this before applying.

If you’re interested in performing, you can sign up here:
👉 Performer sign-up form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScXKet3xd3dEGWfvFZWuGyjMyKvfTAR7qXZ4IDxyF7ylDIyig/viewform
More details about the event (including performer information and tickets) can be found here:

👉 Event & tickets: https://www.seetickets.com/event/rock-beats-cancer-unplugged-/heartbreakers/3620574
Please feel free to share this with others who might be interested!

Buy tickets for Rock Beats Cancer (Unplugged) at Heartbreakers from the official retailer, See Tickets.

19/02/2026

We are proud to be working with and supporting several University of Southampton Undergraduates, Postgraduates, and Alumni, who serve as CMESJ Representatives! Over the coming weeks, our ‘Meet the Rep’ Series will introduce you to each one!

We are starting with .many.instruments, who writes…

“I am a 2nd Year BA Music student here at the University of Southampton!

I work as composer, collaborating with organisations and ensembles in Europe and the USA; multi-instrumentalist; and arts inclusion advocate, currently working with ABRSM and Dorset Music Service. I also create and facilitate art and music workshops, and am extremely excited to be running my first workshop of the year, Mood Tube, with CMESJ.

In terms of social justice, my key focuses include disability, age, the rural-urban divide, income, and class.”

🎶

16/10/2025

Call for Provocations – ‘Sounds of Climate Justice’ Study Day

Centre for Music Education and Social Justice

University of Southampton

Location: University of Southampton (in-person attendance, although virtual or pre-recorded presentations can be accommodated)

Study Day: 24 February 2026

Deadline for Provocations: 16 January 2026

Decisions communicated / programme finalised: 30 January 2026



The Southampton Centre for Music Education and Social Justice (CMESJ) is pleased to announce a Study Day on ‘Sounds of Climate Justice’ on Tuesday 24 February 2026. We invite submissions for provocations of c.10 minutes relating to any intersectional reflections about / musical responses to the challenges of the climate crisis, and interventions that music studies can make in the pursuit of climate justice. This will be an in-person study day, although virtual or pre-recorded presentations can be accommodated.

There day will be a mix of academic presentations, musical performances and workshops with time to reflect. There will be space and time for participants to also co-construct and outline principles of a manifesto for music studies on committing, musically and/or musicologically, to sustainable futures of scholarship, practice and curricular design. Undergraduate and postgraduate student voices are very welcome.



The Keynote will be a performance of an interactive piece composed by Jenny Guilford and Ellan A. Lincoln-Hyde:

Climate of the Bells is an outdoor, site-responsive keynote composition that traces a ‘year of birdsong’ from Southampton, performed through artefacts drawn from university, public, and private collections, including hand bells and repurposed industrial materials. As the piece unfolds, audiences move through the space, encountering seasonal songs and maritime resonances in a multispecies soundscape. The work foregrounds ecological rhythms, collective care, and interspecies attunement, transforming listening into an immersive, participatory experience. Composers: Jenny Guilford and Ellan A. Lincoln-Hyde, jointly The (In)Equal Temperament Project.



Submitting a provocation: please email a c.100-word abstract / outline of your short provocation (spoken / musical / performed) to Erin Johnson-Williams at [email protected] by 16 January 2026. Each provocation will be given a 10-minute slot, with ample time given to discussion.

What we mean by provocation: As the convenors, we define an academic provocation as something that makes us stop and think more deeply about an idea or issue. It should be designed to challenge our usual ways of understanding and to open new perspectives. Provocations can take many forms (a bold question, a surprising image, a short text or performance, for example) to spark curiosity and discussion. These provocations will be used to help us explore ideas with an emphasis on sharing and discussion.



Organising Committee

Erin Johnson-Williams (University of Southampton)

Chiying Lam (University of Southampton)

Ellan A. Lincoln-Hyde (SOAS University of London)

Lawrence Davies (University of Huddersfield)

Amy Williamson (University of Southampton)

15/04/2025

Experience University of Southampton FREE Residential

15th – 18th July 2025

Our 2025 residential is now open for applications. This year you can join us on campus for a 4-day, 3-night programme. Giving you the opportunity to experience the academic and social side of university life. You'll learn in an academic environment and work with students from other schools and colleges through a timetable of lectures, practical activities and a variety of fun evening social activities.

