From July 15 to 18, 2025, Paraguay will make history by simultaneously hosting the 15th Latin American Regional Music Education Conference and the 7th Pan-American Regional Music Education Conference for the first time. Organized by the International Society for Music Education (ISME), this prestigious academic event will take place on the campus of the National University of Asunción (UNA). Music education experts from around the world will gather to discuss identity, transformation, and sustainability through music.

Professor Patricia Gonzalez Moreno, a music education researcher from Mexico and an ISME Pan-American Regional Commissioner, expressed her anticipation for the conference, stating, "This is a very important event for Paraguay's arts, especially in the field of music education, as well as for the entire Latin American and Pan-American communities." The Faculty of Architecture, Design and Art (FADA) at UNA is serving as the host institution, providing full support for the successful execution of the event.

The theme of this conference is "Music Education, Identities, and Transformation: Weaving Sounds for a Sustainable Future." Participation is expected from various fields, including music teachers, researchers, students, art professionals, and the general public, making it a platform for in-depth discussions on the present and future of music education.

Professor Gonzalez Moreno emphasized the open nature of the conference, describing it as "a meeting place where diverse perspectives and experiences in both educational practice and music research converge." Sergio Figueiredo, an ISME member and researcher from Brazil, stressed the importance of more countries participating in this initiative to "contribute to the exchange and dissemination of music education experiences in diverse contexts."

Key Agendas and Discussion Topics 

The conference will cover a variety of key themes. The main topics of discussion include:

Music Teacher Training: Exploring the role of teachers and ways to enhance their capabilities to provide quality music education to future generations.

Inclusion and Diversity in Educational Environments: Discussing ways to improve accessibility and inclusivity in music education for students from diverse backgrounds and with varying abilities. This emphasizes music as a right that should be equally available to everyone.

Utilizing Technology in Music Education: Exploring how the latest technologies, such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and digital tools, can be integrated into music education to maximize learning effectiveness. With the increased importance of non-face-to-face education after the pandemic, discussions on music education methods using online platforms are also anticipated.

The Transformative Role of Music in Communities: Examining specific examples of how music can contribute to community development, social integration, and cultural preservation. This highlights that music can be more than just an art form, serving as a tool for social healing and change.

Intersection of Music Therapy and Music Education: Discussing ways for music therapists and educators to share their expertise and collaborate to support students' emotional and cognitive development. Professor Gonzalez Moreno stated, "Music is recognized as a human right and a tool for human development," suggesting the broad potential applications of music.

Challenges in Latin American Music Education 

Researcher Figueiredo addressed the major challenges facing music education in Latin America. He pointed out that "music education is often not included in all basic education curricula, or it is not properly understood as a significant part of education." He added that "making music evaluated as an essential tool for fostering global citizens is a major challenge." This suggests the need to raise social awareness about the importance of music education and strengthen its status within the education system.

Conference Key Schedule 

The conference officially begins on Tuesday, July 15, with participant registration at 2:00 PM. The opening ceremony will be held at 4:00 PM, attended by representatives from ISME, the Paraguayan Ministry of Education and Science (MEC), FADA, and UNA.

At 5:00 PM on the same day, the first roundtable, "ISME, FLADEM, and RELEM: Institutional Actions for Music Education in the Americas," will take place. Key experts including Patricia Gonzalez Moreno (Mexico), María Olga Piñeros (Colombia), Adriana Rodríguez (Brazil), Rosalía Trejo León (Mexico), and Sergio Figueiredo (Brazil) will present, with Mario Wanderley moderating.

The following days will feature lectures, workshops, artistic performances, and publication presentations by national and international experts. The conference will conclude on Friday, July 18, with a closing ceremony and the announcement of the next host city for 2027.

This conference is expected to be a significant opportunity to elevate the status of music education in Paraguay and strengthen cooperation among music educators in the Latin American and Pan-American regions. It will also reaffirm music as a powerful tool contributing to social change and sustainable development.

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