International Music Council and NAMM Foundation Partner to Host Successful World Forum on Music
The sixth annual International Music Council (IMC) World Forum on Music (WFM) took place from September 28 to October 1 in Paris France. This event, sponsored by NAMM and in cooperation with the European Music Council was “a global knowledge-building platform on music and society in the 21st century, which explored a variety of topics from diverse perspectives.”
On the partnership, NAMM’s Director of International Fairs Betty Heywood commented, “The International Music Council’s vision and mission closely aligns with NAMM’s own: to encourage people of all ages and abilities to engage in music-making of any kind so that they know the joys and benefits doing so; to support and facilitate knowledge to advance music education practice and research, and to create a more musical world. The World Forum of Music is a great gathering of like-minded organizations and networks that supports this vision – and NAMM is honored to be able to continue to support the Forum and the events surrounding it.”
During the conference the IMC, which is the “world’s leading membership-based professional organization dedicated to the promotion of the value of music in the lives of all peoples” celebrated its 70th year by focusing on the IMC’s Five Music Rights: freedom of musical expression, access to music education, musical involvement, access to training and facilities, just recognition and fair remuneration.
The gathering of more than 300 participants from all continents and from 61 different countries impressively demonstrated the power of music for social change, reconciliation, revolution, while exploring the values embedded in the Five Music Rights: freedom of musical expression, access to music education, musical involvement, access to training and facilities, just recognition and fair remuneration.
While there were numerous inspiring sessions from throughout the event, Alfons Karabuda, IMC’s newly elected President and President of the European Composer and Songwriter Alliance captured the spirit of the Forum when he stated, “Do not harmonize culture – that would be a very boring undertaking.”
For more information about the IMC, please visit http://www.imc-cim.org/