The Second Biennial Conference of the North American British Music Studies Association, 3-5 August 2006
The North American British Music Studies Association held its second biennial conference August 3-5 at St. Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont, USA.
Following in the footsteps of its first conference at Oberlin College in June 2004, NABMSA’s second conference once again brought together scholars and lovers of British music from all academic fields and parts of the world for two days of papers, discussions, and musical performances. Musical performances included lecture-recitals on the music of Adela Maddison and seventeenth-century British mad songs with period gesture. Christina Bashford was the keynote speaker, and papers covered a wide variety of topics (see the conference schedule for the conference program).
Other
Highlights
English country dancing. Join musicians, an experienced teacher/caller,
and local dance enthusiasts for an evening learning English country dances.
This event is free to conference delegates. Thursday, April 3, 6:30 pm.
Musical theater performance. Want to study some American music for a change? The Saint Michael’s Playhouse, a professional summer theater company right on campus (www.smcvt.edu/playhouse), presents My Way: A Tribute to Frank Sinatra. Relive the making and the magic of an American legend in this marriage of song and story, from the early swing-era hits to the Rat Pack days. There is an additional charge of $30 for this activity. Thursday, April 3, 8:00 pm.
Reception. The generous folks at Ashgate, always strong supporters of British Music studies, have kindly agreed to sponsor a reception at the conference. Friday, April 4, 5:00 pm.
Dinner cruise. The conference banquet will be a dinner cruise with live music on beautiful Lake Champlain, surrounded by the Adirondack and Green Mountains. Maine lobster is the chief entree, but others are available. This event is included in the conference package. Friday, April 4, 6:30 pm.
Tour of the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream factory. Learn how a pair of college drop-outs in Burlington, Vermont, founded a world-famous socially-responsible ice cream company. See ice cream being made, and, of course, get free samples. Visit the Flavor Graveyard, where discontinued flavors, including “Cool Britannia,” are laid to rest. There is an additional charge of $25 for this activity. Sunday, April 6, 10:00 am.
For the full schedule and program see the Conference Schedule
About
Saint Michael’s College and Vermont
Saint Michael’s College (www.smcvt.edu)
is a residential liberal-arts college located in Colchester, Vermont, three
miles from Burlington, the state’s largest city. Built on a hilltop in
the heart of the Lake Champlain Valley, the campus commands views of the Green
Mountains and is within easy reach of the many scenic villages and landscapes
that have made Vermont famous. If you would like to extend your trip by arriving
in Vermont early or staying after the conference has ended, you should consider
booking a room at a country inn. The websites www.vermont.com
and www.vermontvacation.com
can both help locate inns and other tourist attractions.
Travel
Saint Michael’s College is ten minutes from Burlington International Airport
(BTV). A taxi from the airport to campus costs approximately ten dollars. In
addition all the major car-rental firms have offices at the airport, and there
is copious free parking on campus. The College is also a two-hour drive from
Montreal Pierre Trudeau (Dorval) Airport (YUL). Burlington is also served by
Greyhound buses and by Amtrak trains.
For computer maps and directions, the address is 1 Campus Road, Colchester VT 05439.
Click here for a Mapquest map of the College.
Housing
and Meals
The conference housing will be in comfortable newly built dormitories. Delegates
will have private air-conditioned bedrooms and shared baths. All meals other
than the Friday dinner cruise will be available in the College cafeteria, which
offers a wide variety of options.
Delegates who wish to stay off campus should make reservations early, since August is one of the high tourist seasons in Vermont. The nearest hotels are the Days Inn (802-655-0900) and Handy’s Extended Stay Suites (802-655-6000) which are on Vermont Route 15 across the street from campus.
For further information, including local travel suggestions and more area hotels, contact Nathaniel G. Lew at natlew@aya.yale.edu or 802-654-2284.
Updated August 2006
webmaster - Kendra Leonard