AEC Pop and Jazz Platform (PJP) 2027
Who’s Playing? Creativity, Education and Human Connection in the Age of AI
Conservatorium van Amsterdam (The Netherlands), 11 – 14 February 2027
As announced at the end of our previous Meeting in Helsinki, our next PJP Meeting will take place in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on 11–14 February, 2027. We will be hosted by Conservatorium van Amsterdam (CvA), one of the most prestigious and influential institutions of higher music education in Europe.
This autumn marks the 142nd anniversary of the founding of the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. From a classical programme with 32 students in its first year, the CvA has grown into a leading international conservatoire where all musical genres, from early to electronic music, live together under one roof. Considering the central location of our host, we expect the next Meeting to be one of the biggest ever!
In this edition of the PJP Meeting we will continue including the well-liked participatory Workshops in the programming, as well as the longer-established sessions such as keynote speeches, contributions from the community in the form of Open Floor presentations, and various opportunities for networking. During the Meeting we will also explore the premises and activities of the Amsterdam Electronic Music Academy (AEMA), the latest addition to the CvA’s degree programmes.
The title for the 2027 edition of the PJP Meeting is Who’s Playing? Creativity, Education and Human Connection in the Age of AI. With this the host institution and the AEC Pop and Jazz Platform Working Group (PJP) & Traditional, Folk and Global Music (TFG) Working Groups want to provide our community with an opportunity to share experiences, challenges and lessons learned: how to balance technology and artistic depth, innovation and authenticity, and how to strengthen the connection between music education and professional practice in an evolving creative landscape.
Across Europe and beyond, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies are transforming music creation, production, distribution and consumption at an unprecedented pace. While these developments create exciting opportunities, they also raise fundamental questions about creativity, artistic identity, pedagogy, ethics, authenticity, ownership, wellbeing, and the future role of the musician. Many institutions are currently struggling with similar challenges, often without clear answers or established best practices.
What remains uniquely human in an age of AI, and what should music academies focus on? How does authenticity change in an algorithm-driven culture? Are music academies still adequately preparing students for the professional world? At the centre of the discussion lies a broader question: How do music academies need to evolve in order to balance adaptation to a new generation of students, a changing music industry, and emerging forms of creativity, music-making and music education?
We are very much looking forward to seeing you all in Amsterdam in February 2027! And if at all possible, please bring students with you!
AEC Pop and Jazz Platform (PJP) Working Group
Jere Laukkanen, Chairperson