Degree programmes/ Subject areas on offer for 2025: Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Geography, Biological Sciences, History, English, Modern Languages, Music and Business.

This residential is free and open to Year 12 or Level 3 (Year 1) students who meet our academic and Widening Participation eligibility criteria. For more information, eligibility criteria and to apply click here. https://www.southampton.ac.uk/schools-colleges/experience-summer-event.page

Closing date is 25th April.

An exciting on campus residential opportunity for Year 12 students to experience life at University of Southampton. On our 4-day, 3-night on-campus programmes you’ll work with students from other schools and colleges through a timetable of lectures, practical activities and a variety of fun social...

13/03/2025

What an amazing celebration for International Women’s Day, led by the incredible Dr. Heather Mease and CMESJ student rep Emily 🎤✨ The energy was unforgettable as we came together to celebrate the strength and resilience of women through music. Huge thanks to everyone who joined us – the room was filled with such positivity and empowerment. 💪💖

And note to self: we’ll definitely be ordering more pizza next time! 🍕🎉

27/02/2025

Sharing a wonderful conference opportunity! :)

On 15th and 16th March 2025, the OHMI Trust, in collaboration with Birmingham City University and Imperial College London, and Principal Supporter ABRSM, will host a major conference exploring the...

20/12/2024

Season’s Greetings from CMESJ!

We are delighted to introduce the first of CMESJ’s termly newsletters.
In this newsletter, we have included our Annual Report 2023-2024 and students' reflections on our recent Misogyny in Music study day. Thank you to all colleagues who have participated in the activities and research events we have hosted.

As we move into the new year, we are excited to continue this important work together. Wishing you a joyful festive season and a creative, collaborative year ahead.

Season’s Greetings from CMESJ!

15/11/2024

Misogyny in Music Study Day

22 November 2024

Southampton Centre for Music Education and Social Justice

Department of Music , University of Southampton

Location: Building 28, Highfield Campus (9:30am–4pm) and Turner Sims Foyer (4–5pm)

BUILDING 28
This will be an in-person conference.
A Quiet Room is available at this venue for all participants.

ROOM 1017:

9:30: Coffee

10:00: Welcome from CMESJ, the Department of Music and Public Policy Southampton (Erin Johnson-Williams, Chiying Lam, Drew Crawford, Laura Bea, Joseph Owen)

10:15–11:00: Panel 1. Student Advocacy, Youth Creativity, and Challenging Misogyny in Education (CHAIR – Emily Macklow, University of Southampton)

Duncan Abrahart (former SU President at Leeds Conservatoire), Student Unions in Small Specialist Music Providers

Baljit Kaur (LSE/London School of Economics), Young People’s Music Production in Youth Club Settings

Cassandra Jones (Northumbria University), Combatting Misogyny in Music Education

11:00–12:00: Panel 2. Themed Session – ICMP colleagues on Misogyny in Music and the Workplace (CHAIR – Sophie Daniels, ICMP)

Panel members (ICMP): Sophie Daniels, Loretta Andrews, Catherine Anne Davies, Lucy James

12:00–12:45: Lunch

12:45–1:45: TRAINING SESSION: Misogyny, Harassment and Bias (Enya Doyle)

Amy Williamson (University of Southampton) - introductory remarks

Enya Doyle (Anti-Harassment Consultant) will lead us through definitions of Harassment and Bias and assign reflective tasks for the breakout sessions.

ROOMS 2033 and 2049:

1:45–2:30: Breakout Sessions

ROOM 1019:

2:30–3:30: Panel 3. Breaking Barriers in Music: Transformative Projects, and the Struggle for Change (Chair – Anna Bull, University of York)

Sophie Daniels (ICMP), Misogyny in Music: Why Does it Matter who Writes the Songs which Soundtrack our Lives?

Marianne Brown (City, University of London), Music for All: Transformative Elements of Music Projects for Women and Children Fleeing Domestic Violence

Metka Potočnik (Wolverhampton Law School), Misogyny in Music: What is Missing in the WEC Report?

