You are cordially invited to attend the 49th Annual Meeting of the Society for Ethnomusicology (SEM) to be held Nov. 4-7, 2004 in scenic Tucson, Arizona. Located in the high Sonoran desert and encircled by six Southwest mountain ranges, Tucson is just 65 miles north of the Mexican border and is thus a fitting site for our conference theme: "Contemplating Borders."

Tucson is a city with a proud history. It is the oldest continuously inhabited community in the United States, hence its nickname "The Old Pueblo." Indigenous people lived at the base of "A" mountain and the Santa Cruz River for thousands of years before Spanish settlers created the city that was to become Tucson within the walled "El Presidio" compound in 1775. Many cultures have contributed to the development of the city and the surrounding region, including Native American, Spanish, Mexican, Anglo and Asian. Today Tucson is a blossoming cosmopolitan city with a current population of 487,000 and a legacy of excellence in technological, astronomical, and geological research. A diverse arts scene is part of Tucson's charm and musical offerings range from cowboys songs to opera, Bach organ chorales to electric banda.

Expect beautiful weather; you will quickly see why so many resorts locate in our foothills region. November is typically warm and sunny in Southern Arizona; the average daytime temperature hovers around 75 degrees with cool evening temperatures dropping into the 40s. Late fall is the ideal time to visit Southern Arizona and we look forward to seeing you at the 49th Annual Meeting of the SEM in Tucson.

Tucson is a stimulating site for our meeting and SEM conference attendees will have many opportunities to explore cultural confluence, past and present, while visiting Tucson and the surrounding Southwestern region.

For additional information regarding local arrangements please contact:

                    Janet Sturman
                    SEM 2004 Local Arrangments Chair
                    School of Music and Dance
                    University of Arizona
                    Tucson, AZ 85721
                    Telephone: 520-621-1255
              &n?sp;     Email: sturman@u.arizona.edu