Dear Distinguished Guests,

On behalf of the Local Arrangements Committee, it is my great privilege to welcome you to the 2026 ICTMD MEA in Taipei. We are thrilled to host you for our four-day gathering from July 2 to July 5, 2026.

This year marks a truly significant milestone for our community. On the first day, following the opening ceremony, we will hold the MEA 20th Anniversary Forum. It is remarkable to reflect on two decades of rigorous scholarship, cross-cultural exchange, and enduring friendships that have shaped this study group, while also exploring future opportunities for collaboration.

Over the four days, 25 sessions of individual papers and 7 panels will take place across our two host venues: National Taiwan Normal University and the Taiwan Music Institute (Located at the Taiwan Traditional Theatre Center). Alongside these parallel sessions, we have curated a rich lineup of special events that will further immerse us in Taiwan’s local arts and culture.

We encourage you to take full advantage of these highlights throughout the symposium:

Opening Performance:
Our gathering will officially begin at the NTNU Auditorium with a special traditional performance by the Miao-Li Chen Family Pei-Kuan Pa-Yin Group, a representative ensemble dedicated to promoting Taiwan’s Hakka music traditions.

Venue Introduction:
On the afternoon of July 3, we will provide a special introduction to the National Center for Traditional Arts and the Taiwan Music Institute.

Jingju Showcases:
On July 3, the GuoGuang Opera Company will host a Traditional Opera Presentation and Actor Demonstration. Later that evening, attendees with tickets are invited to an exclusive backstage Patriarch Shrine tour, followed by a full performance of Mr. Goodman Dumps His Wife.

NTNU GIEM Music on Screen Festival:
Join us on the evening of July 2 at Toasteria Café for dinner and the opening screenings of our film festival, featuring kuku' nu cilal and Weeds Like Us, two ethnomusicological films. The festival will continue with morning and afternoon screenings on July 4.

I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who has made this event possible—the Executive Committee, our dedicated LAC team, and all of you for your participation, support, and enthusiasm.

We look forward to an inspiring and fruitful conference. Safe travels, and we look forward to welcoming you very soon to Taipei!

Sincerely,

Dear Colleagues and Guests,

On behalf of the Executive Committee, I warmly welcome you to Taipei for the 9th Symposium and the 20th Anniversary Forum of the ICTMD Study Group on Musics of East Asia.

Over the past two decades, members of MEA have devoted themselves to deepening scholarship on the musics and dances of East Asia while fostering meaningful regional and international dialogue across diverse academic and cultural contexts. This year, with the generous support and participation of colleagues from around the world, we gather once again not only to reflect on our shared history and accomplishments, but also to envision the future of our field amid rapidly changing global circumstances.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my fellow members of the Executive Committee for their support, to the members of the Program Committee for their thoughtful review and selection of submissions, as well as to the members of the Local Arrangements Committee for their tremendous efforts in planning and organizing this symposium. Thanks to their dedication—and to your enthusiastic participation—this year’s symposium features more than 90 paper presentations, together with a rich lineup of special programs and cultural events.

Over the four days, we look forward to engaging with your presentations, exchanging ideas across disciplines and regions, and charting the future of our field together. Thank you for your invaluable contributions to this study group. We wish you a truly inspiring symposium and a memorable stay in Taipei.

Warmest regards, 

Chun-Zen Huang, 
Chair of the Local Arrangements Committee, 2026 ICTMD MEA
Professor, Graduate Institute of Ethnomusicology and Department of Music, National Taiwan Normal University

Hsin-Wen Hsu
Chair of the Executive Committee, ICTMD MEA 2024-2026
Director of the Graduate Institute of Ethnomusicology,

National Taiwan Normal University