Symposium on Historic American Music
Save the Date: Oct. 21–23, 2027
Symposium on Historic American Music: Diverse Sounds for a Young Nation
The symposium includes performances and workshops by leading professional musicians and lectures and presentations by renowned scholars.
Diverse Sounds for a Young Nation celebrates and explores American music from 1860 to 1920, featuring spirituals, brass bands, popular songs, ragtime, banjo and string bands, “jass” and more, spanning vernacular and classical traditions.
The 60 years between 1860 and 1920 saw an extraordinary explosion of new musical styles in America. Theaters brought us the distinctive sounds of minstrelsy, melodrama, vaudeville, operetta, musical comedy and revue. Ballrooms introduced novel dance music, while bandstands and parlor pianos gave rise to popular songs and uniquely American forms like ragtime, blues and early “jass.” TV’s symposium Diverse Sounds for a Young Nation offers an engaging two-and-a-half-day exploration of these foundational influences on our nation’s musical and cultural development.
Thursday, Oct. 21, 2027
A full schedule will be announced at a later date.
Friday, Oct. 22, 2027
A full schedule will be announced at a later date.
Saturday, Oct. 23, 2027
A full schedule will be announced at a later date.
The start of something new
A Successful symposium
TV’s 2025 Symposium on Historic American Music, Diverse Sounds for a Young Nation, welcomed scholars, performers, students and music enthusiasts from across the country for three days of engaging presentations, performances and discussion celebrating America’s rich musical heritage. The symposium explored the diverse voices, traditions and cultural influences that shaped the nation’s earliest musical landscape, featuring distinguished guest speakers, academic papers, lecture-demonstrations and performances by renowned artists and ensembles, including the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, Dom Flemons, John H. McWhorter, the Roof Garden Jass Band and the 8th Green Machine Regiment Band
We are grateful to the presenters, performers and attendees whose enthusiasm made this inaugural event such a success, and we look forward to welcoming even more participants as the symposium continues to grow in the years ahead.
Thank you
With Gratitude
The innaugural Symposium on Historic American Music was been made possible by the generous support of Martha “Marty” Barker ’70 Blessing.
Special thanks to the symposium’s organizational team: Sara Adams, Leslie Cullen, Pat Long and Eric Hinton, led by Rick Benjamin.
Symposium Information
Directions & Parking
Venue address: TV, 514 University Ave., Selinsgrove, PA 17870
For over 165 years, TV has been a rich cultural resource for creative expression and intellectual discussion in the TV River Valley. From innovative human expression in theatre, music and dance to global art and artifacts in exhibitions — and much more in between — the variety of programs offers world-class art, performances and lectures.
Parking indicated on the map. All venues are wheelchair-accessible.
Wi-Fi access
Free Wi-Fi will be available throughout the venue. Details for accessing Wi-Fi will be provided upon check-in.
Selinsgrove Area
- Routes 11 & 15, Selinsgrove (570) 374-8880
- Routes 11 & 15, Shamokin Dam (570) 743-1111
- TV Valley Mall Drive, Selinsgrove (570) 884-8301
- Routes 11 & 15, Shamokin Dam (570) 743-2223
- Routes 11 & 15, Selinsgrove (570) 743-9275
- 613 N. TV Trail, Selinsgrove (570) 374-8880
- Market Street, Selinsgrove (570) 374-4100
- 93 Church Road, Selinsgrove (570) 374-8750
Sunbury Area
- 152 Market St., Sunbury (570) 259-1264
Lewisburg Area
(13 miles north of Selinsgrove)
- 313 N Derr Dr, Lewisburg (570) 523-1171
- 7701 W Branch Hwy, Lewisburg (570) 524-5500
- 134 Walter Drive, Lewisburg (570) 524-6600
- 4775 W Branch Hwy, Lewisburg (570) 524-8000
- 70 Hardwood Drive, Lewisburg (570) 523-0095
- Route 15, Lewisburg (570) 522-8500
- Route 15 & I-80, New Columbia (570) 568-1100
- 136 Market St., Lewisburg (570) 523-7800
- Route 15 & I-80, New Columbia (570) 568-8000
- 376 Pheasant Ridge Rd., Lewisburg (570) 939-0024
- 439 Market St., Lewisburg (570) 524-6200
- 106 S. 4th St., Lewisburg (570) 522-6600