The International Forum for Jewish Music Studies (established in June 2020) is a meeting place for communication, information and discussion for scholars, practitioners and archivists in all aspects of Jewish music and a platform for new and ongoing activity.
It had long been felt, after conferences and seminars, particularly Magnified and Sanctified – The Music of Jewish Prayer in Leeds 2015 and Hannover 2019 coupled with the European Cantors Conventions, that such a Forum retaining the connections between Jewish music scholars with practitioners (cantors, composers, performers) and also archivists (librarians) would be helpful to those involved.
This new forum is hosted by Professor Mark Kligman of University of California, Los Angeles and Professor Sarah Ross of the European Centre for Jewish Music at Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media, Germany. Many distinguished scholars have endorsed this new Forum (see below). IFJMS looks forward to collaborating and working with other fora or organisations who have similar goals.
This forum is member driven. It hosts a discussion list on the Jewish Music Group on Humanities Commons, where members may also upload their profiles and Jewish music interests. The forum is a platform providing opportunities for members to interact with each other and create activities and working groups that will be helpful to them.