The 5th Symposium for LGBTQ Studies and Music Education: Queering Music Education

In 2010, 2012, 2016, and 2021, LGBTQ Studies and Music Education Symposia I, II, III, & IV brought together students, teachers, college faculty, and researchers to discuss relevant research, theory, and practice from an LGBTQ perspective. The purpose of these ongoing symposia is to encourage, promote, and disseminate discourse regarding the intersections of LGBTQ topics and music education. Held during Chicago Pride, we seek to further explore in this fifth symposium how Queer interests operate within music education in terms of research, curriculum, teacher preparation, and the musical lives and careers of LGBTQ music students and teachers.

Registration

General: $225 (includes banquet dinner)
Student: $65 (includes banquet dinner)

To register for the event click here.

Accommodations

The symposium is located at the Education, Theatre, Music, and Social Work building (1040 W Harrison St, Chicago, IL 60607) on the campus of the University of Illinois Chicago.

A block of 18 rooms with a discounted rate of $205/night is available at the Crowne Plaza West Loop, located a few blocks from the symposium. Use the Group Code: M4C and reserve before the May 31, 2024 cutoff date.

Accommodations may also be available through a number of other hotels.

We are currently working out on-campus housing options for students at the rate of $68/night for a shared room and $81/night for a private room. Students should check back in a couple weeks.

Travel

Located in the heart of Chicago, Illinois, USA on the campus of the University of Illinois Chicago, the School of Theatre and Music will host the 5th Symposium for LGBTQ Studies and Music Education. Co-sponsored with the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University, the three-day conference will feature presentations from distinguished researchers, policy makers, educators, and experts from various organization who serve the LGBTQ community. Come early to join festivities in North Halsted as part of Chicago PrideFest June 22-23.

Accessibility
Check out Choose Chicago’s accessibility guide which has details on getting around Chicago by train, bus, taxi, and more for those with disabilities and/or mobility devices.

Chicago’s Street System
Chicago’s streets are organized on a grid system. Madison Street divides the city north and south, while State Street divides it east and west. The State and Madison intersection in downtown Chicago marks the starting point of Chicago’s grid system. Addresses are relative to the distance from this point, with eight blocks to every mile. So, an address of 3600 N. Clark St. means that it is 36 blocks north of Madison Street.

Chicago is an extremely walkable city, from our downtown to our vibrant neighborhoods. Explore this map of pedestrian-friendly streets for the best areas to explore by foot.

Biking
Chicago is a city made for cycling. There are over 200 miles of protected bike lanes, buffered bike lanes, conventional bike lanes, dashed/advisory lanes, marked shared lanes, and neighborhood bike routes throughout the city.

Divvy, Chicago’s bike-share program, offers over 580 stations and 5,800 bikes across the city, available for rent 24/7. Users simply pick up a bike from a self-service docking station and return it to a station near their destination. Find Divvy locations and rates.

Driving
Driving in downtown Chicago? Here are some useful resources and apps:

Interactive map of public parking facilities in downtown Chicago.
iParkit: Allows you to reserve a guaranteed parking spot.
Parking.com: Search for parking, compare options, and reserve a spot at the lowest rate, guaranteed.
Millennium Garages: Visit the site for pre-purchase and drive-up rates.
ParkChicago: Allows you to create an account linked to your car’s license plate; then you can enter the zone number on any Chicago street meter car parking sign to pay.
SpotHero: Parking spots across the city accessible from your phone.

Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)
The nation’s second largest public transportation system, the CTA operates Chicago’s eight ‘L’ train lines and 129 bus routes.

Not all of the system’s train lines are elevated (which is where the term ‘L’ comes from). They do, however, connect the city via above-ground, street-level, and subway trains, and serve 145 rail stations all over town. Two lines operate 24/7: the Blue Line, which connects Chicago O’Hare International Airport and downtown, and the Red Line, with service between the North and South Sides via downtown.

Convenient CTA bus routes travel throughout the city, with stops every few blocks. Several lines offer Night Owl service, running until 2 a.m. or later. Get more information about extended hours of service.

Pay cash for single trip bus rides or purchase a reloadable Ventra Transit Card or Unlimited Ride Pass for both travel by ‘L’ train and bus.

Tip: Download the Ventra app to track arrival/departure times for CTA buses and ‘L’ trains, and to reload your balance on the go. Find CTA fares, card retailers, maps, schedules, and train trackers.

Train and Air Travel
Chicago is the major central train and air hub for travel within the United States. Amtrak and Metra train service runs through Union Station located in the “loop” and is just five blocks from the UIC campus.

Direct flights from nearly any city in the United States are available through two airports. O’Hare International Airport is located northwest of the city and services flights from nearly any country in the world, while Midway Airport is located just southwest of the city and services mostly domestic flights. You can take a taxi or rideshare for about $50 from O’Hare or $40 from Midway. The terminus for the CTA Blue Line is at O’Hare. Get on the train for $5 and ride it into the Loop (downtown) or get off at the UIC/Halsted stop for the symposium (exit the front of the train and walk up the western ramp to Morgan St. The Education, Theatre, Music, and Social Work building is located across the street towards your left). The terminus for the CTA Orange Line is at Midway. Get on the train for $5 and ride it into the Loop (downtown) or transfer at the Clark/Lake stop and take the Blue Line to the UIC-Halsted stop for the symposium.

Taxis
In addition to hailing taxis throughout the city, you can e-hail and e-pay with CHICABS-approved apps ARRO and CURB. Credit cards are accepted in all taxis.

Ridesharing
Download your free Lyft and/or Uber app for on-demand ridesharing throughout the city. Simply enter your current location and destination, review fare options, and request your ride.

Water taxis
Chicago Water Taxi by Wendella Boats and Shoreline Water Taxi by Shoreline Sightseeing offer fast, affordable, and fun connections between Chicago’s top tourist destinations, and are the perfect combination of sightseeing and transport. Destinations include Chinatown, Museum Campus, Willis Tower, Michigan Avenue, Union Station, and Navy Pier. Find Chicago Water Taxi and Shoreline Water Taxi fares and route maps.

Schedule

The symposium will run from the morning of Monday, June 24 to the evening of Wednesday, June 26 at 5PM. A reception will occur Monday evening. A banquet dinner will be provided Tuesday. Check back in April for a more detailed presentation schedule. Come early to join festivities in North Halsted as part of Chicago PrideFest June 22-23.