About Us

Mission Statement

The Westfield Center for Historical Keyboard Studies offers a unique environment for the study, appreciation, use, and promotion of a wide range of keyboard instruments. To serve an increasingly diverse audience, the Center presents keyboard-related conferences, workshops, concerts, masterclasses, educational programs, and publishes scholarly work at regular intervals; longstanding priorities have included the intersections of historical practices and technologies with larger social and artistic developments. In its activities and governance, the Center seeks to foster inclusion and equity among artists, builders, scholars, educators, students, enthusiasts, and partner organizations.

A Catalyst for Dialogue Among Players, Builders, and Scholars

The Westfield Center for Historical Keyboard Studies is a non-profit organization with a mission of promoting dialogue among keyboard performers, scholars, and instrument makers. Programs sponsored by the Center have brought together professionals from around the world—including many leading figures—for conferences, symposia, panel discussions, workshops, and demonstrations, often in collaboration with major cultural institutions.

An Advocate for Organ, Harpsichord, Clavichord, and Piano

With its educational and outreach programs, the Center acts as an advocate for the classical keyboard and its music. Programs such as Festival Organ, with its interactive exhibition and public talks and concerts, have reached many thousands of people across the country, in many cases providing an important first exposure to the rich and varied world of keyboard music.

A Publisher of Keyboard-Related Materials

The Center's publications range from monographs for scholars to our annual academic journal, Keyboard Perspectives, contents of which are digitized in an open-access platform.

A Presenter of Workshops, Symposia, Concerts, and Tours

Since its founding in 1979, the Center has sponsored over one hundred events, including workshops, research conferences and symposia, tours to historic instruments, solo recitals and early music concerts, and educational programs designed to interest the general public in keyboard instruments and their repertoire.

A National Organization with International Reach

Founded in Massachusetts, but with offices currently at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, the Center has presented many programs in Massachusetts (Westfield, Northampton, Wellesley, and Boston), and in other locations throughout the United States, including Tennessee, Virginia, California, Arizona, Minnesota, Nebraska, Texas, Wisconsin, Ohio, Oregon, New York, and Washington DC and Washington state. In 2007, its first international conference held outside of the U.S. took place in Victoria, British Columbia (Canada). Its members are in 47 states and 18 countries, and its activities include international study tours as well as publications and symposia on topics of national and international interest.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement

The Westfield Center is committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) across our membership, leadership, events, and publications, including conferences, scholarship, panels, performances, presentations, committees, pedagogy, and opportunities. We commit to braiding issues of representation and equity into discussions, nominations, and decisions. We embrace equity and diversity, and foster a respective, inclusive climate for all individuals regardless of age, disability, employment status, ethnicity, gender identity, nationality, race, religion, sexual identity, size, socioeconomic status, and specialization. We will challenge and respond to any bias, harassment, and discrimination that occurs within our purview.

We acknowledge that the world of western art music has often excluded people of color and people with historically marginalized identities relating to their gender, sexuality, education, and ability. In recognizing these injustices, we prioritize fair representation and inclusion in the membership, in leadership positions, and in the selection of presenters and performers at events. The Westfield Center will seek advice and follow best practices to advance DEI, and will update and publicly post DEI goals and assessments annually.

Westfield welcomes all, and offers each individual a place of inclusion and belonging. Through our active and ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, we strive to create sustaining solutions that optimize our potential as an organization of people who care deeply about historic keyboard building, performance, scholarship, and pedagogy.

A Brief History

The Westfield Center was founded in 1979 by Lynn Edwards and Edward Pepe to fill a need for keyboard events promoting performance practice and instrument building in historical styles. Ms. Edwards, an organist and scholar, served as the Center's Director 1987–1999.

In July 1999, Roger Sherman became Executive Director. Mr. Sherman is an organist and harpsichordist. In addition to his duties at the Center, he serves as the associate organist of St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Seattle, and as owner and CEO of Loft Recordings, a company that produces CD recordings as well as the weekly radio program The Organ Loft.

Appointed in 2007, Annette Richards, Professor of Music and University Organist at Cornell University, served as the Executive Director of the Westfield Center, and as the editor of its yearly publication, Keyboard Perspectives, through 2017.

Kathryn Stuart was named Executive Director in January 2018 and completed a 3-year term ending December 2020. Ms. Stuart holds a doctorate from Cornell University where she studied with Malcolm Bilson and recently retired from Oberlin College, where she served as Dean of Studies and Vice President of Strategic Initiatives.

Established as a membership association for organ performers/scholars, the Westfield Center's initial focus was on early Renaissance and Baroque music and instruments. It sponsored workshops and conferences, published monograms for scholars, and presented period-instrument concerts, many of which were rebroadcast by National Public Radio stations, and was cited for its innovative programming and leadership in the field of early music.

Recognizing the close connection among all keyboard instruments, the Center's programs have expanded to include the harpsichord, the clavichord, and the piano in addition to the organ. Its focus embraces all periods of music history.

In pursuing its mission to promote the study and appreciation of the organ and other keyboard instruments, the Westfield Center has become a vital public advocate for keyboard instruments and music. By bringing together professionals and an increasingly diverse music audience, the Center has inspired collaborations among organizations nationally and internationally.

Board of Trustees and Board of Advisors