York St John Professor to be made President of the International Society of Music Education

ISME is an international organisation that seeks to build and maintain a worldwide community of music educators. It has members in more than 80 countries.

The ISME World Conference, to be held this week (25 – 29 July) in Glasgow, will feature keynote speakers including singer/songwriter Joan Armatrading MBE, solo percussionist Evelyn Glennie and Darren Henley, Chief Executive of Arts Council England. There will also be a series of performances, research presentations and discussion sessions which explore concepts of Music Education. More than 2,000 delegates are expected to attend.

Professor Higgins said: “The role will be a significant feature of my professional life during 2016 – 2018. For example, I will be organising a world event in Baku, Azerbaijan and seven pre-conference seminars in locations around Europe.

“I will also be visiting ISME’s regional events in locations in Africa, India, Europe and Asia and leading the organisation in towards equitable music education for all.  

Professor Higgins joined York St John University in 2014 from Boston University, Massachusetts and York St John University launched the International Centre for Community Music (ICCM) in June last year, in response to the global interest in creative music participation and inclusivity in music.

The ICCM acts as a global forum for community music through which research, teaching, scholarship, professional practice and pedagogy is developed and shared.

As Director of the ICCM, Professor Higgins works collaboratively with academics, practitioners, educators and policy makers to create to support the development of community music which, in turn, can be described as non-formal music education with musicians working in locations such as hospitals, prisons, schools and community centres.

More information about ISME is available here: https://www.isme.org/ while further information about the ICCM can be found here.