Accommodations & Travel - Cancelled (COVID-19)

IMPORTANT: NATIONAL CONFERENCE CANCELLED (COVID-19)

MARCH 9, 2020

Dear Colleagues,

It is with sadness that we write to inform you that an in-person SEAMUS 2020 has been cancelled due to the rapidly evolving situation with COVID-19.  We made this decision in response to a communication sent last night from UVA’s president strongly advising against all non-essential domestic travel, and indicating the possibility of further restrictions to be announced mid-week.  Many registrants and performers had withdrawn already.  Our primary concerns are about the safety and well-being of our UVA and SEAMUS communities.  In addition, we want to prevent attendees from becoming stranded while traveling, for an event whose status would be tenuous throughout.  This decision was not made lightly, and it follows rigorous discussion with UVA administration as well as SEAMUS board members.

We hope this communication reaches you in time to recoup some or all of your travel expenses.  For those who registered at the conference hotel, we have cancelled your reservation and you will not be charged.  (If you wish to maintain your reservation, please email us.)  Regarding registration fees, we have spent most of registration revenue, University support, advertising, and sponsorship on production expenses such as design and printing of the conference booklet and swag, equipment rental and shipping (e.g., the Genelecs), and honoraria for performers rehearsing the pieces.  We will ship these physical artifacts to you as applicable, and are as well working to produce an online platform that presents the conference in a way that serves you, the larger SEAMUS community, and beyond.

At this time, we are focused on assembling this online presentation of the conference.  UVA coordinators will be in touch soon.  We would like to thank the entire UVA team for the countless hours they have spent in producing an exceptional conference.  We are hoping to create an exceptional substitute given the situation.  If you have any suggestions on what this might include, please feel free to contact us.

Wishing you good health!

Best, 

Ted Coffey & Leah Reid, SEAMUS 2020 cohosts

 

Conference Hotel

The conference hotel is the Courtyard by Marriott, University Medical Center — within easy walking distance to most of the conference’s concert and other event venues.  Not to be confused with the Courtyard by Marriott, Charlottesville — which isn’t!  To secure a room at a discounted rate ($129 per night, 20% discount on breakfast), reserve by February 20, following this link:

https://www.marriott.com/events/start.mi?id=1565381940780&key=GRP

 

Travel

Charlottesville is easily accessible by car, train, and air travel.  We’re served by an Amtrak station, 1/2 mile from the Courtyard Marriott (conference hotel), direct access to Chicago and the Northeast Corridor.  Traveling by air, fly in to Dulles (IAD), Richmond (RIC), BWI Marchall Airport (BWI) or directly to Charlottesville (CHO).  Uber, Lyft, and other taxis are abundant, and serve CHO (ca. $20).  Most conference concerts and other events are in easy walking distance of each other, so it will be easy to do without a car if desired.

 

Travel notes CHO is a smaller airport and thus more susceptible to schedule changes due to weather etc. Richmond (RIC) is about a 90 minute car ride away and a larger international hub. There are no trains between Richmond and Charlottesville however there are bus options. Amtrak does have service from BWI Marshall Airport.

 

Food & Drink

There are restaurants and bars aplenty in C’ville.  The University Grounds back up to The Corner (which will be relatively empty as the conference occurs during UVA’s Spring Break).  A nice mile’s walk from the Courtyard Marriott is the Downtown Mall, Charlottesville’s historic outdoor walking mall offering many more fine options (plus all kinds of shops).  A little bit of driving adds a few more options to the mix.  We’ll list some of our favorite restaurants on this page and in the conference materials — stay tuned!

 

Nearby Activities

Go for a hike (Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park / the AT are 20 minutes away) or visit Monticello.  For more ideas, check out these sites:

https://www.visitcharlottesville.org