The Department of Music, S N School of Arts and Communication, University of Hyderabad, successfully organised a Three-Day Online International Conference (OIC 2026) on the theme ‘Music as Embodied Transmission and Cultural Epistemologies’ from April 21 to 23, 2026.
The conference brought together eminent scholars, musicians, and researchers from across the globe, creating a vibrant platform for interdisciplinary dialogue on music as a dynamic, embodied knowledge system. The conference commenced with the inaugural address by Prof. Vasuki Belavadi, Head, Department of Music, University of Hyderabad, who warmly welcomed the global gathering of scholars and set the tone for an intellectually enriching dialogue. The conference was convened by Dr. Pragya Pyasi and Dr. Pavani Duddu, Faculty of the Department, with Prof. Sanjoy Bandopadhyay serving as Special Advisor.
The conference received an overwhelming academic response, with 125 abstracts submitted and 100 participants registered. Of these, 70 papers were shortlisted, and 66 were presented live. The sessions were further enriched by the active participation of 160 observers. Over the course of three days, the conference hosted six plenary sessions and multiple technical sessions, covering diverse themes such as embodied pedagogy, oral traditions, music and identity, technology and transmission, music therapy, cultural memory, and interdisciplinary approaches to music studies.
There were 15 distinguished plenary speakers representing five continents – Prof. Daniel Neuman, Prof. Dard Neuman and Prof. Stefan Fiol from USA, Prof. Richard Widdess and Dr. Radha Kapuria from UK, Prof. Marc Duby and Prof. Chats Devroop from South Africa, Prof. Adrian McNeil, and Prof. Andrew Alter from Australia, Prof. Sanjoy Bandopadhyay, Dr. Aditi Deo, Shri Chitravina Ravikiran, Dr. Sumithra Vasudev, Shri V. Sriram, Dr. Lakshmi Sreeram and Dr. Radha Bhaskar from India, reflecting its truly global character. Plenary discussions included intellectually stimulating discussions, which emphasised music as an embodied and dialogic form of knowledge—emerging through performance, perception, and cultural interaction rather than existing merely as a theoretical construct. Participants also included scholars, independent researchers and faculty from UK, Srilanka, and India.
The valedictory address by Prof. Sanjoy Bandopadhyay underscored this perspective, presenting music as a lived epistemology shaped through experience, memory, and participation.
The conference received widespread appreciation from participating scholars and international speakers, who commended the professional organisation by the Faculty, Department of Music, the quality of presentations and the thematic depth. Many noted the conference as an ‘exemplary event’ and ‘enriching academic feast’, appreciating its distinctive approach in exploring multiple dimensions of music research. The event stands as a significant milestone in strengthening the Department’s research ecosystem and its global academic engagement.