Professional Ethics in Music

The notion of role responsibility plays a crucial role in professional ethics. Despite extensive discussions on role responsibility in fields such as medicine, engineering, business, journalism, and law, the exploration of this notion in the context of the classical music profession remains largely uncharted. This is surprising, especially given the significant attention that the concept of musical performance has received in recent decades. However, there is at least one crucial reason for this neglect. Compared to standard examples of occupations that bestow professional status (such as law, medicine, and engineering), music is a much more controversial case. This prompts a compelling question: can music truly be considered a profession?

However, even if classical music does not fit neatly into the definition of a codified profession, it does not mean that there are no significant ethical issues inherent in a musical occupation. These issues extend beyond typical ethical obligations that musicians may have as employees of institutions like theaters, orchestras, or colleges. Musicians face a unique set of ethical considerations particularly when performing music from the past. Questions arise in this regard: How should they engage with these works? Should they update the score to align with contemporary tastes or remain faithful to the original? How far should they limit their creativity to honor the composer’s intentions?

Join the TU School of Music and Honors College to address these questions, by also considering some classic performances. Performers (both instrumental and vocal) and conductors, composers and arrangers, professors, teachers, lecturers, and classical music enthusiasts — all are welcome!