Why music moves us

Thu 12 Nov 2026 , 18:30 - 21:00

A group of people dancing in a circle with red lighting
Venue
The British Academy, 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AH
Price
Free
Facilities
Baby changing facilities, Hearing loop, Live subtitling, Online and in person
Event series
Searching for wellness

Music is everywhere in our lives. From shaping moods and creating atmospheres to marking important moments and celebrating those we love, music is fundamental to how we feel, connect, and remember. But why does music have this power?

Drawing on neuroscience, psychology, and creative practice, explore how music affects our brains, emotions, and mood and discover what role it can play in supporting physical and mental health.

Following the conversation, take part in an interactive listening experience developed by the researchers with music curated especially for the event. Immerse yourself in different listening environments and reflect on how they change how you feel.

Speakers

Professor Sophie Scott FBA

Sophie Scott is Director of the Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience and Head of the Speech Communications Group at University College London. Her research explores the neural basis of vocal communication – how our brains process the information in speech and voices, and how our brains control the production of our voice. She is also interested in the expression of emotion in the voice, especially laughter. She was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 2016.

Professor Renee Timmers

Renee Timmers is Professor of Psychology of Music and Director of the research centre Muses, Mind, Machine at the University of Sheffield. Her research concerns emotional responses to music, expression and communication in music performance, multimodal experiences of music, and music for health and wellbeing. Recent developments of her research include conducting research cross-culturally, as well as investigating musical engagement for specific groups, such as people with dementia, and situations, such as for sleep.

Chair

Shahidha Bari

Shahidha Bari is a critic, academic, broadcaster, and Professor of Fashion Cultures and Histories at London College of Fashion. Her research interests range across the fields of literature, art, and film, with special interests in feminism, global fashion, sensory or embodied fashion, and phenomenology. She is the regular presenter of various programmes on BBC Radio 4, including Free Thinking, Start the Week, and Front Row. She has also presented documentaries on BBC TV, including hosting the topical arts programme, Inside Culture on BBC 2.

Schedule

Doors open: 18:00

Panel discussion: 18:30-19:45

Listening experience: 20:00-21:00

Further information

Free event, donations welcome, booking required.

The panel will be recorded and live streamed via YouTube, but the listening experience takes place in-person only.

The listening experience is relaxed and attendees are welcome to move around the space and step outside.

There is a bar selling drinks and snacks throughout the evening.

As tickets are free, we release more than the available seats to account for no-shows.

  • Entry is first-come, first-served. We recommend arriving early to avoid disappointment.
  • A ticket does not guarantee entry to the main event space. If it reaches capacity, you'll be directed to the bar next door to watch a live stream.

This event will have live subtitles delivered by 121 Captions.

See information about the accessibility of the venue.

If you have any questions about this event, please refer to our Public Events FAQs. If your question is not answered, please email [email protected]

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