2nd Music and Social Transformation Conference

Pati Manning (CERC de la Diputació de Barcelona)
The professional conference “Music and Social Transformation”, included within the 2023 commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Pau Casals’ death, will focus on the transformative role of music in social cohesion and inclusion, intercultural dialogue, and conflict prevention. It aims to provide an opportunity to collectively reflect on why it is necessary to advocate for music as both a right and a key tool in building more attentive and just societies, while also highlighting existing work and amplifying the voices of people involved in projects at local, national, and international levels.
The reflections and content of the various sessions will seek to gather and systematize a set of illustrative experiences to improve the transfer of knowledge arising from social and cultural practices.
Beyond sharing experiences, and based on an analysis of the current situation, the conference will also reflect on the outstanding challenges and possible lines of action needed to address them. Throughout the event, attendees will hear the voices of people who have participated in music and community-based projects.
Registered participants will also take part in a collective musical experience.
The conference is free of charge and will begin at 9:00 a.m. It will feature contributions from María Claudia Parias, President of the National Batuta Foundation of Colombia; Marina Garcés, philosopher, essayist, and professor at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC); José Luis Rivero, CEO and Artistic Director of the Auditorio de Tenerife; Núria Sempere, Director of the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya (ESMUC); Hugo Cruz, cultural creator, programmer, and researcher; Pablo González, founder and director of the Vozes project, among others. Please consult the full program for the complete list of participants.
You may attend the full day or only selected round tables/workshops.
MORNING
9.00 h Registration
9.15 – 9.30 h Welcome and introduction
With contributions from:
– Joan Fuster-Sobrepere, Co-Director of the Chair and Director of the Arts and Humanities programmes at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC).
– Jordi Pardo, Director of the Pau Casals Foundation.
9.30 – 10:30 h Keynote lecture
– “Music and Social Transformation”
By Marina Garcés, philosopher, essayist, and professor in the Arts and Humanities at UOC, in dialogue with Esther Bonal, music teacher and director of Xamfrà, and María Claudia Parias, President of the National Batuta Foundation, Colombia.
10.30 – 11.00 h Coffee break
11.00 – 12.00 h Round table 1
– “Trends and perspectives on musical action in processes of social transformation”
With José Luis Rivero, CEO and Artistic Director of the Auditorio de Tenerife, Hugo Cruz, cultural creator, programmer, and researcher, and Núria Sempere, Director of the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya – ESMUC.
– Moderated by Joan Fuster-Sobrepere, Co-Director of the Chair and Director of the Arts and Humanities programmes at UOC.
12.00 – 13.00 h Musical action workshop
Led by the Institut Diversitats and the Riborquestra Association.
13.00 – 14.00 h Round table 2
– “Inspiring practices, learning from action (the importance of raising questions)”
With Pablo González, founder and director of the Vozes project, Nil Barutel, director of Riborquestra; researcher at UPF and the Barcelona Institute of Culture, Anna Carné, coordinator and lecturer at ConArte Internacional and the “Cordes a Primària” project at the Municipal School of Music of Sant Feliu de Llobregat, and Laura Folch, cellist, educator, and designer of social projects.
– Moderated by Oriol Pérez Treviño, musicologist and essayist.
14.00 – 15.30 h Lunch
AFTERNOON
15.30 – 16.30 h Round table 3
– “Readings of action. Debate on the challenges and questions of practice”
With María Claudia Parias, President of the National Batuta Foundation, Colombia, Jordi Oliveras, cultural facilitator and coordinator of Indigestió and the magazine www.nativa.cat, and Erin Corine, founder of Hola Magnolia Identityworks, interdisciplinary artist, identity and belonging coach, and educator in diversity, inclusion, equity, and anti-racism – DEIJ+.
– Moderated by Nicolás Barbieri, Professor at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), specialised in cultural rights and cultural policies.
16.30 – 17.00 h Coffee break
17.00 – 18.00 h Round table 4
– “Voices from practice. Giving voice to participants and experiences”
With testimonies from organisations such as Xamfrà, the Vozes project, the Riborquestra Association, and the opera La Gata Perduda.
– Moderated by Ester Bonal, music teacher and director of Xamfrà.
18.15 – 18.30 h Closing session with musical performance
– Led by Alfons Martinell, Co-Director of the Chair.
*Conference held in Spanish
Download the programme: II Conference: Music and Social Transformation



