A Time for Tradition, Reflection, and Gratitude
This season is a time for traditions. It’s a time to gather with those we love as music, light, and togetherness create a special space for presence and joy. From old hymns to contemporary songs, music connects us across generations and reminds us of the value of traditions in a busy world.
At the same time, this season invites reflection. We cannot overlook the challenges facing the world today. The increasing unrest, conflicts and lack of peace affect many lives, including AEC members and their staff and students. It calls us to consider how we can best contribute to a more peaceful and connected world.
Art and education play a vital role as the foundation of democracies, fostering respect, dialogue, and understanding, values essential for peaceful coexistence. It is my hope that the AEC, together with our international partners in the arts and education, can help strengthen these values in the coming year and pave the way for stronger, more harmonious societies.
As the year comes to a close, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the trust and collaboration we have shared over the past year. Your dedication and support make a meaningful difference and reaffirm how valuable it is to work together to advance Higher Music Education.
Wishing you all a joyful holiday season and a wonderful New Year. May music continue to enrich our lives, bring joy, and strengthen the connections that unite us in the year ahead.
Finn Schumacker - AEC Executive Director
In this year's last newsletter we take a closer look at the new EU Commissioners and their responsibilities, which will have an impact on the AEC's upcoming advocacy activities. But first, you can read a welcome letter to Commissioner Glenn Micallef.
Registrations are now open for the AEC Pop & Jazz Platform 2025, happening in Pamplona, Spain, from 27 February to 2 March. Secure your spot by registering early, as spaces are limited and close by 17 February.
The AEC European Platform for Artistic Research in Music (EPARM) 2025 will take place at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in Tallinn (Estonia) on 3 – 5 April 2025. Register by 21 March!
All AEC Members are encouraged to send their students to participate in the "Designing Voices for Our Lives" initiative which will take place in the frame of the World Expo in Osaka in May 2025.
Have a look at the report of the AEC Annual Meeting for International Relations Coordinators 2024 which took place in Dublin last September!
The Lifelong Learning Working Group (LLL WG) is excited to share the results of its recent survey, designed to explore and analyse lifelong learning opportunities within Higher Music Education Institutions (HMEIs).
On 26–27 December, the Musik-Akademie Basel hosted a meeting of REMA, AEC, and COST Early Muse, uniting early music and musicology leaders and practitioners. The event sparked dynamic discussions on artistic research, career development, and sustainability.
MusiQuE took part in Asamblea y Jornadas de ACESEA 2024 in Vitoria, Spain on 13th December 2024. The session outlined how quality enhancement is a continuous process that gives continuity to the implementation of strategies and plans in line with the institutional mission.
The MUSense final conference in Palermo (Nov 24–27, 2024) celebrated the integration of digital technologies into music education and performance.
We are happy to announce that one of the outcomes of the PRIhME project, the anthology "Music, Power Relations and Beyond: Critical Positions in Higher Music Education” has been published.
SCAM Alert
Beware of Hotel Fraud, Visitor Lists and Others
We want to alert you to recent phishing attempts targeting several European networks and platforms, including AEC.
It has been brought to our notice that members have been approached by scams or unsolicited emails from unfamiliar domains, such as "datalist.shop", "visitorlist.co", and "exposenetwork.com", offering access to a “Visitors List” for upcoming events.
Please be aware that these emails are not from AEC and should be ignored. We recommend marking these addresses as spam to prevent further contact.
While these emails currently contain no harmful viruses, the risk lies in the misleading appearance of legitimacy, which may prompt recipients to engage in conversation and ultimately expose them to financial scams.
We apologise for any inconvenience and hope this message helps you recognise and avoid potential threats.
Leadership news
Dean, Professor Zoran Krajišnik - Univerzitet u Novom Sadu I University of Novi Sad
Rector, Professor Ilona Meija - Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music
AEC Events
AEC Pop and Jazz Platform 2025
European Platform for Artistic Research in Music (EPARM) 2025
AEC Vacancy Platform
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
