SAVE THE DATE!

Book your VSA discounted hotel room today!

Click Here To Reserve Your Room

The VSA Programming Committee is welcoming preliminary presentation proposals for the 51st Annual Convention taking place November 19-22, 2025 at the Minneapolis Marriott City Center in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Submit Your Preliminary Proposal Today

 The VSA’s mission is to promote the art and science of making, repairing and preserving stringed musical instruments and their bows. Membership in the VSA is open to all who share an interest in the violin, viola, cello, bass and their bows. The objective of our annual Convention is to provide a forum for VSA members to share information and interact with others who reflect this broad and diverse range of interests and concerns.

We are seeking presentations that align with the mission statement of the Society, that showcase tradition and innovation, and highlight the best practices and techniques of our diverse membership. 

Topics may include: 

• History/Expertise
• New Making
• Repair/Restoration
• Business Practices
• Acoustics
• Research
• Environmental Awareness 
• Innovation
• Education
• Self-Care
• Playing/Performing

Convention programming includes a mix of single-presenter and panel presentations for large audiences, as well as small group, open forum format, such as Demonstration Stations. Our schedule has room for 20+ hours of long-form (45-60 min.) and/or short-form (15-20 min.) presentations. Sessions will be scheduled and grouped by similar topics or themes, as the Programming Committee sees fit. Presenters should anticipate audience participation, discussion, and a question/answer section.

All preliminary proposals will be evaluated and selected by the VSA Programming Committee based on alignment with the VSA Mission and compatibility with other programming. As there are a limited number of presentation times available, the committee will prioritize based on relevance, the number of other proposals related to the same topic, and presenter qualifications.

If your preliminary proposal is selected, we will request that you submit a comprehensive proposal. After review of all submitted comprehensive proposals, selected presenters will be contacted and we will officially schedule you to present at the Convention.

Deadline for initial proposals: Tuesday, April 1, 2025 

We are building an exciting program of workshops, panel discussions, restoration insights, and business development opportunities for an inspiring and informative week in Minneapolis. Check back soon for more details.

Check back soon for more details.