The Society for American Music
is dedicated to the study, teaching, creation, and dissemination of all musics in the Americas. As a scholarly, collegial, and inclusive organization, we serve a wide and diverse array of academics, librarians, composers, performers, and members of the general public.
Support SAM Today!
Investment in SAM is an investment in the stewardship of American culture. By supporting our operations and our people, you ensure that the study of American music remains a legitimate, funded, and celebrated pursuit.
NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS
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Deadline November 1: SAM Digital Lectures and Music of the Americas for All
Please consider submitting a proposal for the SAM Digital Lectures or our new public lecture series, Music of the Americas for All. Both are great opportunities to engage your local communities with the support of SAM! If you have questions about these opportunities, please reach out to the SAM office.
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Nancy Rao Receives the Sally and Ken Owens Award from the Western History Association
Nancy Rao’s recent book, Inside Chinese Theater: Community and Artistry in Nineteenth-Century California and Beyond, has received the 2026 Sally and Ken Owens Award for the best book on the history of the Pacific West from the Western History Association. The Owens Committee remarked, “Nancy Yunhwa Rao’s Inside Chinese Theater reconstructs a long-forgotten once-loved cultural […]
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SAM Members Contribute to “Black Song: A Manifesto for Music and Justice”
Black Song: A Manifesto for Music and Justice centers acts of musical creation and performance that emerge from Black experiences, affirm Black humanity, and connect to Black communities. Written for scholars, performers, and music fans, the book shows that learning about Black Song and its creation is central to understanding both American music and Black American […]
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SAM Bulletin (Fall 2026)
The Fall 2026 SAM Bulletin has arrived! In this issue, you will learn about beer choirs, Whistling Hens, Deane Root’s, well, “roots,” and what is happening across the Society!