On 24 November 2025, the Trinity Long Room Hub will host the awarding of the Research Ireland-Harrison Medal of the Society for Musicology in Ireland (SMI) to Professor Philip V. Bohlman, Ludwig Rosenberger Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago.
Organised in collaboration with Dr Nicole Grimes of Trinity’s Department of Music, the award ceremony will be followed by the Harrison Lecture by Professor Bohlman ‘On Goodness’, and a reception celebrating his lifetime achievement.
Conferred in honour of the pioneering musicologist and Trinity College Dublin alumnus Frank Llewellyn Harrison (1905–1987), the Harrison Medal is the Society’s highest distinction, awarded to scholars of outstanding international accomplishment in the field of musicology. It recognises exceptional achievement and sustained contributions to the discipline through scholarship, leadership, and mentorship.
Professor Bohlman will be the first ethnomusicologist to receive this honour. His research has profoundly shaped contemporary understandings of music and illuminated the ethical, historical, and social dimensions of musical practice across global traditions.
Reflecting on the award, Professor Bohlman said:
"I am deeply, deeply honored to be chosen by the Council of the Society for Musicology in Ireland as the recipient of the Research Ireland - Harrison Medal. It means so very much to me. I need not remind you, of course, that it takes very little to lure me to Ireland. I so look forward to delivering the "Harrison Lecture!"
The President of the Society for Musicology in Ireland, Professor Wolfgang Marx, commented:
"Philip Bohlman is among the most prominent and influential ethnomusicologists of our times. His achievement as well as his close ties to Ireland (which he visits regularly) make him a most worthy recipient of the highest honour SMI can bestow. I look forward immensely to his Harrison lecture ‘On Goodness’, which will discuss ethical concerns around music."
Speaking on behalf of Trinity College Dublin, Dr Nicole Grimes of the Department of Music noted:
“It is a privilege to host this ceremony at Trinity, where the Harrison Medal finds such resonance with our own commitment to excellence in music scholarship. Professor Bohlman’s work has inspired generations of researchers and performers alike, bridging traditions and opening new pathways for the study of music in its cultural, philosophical, and ethical dimensions.”
The Research Ireland-Harrison Medal is awarded biennially by the Society for Musicology in Ireland. Previous recipients include Ita Beausang, Kofi Agawu, Susan Youens, Harry White, and Margaret Bent—all scholars whose work has set international benchmarks for excellence in musicological research.
Attendance is free but registration is required. Click here for booking details.