Masculinities in Wind Music

23-24 October 2025, Graz

The International Center for Wind Music Research and the Center for Gender Studies and Diversity at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz will organise the international conference Masculinities in Wind Music from 23 to 24 October 2025 at Institute 12 Oberschützen (Austria).

The wind music, like many comparable groups, including sports, military, business or politics, is traditionally considered a male-dominated homosociality. These are characterised by the fact that they offer opportunities for male solidarity and self-affirmation, often coupled with a consciously or unconsciously lived exclusivity, thus with various mechanisms of demarcation and exclusion. The masculine music wind also seems to have specific characteristics based on physical, social, political and musical criteria.

Therefore, the aim of current wind music research is to examine the socio-historical reasons and consequences of the development of this image and to shed light on its implications. Among other things, it is important to determine whether this image persists and what effects it has, for example, on the choice of instruments and musical education, on the support of young female wind musicians, on their career opportunities and development. Furthermore, are there still specific relationships between gender and wind instruments? What role does the imaginary collective, the community, economic aspects, personal preferences, etc. play in the gender-specific distribution of wind instruments and activities or in the formation of stereotypes in the wind music?

However, it is possible that the picture described has long since become a one-sided and exaggerated cliché that no longer corresponds to reality. Therefore, the question also arises as to what changes can be observed in recent decades and what experiences were and are associated with them. To what extent do internationally different and changing gender relations also influence wind music? Do the changes bring about a levelling of traditional gender differences or, for example, the development of a ‘female masculinity’ within the wind music scene? This conference is intended to provide a basis and new knowledge for this still little-researched topic, but it should also serve as a stimulus for individual institutes to develop new initiatives independently or in cooperation.

Presenters are invited to submit their proposals in the following categories: Masculine homosociality in the wind music

The imaginary collective in the wind music

Prejudices and clichés of masculinity in wind music

Gender-specific experiences in wind music

Role of women in wind music and wind music researc

Changes and transformation processes

Evaluation of the role of institutions in change

Gender-related regional and international differences in wind music

Proposals on general themes are particularly welcome, but other aspects will also be considered, including research in progress.

Presentation formats:

Lecture 20 minutes (+10min discussion)

Lecture recital 20 minutes (+10 discussion)

Poster presentation (Format A1)

Abstract (max. 300 words) and short biography (max. 150 words incl. contact details) should be sent to. In the case of a lecture recital, additional material (e.g. audio or video files) may be included.

Conference languages are German and English.

Please send your documents by 30 June 2025 (new deadline)

Applicants will be notified by 6 July 2025 at the latest.

Conference Committee:

David Gasche ; Christa Brüstle

Contact

David Gasche, Kunstuniversität Graz, International Center for Wind Music Research, Institut 12, Hauptplatz 8, A-7432 Oberschützen
+43 (0) 316 / 389-3313

Musicologie.org, 56 rue de la Fédération, 93100 Montreuil. ☎ 06 06 61 73 41.

ISNN 2269-9910.

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Dimanche 20 Juillet, 2025