Propose a Session

Our team will review your proposal after the submission deadline passes. If we are interested in learning more about your proposal, we will reach out to you via email.

Additionally, please note that:

• Due to the volume of proposals we receive, we are, unfortunately, unable to reply to everyone.

• We receive many fabulous proposals each year. If we do not reach out to you, it is in no way an indication of the quality of your proposal. There are many factors that go into session selection, including time and space limitations, topics that community members are eager to discuss, and much more. We are grateful for the time and dedication put into each session proposal.

Sessions at SphinxConnect are designed to accomplish three major goals:

• Bring attention to key issues related to DEI in the classical music field.

• Propose solutions to those challenges.

• Highlight the people and institutions doing impactful work related to the session topic.

You are welcome and encouraged to propose all ideas on your mind! In general, we recommend proposing a topic that is focused enough that the panel can dive “below the surface” in about a 25 to 30-minute discussion. However, it should not be too niche, as we want to ensure that all topics are as relevant as possible for everyone in attendance.

Additionally, as you consider ideas, we recommend asking yourself:

• What questions about your topic should be asked and answered on a conference platform?

• Are there certain people you feel can speak to your topic?

• Are there people who exemplify the solutions to your topic?

• Are there voices that should be included at SphinxConnect that have not already been included?

Although we work collaboratively with each session's Active Moderator on how the conversation will unfold, most SphinxConnect sessions are a variation of the below.

• 5 minutes: Speaker introductions and session framing

• 30 minutes: Discussion

• 20 minutes: Q&A with the audience

• 5 minutes: Closing thoughts and key takeaways