5th ISME South Asia Regional Conference
21-23 May, 2026
The Bangalore School of Music & Fine Arts, Bangalore, India
Conference Theme : Music education and sustainability
21 May, 2026 – Mrs. Vidya Subramanian
Vidya Subramanian is founder of Vidya Subramanian Academy, a social enterprise imparting online training in Carnatic music and other traditional Indian arts to students from all over the world for nearly 2 decades. An accomplished Carnatic vocalist and disciple of maestro Padmabhushan Lalgudi Jayaraman, Vidya is a Chartered Accountant (All India Rank 2) with an MBA from Boston College, USA. Her exemplary work in online music education has been featured on BBC World News, Zee TV’s Naya Bharat Series, and DD India’s Changemakers Program. She was conferred the Women Transforming India (WTI) 2021 award by NITI Aayog and the United Nations. Honors include the Kalaimamani Award (Government of Tamil Nadu), Outstanding Woman Entrepreneur Award from SAFA (an apex body of SAARC), CA Entrepreneur Award from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Devi Award by The New Indian Express Group,Champion of Chennai Award, Homepreneur Award , and Vocational Excellence Award from Rotary Club of Chennai Spotlight.
Vidya Subramanian Academy (VSA) is a women-led, impact-driven initiative where Vidya and her team of 150+ teachers train students worldwide in Carnatic and Hindustani music, Bharatanatyam, slokas, languages, Vedic Maths, Yoga, and Konnakkol. She has innovatively adapted traditional pedagogy for a global, online audience. Through a social enterprise model, she empowers artists, especially women, while expanding access to Indian classical arts via customized online lessons, VSA Certification Exams, VSA Sabha chamber concerts and workshops. Vidya’s concerts have been featured in leading forums in India and abroad.
Keynote title: Sustaining Tradition, Expanding Access: Reimagining Music Education for an Inclusive Future
22 May, 2026 – Prof. Bo Wah Leung
Professor Bo-Wah Leung is Professor at the Department of Cultural and Creative Arts at The Education University of Hong Kong and serves as the Executive Director of the Xiqu and Intangible Cultural Heritage Centre. He is internationally recognized as an authority in music education and traditional performing arts research. He previously served as the President of the International Society for Music Education (ISME) and is currently an Executive Council Member and Treasurer of the International Music Council (IMC), as well as the Chair of the Asia-Pacific Symposium for Music Education Research (APSMER). His work has had a profound impact on the global arts and cultural education fields.
Over the years, Professor Leung has dedicated himself to promoting the inheritance of Cantonese opera, which is listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, within primary and secondary education. He led the “Chinese Opera—Primary and Secondary School Cantonese Opera Teaching Program,” which was awarded the “Music Rights Award” by the International Music Council in 2011. He also led a team to develop the unique “Cantonese Opera Pinyin” iPad application, which holds a patent from the Intellectual Property Department of Hong Kong, promoting the integration of arts and technology.
In academic research, Professor Leung has published over 150 international refereed journal articles, edited volumes, monographs and book chapters and has served as editor for several international refereed journals. His research spans music education, creative teaching, cultural identity, arts technology, and the inheritance of intangible cultural heritage. According to Stanford University’s 2025 Global Scientist Rankings, he is listed among the top 1% of scientists worldwide, demonstrating his outstanding international academic standing.
Professor Leung has also supervised numerous doctoral students whose research areas include piano education, cultural identity, the combination of technology and intangible cultural heritage, parental involvement, cultural tourism, and traditional arts. Additionally, he serves as an advisor to various important academic and social organizations, continuously making significant contributions to arts education and cultural preservation.
23 May, 2026 – Dr. Vilma Timonen and Team Kutumba
Dr Vilma Timonen is a Lecturer and the Head of the Folk Music Department at the Sibelius Academy, Uniarts Helsinki. Her musical expertise lies in the traditional music of the Finno-Baltic-Nordic regions, and she is a pioneer in integrating the Finnish kantele into new musical contexts. With over 20 years of experience in higher education as both a scholar and educator, she has made contributions to traditional music education, the revitalisation of traditional music practices, and music teacher education. Her scholarly work examines educational development at the individual, institutional, and global levels, with a particular emphasis on the intersections of tradition and innovation, as well as the potential of music education for promoting cultural and social justice.
Kutumba is a pioneering Nepalese instrumental ensemble dedicated to preserving and reimagining traditional music of Nepal. Formed in 2004, the group blends indigenous traditional folk Nepalese instruments such as madal, sarangi, flute, tungna etc to create contemporary arrangements rooted in folk heritage.
Kutumba has performed extensively across Nepal and internationally, collaborating with diverse artists and institutions to promote cultural exchange through music. Kutumba’s work spans concerts, festivals, educational outreach and cross-cultural projects.
A significant milestone in Kutumba’s journey was being officially selected to perform at WOMEX 2020 (World Music Expo), one of the most prestigious global platforms for world music, highlighting Kutumba’s contribution to bringing Nepalese folk traditions to an international audience.
The ensemble continues to innovate while staying deeply connected to Nepal’s rich musical roots. Some of the Music Festival & Shows Kutumba has been to:
- Dhaka Folk Festival (Bangladesh)
- Commonwealth Games (India)
- Madison Folk Festival & Chicago Navy Pier (USA)
- Iowa Folk Festival (USA)
- Edinburgh Mela (Scotland)
- Nautic Festival and Bonifacio (France)
- Planet Nepal (Nepal)
- Momo Festival (Melbourne, Australia)
- MAD Festival (Coimbatore, India)
- ECHOES IN THE VALLEY (Nepal)