The Archaeomusicology Interest Group (AMIG) of the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) is delighted to invite nominations for the 2027 AIA «Telestes» Award for Material Culture Research in Ancient Music and Dance.
This prestigious award honours scholars who explore the material evidence of music and dance, demonstrating how such findings contribute to a profound understanding of the cultural and social meanings of these practices within ritual and everyday life in ancient societies.
The «Telestes» Award provides a significant platform to bridge the traditional sub-disciplines of archaeomusicology or music archaeology with the dynamic, multi-disciplinary perspectives that have recently emerged in the broader field. It champions innovative research intersecting with art history, the archaeology of performance, soundscape archaeology, sensory studies, aural architecture, and digital heritage—themes that resonate deeply with the core objectives of the VOICING project.
Nominations for the 2027 award will be carefully reviewed by a selection committee of AMIG members, chaired by Prof. Angela Bellia, Full Professor at the University of Palermo and Principal Investigator of the VOICING Project. Furthermore, Fabrizio Serra Editore, which generously sponsors the «Telestes» Award Prize, may designate an ex officio representative of its choosing. The award package traditionally includes an annual subscription to Telestes: An International Journal of Archaeomusicology and Archaeology of Sound.
Key Dates and Links:
- Deadline for Nominations: 15 September 2026
- Further Information: AIA Telestes Award Overview
- Nomination Form: Submit an Application Here
Researchers investigating the acoustic and visual remnants of historical musical traditions are warmly encouraged to submit their contributions and engage with the expanding discourse on ancient soundscapes.
