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Lawrence University senior Helen Panshin has embraced her musicology courses with notable enthusiasm, crediting the faculty's evolving approach for sparking her interest in specialized research and advocacy for marginalized voices in classical music.

Panshin, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts with majors in both music and English literature, expressed appreciation for the thoughtfulness in crafting the musicology curriculum. "I know that there has been so much intentionality and thoughtfulness in crafting what our [musicology] curriculum is," she said. "I think it’s so valuable in its current state."

Her passion led to a reimagined junior recital and a summer internship with New Muses Project, an initiative aimed at recognizing underrepresented composers. The Lawrence musicology program, which once focused on Western composers chronologically, now adopts a global approach that considers music as part of society.

"Now musicology classes are more about conceptualizing music as part of society and [exploring] how we engage with music as a community," Panshin explained.

This broader perspective influenced Panshin's artistry and her junior recital design. Initially planning to perform pieces by Chopin and Liszt, she shifted focus to reflect her personal connection to the repertoire. "Originally, I had prepared a Chopin Scherzo and a Liszt Etude—these big, impressive, showy, canonic pieces—but I realized that doing that didn't sit right with me; it was not who I am as a musician," she said.

Panshin included works by Hélène de Montgeroult after falling in love with her Fantasy piece. Her recital featured Delphine von Schauroth's "Song Without Words," Op. 18, No. 2 alongside Montgeroult’s compositions.

"I really wasn't coming from an angle of ‘I’m going to do a recital of music by women,’" Panshin added. Instead, she sought meaningful performances outside traditional canonic values.

Her research led her to New Muses Project where she secured an internship through proactive outreach. The project promotes composers from marginalized identities through scholarship and performance.

"There are a lot of dimensions to New Muses," Panshin stated. "I think the work they do is really meaningful, and it's really aligned with what I care about."

In addition to working with New Muses Project, Panshin serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council as the Conservatory’s student representative for musicology. She plans to continue advocating for marginalized voices through graduate studies.

“One of the crucial things for me is to emphasize that the work doesn't stop here; continuing to interrogate and reimagine accepted power structures and assumptions within the musical environments I participate in is a practice I'm committed to,” she said.

Panshin's journey underscores how musicology can foster representation and meaningful change within classical music.