About the Society for Music Perception and Cognition

Welcome to the Society for Music Perception and Cognition (SMPC), a scholarly organization dedicated to the study of music cognition.

Activities of the Society

The society hosts a biennial conference, providing opportunities for members of the research community to present new research in the area of music cognition. Past meetings have been held in a variety of cities, hosted by different institutions. In addition, SMPC cooperates with other organizations in music cognition to host international conferences.

SMPC also maintains a bi-weekly digest, in which members are informed of job openings, calls for proposals for grants and papers, and other relevant information to our membership.

Two women pose with an award plaque at the biennial conference.

Objectives of the Society

Meet the Society Officers and Board

  • Past-President - Peter Pfordresher

    (2025; President 2023-2024)

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  • President - Psyche Loui

    (2025-2026; President-Elect 2024)

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  • Secretary - Jennifer Bugos

    (2025-2027)

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  • Treasurer - Daniel Shanahan

    (2024-2026)

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  • At-Large Board Member - Laura Cirelli

    (2024-2026)

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  • At-Large Board Member - Miriam Lense

    (2023-2025)

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  • At-Large Board Member - Jennifer Zuk

    (2025-2027)

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  • At-Large Board Member - Joshua Albrecht

    (2025-2027)

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  • Equity Officer - Ramesh Balasubramaniam

    (2023-2025)

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  • Media and Communications Chair - Amy Belfi

    (2024-2026)

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  • Trainee Member - Noah Fram

    (2025-2026)

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  • Trainee Member - Emily Wood

    (2025-2026)

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PRESIDENTS

Peter Pfordresher: 2023-2024
President-Elect: 2022

Jessica Grahn: 2021-2022
President-Elect: 2020
Past-President: 2023

Elizabeth Hellmuth Margulis: 2019-2020
President-Elect: 2018
Past-President: 2021-2022

Justin London: 2017-2018
President-Elect: 2016

Edward Large: 2014-2016
President-Elect: 2013

Andrea Halpern: 2012-2013
President-Elect: 2011

Aniruddh Patel: 2009-2011
President-Elect: 2008

William F. Thompson: 2007-2008
President-Elect: 2006

Mari Riess Jones: 2005-2006
President-Elect: 2004

Ric Ashley: 2002-2004

Lola Cuddy: 2000-2002

Carol Krumhansl: 1999-2000

Eugene Narmour: 1995-1998

David Wessel: 1992-1995

Diana Deutsch: 1990-1992
Founding President

Board History