Longwood University professors Dr. Lauretta Werner, Assistant Professor of Strings, and Dr. Jackie Secoy, Associate Professor of Music Education, have been accepted to present their research at the The International Society for Music Education (ISME) World Conference. ISME is a professional organization that “supports promoting music education and music making for all” (https://www.ismeworldconference.org/) Every two years an international conference is held at a different location and music educators from around the world attend. This year the conference will be held in Helsinki, Finland from July 28th-August 2nd, 2024.
Drs. Werner and Secoy will be presenting a qualitative instrumental case study called "Orchestral Strings and Ukulele: Musician Identity Development in a Mixed String Ensemble.” Werner and Secoy were interested to learn how participants enrolled in a string chamber orchestra (led by Dr. Werner) and beginning ukulele class (taught by Dr. Secoy) developed their musician identity, perceptions of musicianship, and musical leadership through a mixed string ensemble collaboration project. Participants were students in Dr. Werner’s Chamber Orchestra and Dr. Secoy’s Beginning Ukulele course in Spring 2023. The participants in both courses learned the same three pieces of music over several weeks then performed them in a collaboration concert on the Longwood University campus.
This conference will be a great opportunity for Drs. Werner and Secoy to share their research to an international audience and spread the word about the types of creative and innovative collaborations that take place in the Music Department at Longwood University.