The Society for Ethnomusicology

The Society for Ethnomusicology is a U.S.-based organization headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana. Founded in 1955, SEM is a non-profit organization with 13 employees. SEM promotes the research, study, and performance of music in all historical periods and cultural contexts. The organization serves a diverse membership of over 1,800 individuals from around the world, including scholars, teachers, students, performers, media professionals, museum specialists, archivists, librarians, and administrators. SEM also boasts over 900 institutional members, primarily libraries. SEM distinguishes itself through its commitment to examining music's profound relationship to human experience, exploring its connections to cognition, emotion, language, dance, visual arts, spiritual belief, social organization, collective identity, politics, conflict and peace, economics, the physical body, and mental health. Interested parties can learn more about SEM's programs, publications, and upcoming events by visiting their website at ethnomusicology.org.