A Review of the International Music Conference Themed “Symbiosis of Arts and Cultures: Nurturing Expression, Connection, and Well-being”

The 5^th International Conference of Faculty of Music, University of the Visual & Performing Arts 2023 (ICFM-2023) was held in the Faculty of Music premises in Colombo from 22 to 23 November 2023 with the main theme ‘Symbiosis of Arts and Cultures: Nurturing Expression, Connection, and Well-being’, brought together an assembly of over a hundred scholars and researchers from India and Sri Lanka and some other countries. The conference featured nineteen sessions delving into various dimensions of the musical landscape with the hope of fostering profound discussions across diverse areas such as music education, pedagogy, musicology, ethnomusicology, performing arts, music and technology, well-being and society, interdisciplinary connections in humanities, social and library sciences, exploring performing arts (including dance, theater and beyond), intangible cultural heritage with a focus on preservation and promotion, and visual art with interdisciplinary expression. Additionally, the program explored theoretical and practical aspects of music and dance therapy. Most participants shared their latest research in person, while some presented online. This conference enriched the knowledge of the participants as well as provided a platform for presenting studies on music and allied subject-related topics. Future music symposia can also introduce a wide variety of sessions to promote and inspire future researchers.