2017 Local Arrangements

The 2017 meeting of the South Central Society for Music Theory will be held on March 17th and 18th at the University of Memphis.

Memphis is centrally located within the South Central region, easily accessible both by car (lying at the intersection of interstate 40, 55, 69 and 22), and by air (only a few minutes away from MEM Airport). Those flying to Memphis need not rent a vehicle, as the on-campus hotels offer a free airport shuttle, and are within walking distance of the conference location. We hope you’ll join us in the Bluff City this March!

For questions, please contact:

Jeremy Orosz (Chair, Local Arrangements): jorosz@memphis.edu

Ben Wadsworth (President, SCSMT): bwadswo2@kennesaw.edu

Lodging:

Conference Hotels:

A block of rooms is available in two hotels adjacent to the University of Memphis campus:

  • The Holiday Inn: $125.00 for a suite
  • The Fogelman Center: $59.00 for a room with 1 (one) queen bed.

Rooms at the Holiday Inn can be reserved by calling the hotel directly (901) 678-8200 or going online at www.holidayinn.com/mem-uofm and use the booking code SMT.

Fogelman reservations can be made by calling the hotel directly at (901) 678-5410; ask for the SMT block.

To be guaranteed a room at the group rate, all reservations need to be made before midnight on February 16th, 2017.

Note that both hotels offer complimentary parking, internet access, and a shuttle to and from Memphis International Airport daily between 7 am and 10 pm.

A light breakfast will be available free of charge at the conference location. A breakfast buffet is also available at the Holiday Inn (an additional charge of $9.95) for guests staying at either hotel. Those staying at the Fogelman center may simply walk across the street to the Holiday Inn to access the breakfast provided there. Additionally, please consult the list of recommended restaurants in the campus area. Café Eclectic and Brother Juniper’s are among the favored options for breakfast.

Alternative lodging options:

Both conference hotels come highly recommended, and they are the only locations within walking distance of campus; options farther afield are available for those with their own transportation.

Those seeking additional budget friendly options may wish to consider the Pilgrim House Hostel in the Cooper-Young neighborhood (reservations may be made on hostelworld.com), or Airbnb.com.

Those enamored of hotel points with particular chains may wish consider the cluster of hotels near the intersection of I-240 and Poplar Ave, or other locations east of campus. These hotels are generally of a higher quality than those in the downtown area, or those near the airport.

Transportation:

The University of Memphis is located in leafy, residential East Memphis, at 3720 Alumni Ave, Memphis, TN 38152. The conference will be held in the University Center (UC on the campus map below).

Parking:

Those staying at the conference hotels (HI and FEC on the map) may simply walk across campus to the conference location. Those driving to campus from another location should park in Parking Garage 2 (PG 2 on the map) or another location marked V for “Visitor.”


On Thursday night, the outstanding vocal group Room Full of Teeth is performing a free concert on the University of Memphis campus.  The concert will be held in the Rose Theater at 7:30 pm.  All conference attendees are invited (and strongly encouraged!) to attend.  If driving in from off campus, please park in any lot labeled G for “general parking.”  The lot just north of Central Ave is the simplest to access.

On Friday, if driving in from off campus (not parking at one of the hotels), you may simply park in PG2 on the campus map.  There is no need to pick up a pass first.  You may pick up a voucher from Jeremy Orosz at the conference site to avoid paying for parking on the way out.

On Saturday, if driving in from off campus, please park in any lot labeled G for “general parking.”  You may also, for a fee, park in PG2. The lot just north of Central Ave is the simplest to access.”

Here is parking map of the University of Memphis campus.

Parking Map

Parking Map, University of Memphis

 

Transportation to/from the airport:

Those staying at the conference hotels may call to request a free shuttle service to/from the airport between the hours of 7 am and 10 pm. If you need transportation to/from the airport outside of this window, taxi and rideshare services are available at all hours. An Uber ride between campus and the airport typically costs between $12-18 (avg. $15), depending on demand and traffic. Note that Uber is more widely available in Memphis than Lyft, or traditional taxis.

Conference Registration:

Registration for the society and conference are in person at the Annual Meeting. The following fees apply per Annual Meeting:

Faculty/Community Members: $20

Graduate Students: $15

Undergraduates: free

Cultural Offerings

The IRIS Orchestra, a chamber ensemble comprised of professional musicians from around the country, will perform a program of Rossini, Brahms, and Donizetti on March 18th and 19th. Any unpurchased tickets become available to students and faculty one hour before the show for $10. http://irisorchestra.org/city-of-songmarch-18-19-2017/

The Memphis Grizzlies (NBA) will host the perennial contender San Antonio Spurs.   Those interested in discounted/group tickets to the Grizzlies game should contact local arrangements chair Jeremy Orosz (jorosz@memphis.edu). Otherwise, seatgeek.com is likely the best venue for obtaining tickets on one’s own.

Fans of popular music might also consider visiting Graceland (the home of Elvis Presley), Sun Records, Stax Records, the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, or the Blues Hall of Fame, all of which offer informative tours. The National Civil Rights Museum is also not to be missed.

For additional events and happenings, please consult ilovememphisblog.com/, which provides a list of the “things to do this weekend” released every Friday morning.

 

Recommended Dining Options:

On campus:

The University Center (in which the conference is held) is home to a small collection of fast food restaurants convenient for lunch on weekdays. (http://memphis.campusdish.com/Locations/UniversityCenter.aspx.)

A full service Starbucks is located in the campus bookstore (adjacent to the conference location), and an Einstein Bros. bagels is also available on the ground floor of the McWhorter Library. A complete list of on campus dining options can be found at http://memphis.campusdish.com/. Options are limited on weekends.

Dining Options near Campus:

  • The Holiday Inn: A full service restaurant is located on the ground floor of the holiday inn, offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
  • Café Eclectic: Cute café, with fantastic breakfast and lunch options.
  • Brother Juniper’s: A Memphis Institution, serving generously portioned breakfasts. (Try the cheese grits!)
  • Newks: Chain with large menu of soups, salads and sandwiches. Panera with a southern twist.
  • RP Tracks: A dive bar with a surprisingly long menu, including some vegetarian versions of local cuisine (BBQ tofu).
  • Casual Pint: Ideal for snacks or beverages after hours.

Dining Options in other Neighborhoods: