4-5 May 2012 Salle José Ensch and Salle Robert Krieps, Luxembourg Fifteen years ago, Helen Buchholtz was a complete unknown, while Lou Koster's work was gradually forgotten by most musicians after her death.
Today, the two composers are gaining international recognition: in 2000 and 2003, the Cid-femmes opened theHelen Buchholtz and Lou Koster composers' archives in its library and revitalised them with numerous projects. In May 2012, Helen Buchholtz and Lou Koster will be the centre of a musicological conference organised by the Cid-femmes, at which researchers and students

• from Germany (University of Oldenburg, Research Centre for Music and Gender at the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media),
• Austria (Collection of Women's Legacies at the Institute of History of the University of Vienna)
• Luxembourg (University of Luxembourg, Helen Buchholtz and Lou Koster archives at the Cid-femmes)

will discuss the work of the two composers. Two concerts will take place as part of the conference: a recital with Isabelle Poulenard and Jessica Chan on Friday evening and a concert-lecture matinée on Saturday morning.

Programme items of the conference:

1. national identity, gender-related identification patterns and national music: Luxembourg in Europe.
Lectures by Nina Noeske and Sonja Kmec, commentary and moderation of the discussion: Melanie Unseld. 2. New research findings on Lou Koster and Helen Buchholtz
Reports by students of the practical seminar "Working in the Cultural Archive (Music Archives des Cid-femmes)" by Sonja Kmec at the University of Luxembourg. 3. aspects of musical analysis of works by women: Lou Koster's ballad The Fiddler of Echternach and her songs.
Presentations by Nicole K. Strohmann, Kerstin Schaeffer and Danielle Roster. Commentary and moderation of the discussion: Melanie Unseld. 4. kitsch or art? Flowers, night and other romantic clichés in the songs of Helen Buchholtz (with concert lectures)
Lectures by Katrin Eggers, Annkatrin Babbe and Maren Bagge as well as Oliver Retz. Mady Bonert (soprano), Claude Weber (piano). Commentary and moderation of the discussion: Melanie Unseld. 5. archive - memory - gender: insights into current issues
Lectures by Gesa Finke and Li Gerhalter. Commentary and moderation of the discussion: Melanie Unseld.