Laurie Stras (University of Southampton), Change is Harder than it Looks

Walk to Turner Sims (5 minutes)

TURNER SIMS FOYER

3:40–4:00: Afternoon refreshments

4:00–4:45: Q&A with the Rt Hon Caroline Nokes, MP, who chaired the Women and Equalities Committee that put together the Misogyny in Music Report (CHAIR – Erin Johnson-Williams, University of Southampton)

5pm–close


REGISTER FOR ATTENDANCE HERE: https://forms.office.com/e/sAuqdz1LSB by no later than 5pm on Thursday 21 November 2024.

18/10/2024

CALL FOR PARTICIPATION: Misogyny in Music Study Day
Centre for Music Education and Social Justice

University of Southampton, Highfield Campus

22 November 2024

In-person event



In January 2024, the House of Commons released the Misogyny in Music Report, which contains a series of recommendations for the music industry and for Higher Education. Following a successful Roundtable discussion about the Report at the University of Southampton on 16 May 2024, the Centre for Music Education and Social Justice is hosting their annual music education policy ‘study day’ on 22 November on strategies, challenges and pathways for embedding the recommendations of the Misogyny in Music Report into UK Higher Education institutions.



We welcome expression of interest for: provocations or pedagogical reflections (c.7 minutes each) or themed roundtables (c.30 minutes each) on the Report, and how its recommendations can be implemented into musical institutions. We particularly welcome explorations or recommendations about how the Misogyny in Music Report can be taken up under the new Labour government, and how we can make these discussions relevant to undergraduate and postgraduate music students. With its close links to Public Policy Southampton, the Centre for Music Education and Social Justice is invested in linking educational practice to current policy reports, and providing a forum for reflecting on current policy challenges and issues. Representatives from Public Policy Southampton will attend the event and provide reflections on fostering policy-driven dialogues.



All proposals, either for provocations, roundtables or pedagogical reflections, must be c.100 words (if a themed roundtable, then 100 words per contributor on the roundtable) and emailed to Erin Johnson-Williams at [email protected] no later than 5pm on 1 November 2024.



Relevant dates are:



Friday 1 November – deadline for expressions of interest


Tuesday 5 November – decisions communicated re call and Erin to draw up schedule for the day


Thursday 7 November – full programme and Eventbrite registration link sent out


Friday 22 November – study day; 10am–6pm; University of Southampton, Highfield Campus


This will be an in-person event to facilitate break-out groups and opportunities throughout the day to work together. Attendees who would like to travel to Southampton and do not have either a permanent academic job or research travel funds available from their institutions may write to Erin Johnson-Williams at [email protected] to apply for up to £50 to cover travel costs.

05/10/2024

🌟 Join Us for a Day of Insight and Collaboration! 🌟 Registration

📅 Wednesday, October 16
🕐 1–3 PM - HARTLEY LECTURE & Internal Respondent
📍 Location: Building 58 / 1067

✨ HARTLEY LECTURE:
Reena Esmail
Topic: “Composing Into Connection: How Listening and Questioning Can Connect Us Across Cultures and Communities”

🕓 4–5:30 PM - HARTLEY ROUNDTABLE
Topic: “Co-Creation, Creative Practice and Social Justice”
📍 Location: Building 100 / 7013

💬 Roundtable Participants:
Reena Esmail
Matthew Shlomowitz
Liz Gre
Erin Johnson-Williams
Max Syedtollan (Chair)
🔗 Hybrid Attendance: Links in bio

Let’s explore, connect, and create together! 🎶💬✨

09/09/2024

How can social justice, music and research work together to make a real difference?

Help us to take an evidence informed approach to finding out!

If you are linked into music, music research, arts and health, community development, inclusion, social justice, education, music and technology, or anything in between we need your help...

As part of our new 🎵 National Hub to promote Public Engagement in Music Research 🎵 at the University of Southampton, we want to start as we mean to go on... with public consultation into what really matters. This will help us shape an upcoming research call as well as gathering insights on how the hub can maximise its value.

We would love to hear from you! Please take 10 minutes to your ideas for priorities in music research. This is also a great chance to sign up for future updates on funding opportunities and to join our collaborative network of researchers and music enthusiasts. Your input will help shape the future of our community!

👉