Re: New MusicXML specification editor appointment [via Music Notation Community Group]

Hello,
  Thank you for this email, and I'm quite interested in the new musicxml
spec editor. As a blind musician, braille music transcriber and also
braille music consultant of DAISY Music Braille Project, I'm constantly
using Musicxml and hope to improve it for quite a long time. The new spec
and the editor will help quite a lot.

Haipeng


On Wed, Jan 28, 2026 at 4:50 AM Karim Ratib <karim.ratib@gmail.com> wrote:

> Thanks to the Music Notation co-chairs for appointing me. It's a pleasure
> to contribute to this community in a more formal capacity.
>
> I was told that several members of the community applied for this role. I
> would like to invite those members (whose identities were not disclosed to
> me) - as well as other interested members here - to reply here or contact
> me privately to contribute your skills and expertise and collaborate on the
> maintenance of MusicXML.
>
> I'm preparing a roadmap document that I hope to publicize during the
> virtual meeting in March, but I can tell you right now it will all rely on
> community building and forming groups to work on specific initiatives.
> That's why I hope to hear from all of you!
>
> With enthusiasm,
> Karim
>
>
> On Tue, Jan 27, 2026 at 11:57 AM W3C Community Development Team <
> team-community-process@w3.org> wrote:
>
>> Karim Ratib
>>
>>
>>
>> We are pleased to announce the appointment of Karim Ratib as the new
>> MusicXML specification editor, with immediate effect. He succeeds Michael
>> Cuthbert, who will remain one of the three co-chairs of the Community
>> Group, but will now focus his efforts entirely on helping drive the MNX
>> specification forwards.
>>
>>
>>
>> Members of the Community Group will have an opportunity to meet Karim for
>> the first time in our planned virtual Community Group meeting in March 2026.
>>
>>
>>
>> In Karim's own words:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> My name is Karim Ratib. A professional software engineer by trade, I am
>> also a lifelong music lover and player. Although I wrote my very first
>> music application around 1985 on the venerable Sinclair ZX Spectrum, I was
>> introduced to modern music notation software about ten years ago when I
>> started adapting classic Egyptian popular songs to my modest guitar and
>> singing abilities. My dreams of creating the "Arabic Real Book" soon took
>> the back seat to understanding and enhancing how music technologies support
>> use-cases outside the mainstream. Since then, I've engaged with many music
>> communities online - MusicXML, SMuFL, MIDI, MuseScore, Verovio to name a
>> few. As a firm believer in the benefits of open formats and open source for
>> the common good, I am delighted to accept the role of MusicXML editor. My
>> goal is to support the evolution of MusicXML by fostering a worldwide
>> community of music notation stakeholders, from experts and musicologists to
>> performers and learners, without forgetting the developers of music tools.
>> I will apply my skills and experience in engineering management to maintain
>> this valuable format and I hope to be an effective steward during the time
>> of my tenure.
>>
>>
>>
>> ----------
>>
>> This post sent on Music Notation Community Group
>>
>>
>>
>> 'New MusicXML specification editor appointment'
>>
>>
>> https://www.w3.org/community/music-notation/2026/01/27/new-musicxml-specification-editor-appointment/
>>
>>
>>
>> Learn more about the Music Notation Community Group:
>>
>> https://www.w3.org/community/music-notation
>>
>>

-- 
Hu Haipeng
Blind musician and braille music transcriber of China
The BrailleOrch and Open Braille Music Projects
http://www.brailleorch.org