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Drifting Between Extremes  

Exploring the Balance Between Tradition, Transformation, and Creative Diversity in Improvisation
23-24 July 2025, Siena, Italy  

 

The symposium Drifting Between Extremes aims to investigate the multiple dimensions of improvisation as an artistic, cultural and social practice. Through the perspective of drifting, a fluid condition in which continual adaptation is necessary both for exploration and as a reaction to danger, it aims to investigate the condition of improvisation as a dynamic ecosystem, constantly shifting between polarities in search of a momentary balance. The theme encompasses the wide range of creative approaches available to the artist/performer in the construction of a personal ecology.  

Lectures, performance and workshop interventions on different topics will be offered in keeping with the theme of the symposium. This will be deepened into subcategories such as:  

  • Improvisation as Ecosystem: improvisation is understood as a creative force in connection with socio-political dynamics. Just like a large ecosystem that allows for the coexistence of different elements, it favors a continuous adaptation to the challenges offered to musicians from the contemporary era.  
  • Transcending technology: the interventions can illustrate both creative ways of technological construction in improvisational contexts, as well as the subversive use of existing technologies.  
  • Exploring extremes: improvisation emerges from the coexistence of contrasting elements and the conflict between different ideas. This is a fertile contrast that allows music to evolve and transform, giving rise to new expressive possibilities. The interventions intend to explore exercised or abandoned control in creative contexts, as well as possible interactions with existing stylistic canons.  

  

Presentation formats  

  • Academic presentations (20-minutes) followed by Q&A (10 minutes).  
  • Submission for performance/concert and discussion. Contributors to exhibition and performance events are asked to give a critical presentation about the work (40-min performance followed by 20-min presentation).  
  • Workshop or short duration laboratorial experiences (90 min max).  

  

  Submission guidelines  

  • Title + abstract (300 words) detailing the relevance to the conference themes for both presentations and concerts. For a workshop proposal a description of content, workflow and broad timeline (1000 words).  
  • A short biography (150 words max).  
  • Technical or spatial requirements for performances and workshops.  

  

English language is encouraged for presentations and workshops. Proposals should be submitted to phd@sienajazz.it .  

  

Important Dates  

Proposal submission deadline: June 14st, 2025 14 CEST

Notification of acceptance: ongoing (latest June 15th, 2025)  

  

Hospitality/Conditions  

Activities will begin at 10 am on July 23rd and finish at 7pm on July 24th. Applicants are expected to participate in all symposium activities, and a certificate of participation will be provided. 

There is no participation fee for presenters. Siena Jazz will provide meals (lunch and dinner on the 23rd, and lunch on the 24th). Accommodation arrangements and costs are to be covered by the participants, who may take advantage of university discounts at several hotels within walking distance.