Find Academic Supervisors

Steven Rings serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Music and Director of Professional Development at the University of Chicago. His scholarship centers on popular music analysis, vocal studies, and transformational theory frameworks, with significant contributions to understanding Bob Dylan's work and Black experimental music traditions. Education: PhD in Music, Yale University (2006) Rings' research explores the intersection of musical cognition, cultural context, and performance practice. His work bridges theoretical musicology with vernacular traditions, examining vocal expression across genres from Dylan's protest songs to Albert Ayler's free jazz. Current projects investigate tonal hearing models and the relationship between song structures and recorded performances. His publications reveal consistent focus on analytical frameworks for popular music, particularly transformational approaches to vocal delivery and historical performance practices. Rings frequently connects technical music theory with broader cultural narratives, especially regarding racial identity in experimental music. Scientific Awards: 2014 Outstanding Publication Award (SMT Popular Music Interest Group) Society for Music Theory Award for 'Tonality and Transformation' Society for Music Theory Award for 'Oxford Handbook of Critical Concepts in Music Theory' Rings secured Mellon Foundation funding for a collaborative project with Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche, reimagining musical categories of voice and groove. He chairs the University of Chicago Society of Fellows and co-founded City Elementary, a therapeutic school in Hyde Park. His teaching spans undergraduate theory courses, graduate seminars on Black experimental music, and College Core musical interpretation classes. Additional roles include series editor for Oxford Studies in Music Theory and former Professor of Guitar at Portugal's Conservatório Regional de Angra do Heroísmo, where he performed extensively as a classical guitarist prior to his music theory career.

• Popular Music
• Transformational Theory
• Voice Studies
• +3 more

Bokyung Byun is an Assistant Professor of Guitar at the University of North Texas's College of Music, Department of Guitar and Strings. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Southern California, along with degrees from The Juilliard School. Her career is marked by prestigious awards including the 2023 Avery Fisher Career Grant and multiple competition victories. Education: Doctor of Musical Arts, University of Southern California Master of Music, The Juilliard School Bachelor of Music, The Juilliard School Research focuses on bridging classical and contemporary repertoire through initiatives like Sounding Board (new music collaboration platform) and Guitarlab (online education platform). Her performances emphasize dynamic programming with modern compositions and traditional works, praised for 'gorgeous tone and sophisticated musicianship.' Notable achievements include acclaimed solo performances with orchestras like the Buffalo Philharmonic and Utah Symphony, and critical acclaim for her recordings (Soundboard Magazine, American Record Guide). Awards reflect her status as a leading figure in 21st-century guitar innovation. Advising & Grants: Recipient of Avery Fisher Career Grant (2023) Co-founder of Sounding Board and Guitarlab initiatives Labs/Teams: Active in Sounding Board (promoting composer-performer collaborations) and Guitarlab (global online music education).

• Classical Guitar Performance
• Contemporary Music
• Music Pedagogy
• +3 more

Judith A. Peraino is a Professor in the Music Department at Cornell University's College of Arts and Sciences, with significant affiliations to the Feminist, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program, American Studies Program, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Studies Program, and Medieval Studies Program. Her educational background includes a Ph.D. and M.A. from The University of California, Berkeley, and a B.A. from The University of Chicago. Peraino's research spans both medieval song and contemporary rock music, focusing on the intersection of subject formation, social identity, and musical expression across historical periods. Her primary research areas include: LGBT and Queer Theory in musical contexts Medieval song traditions and troubadour culture Rock, punk, and synthpop music genres Gender and sexuality in musical expression Sound and media studies across historical periods Peraino's scholarly work reveals two major interconnected trajectories: medieval musical traditions (particularly Guillaume de Machaut and troubadour songs) and contemporary popular music studies (focusing on punk, rock, and queer musical identities). Her research demonstrates how music has been historically used to challenge norms of gender and sexuality, from ancient times to the present. She has received prestigious recognition including a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship (2020), the H. Colin Slim Award, the Philip Brett Award, and Cornell's Stephen and Margery Russell Distinguished Teaching Award. Peraino gained significant public attention for discovering previously unknown Lou Reed recordings created for Andy Warhol in 1975, which was featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Rolling Stone. She has co-curated major exhibitions including 'Anarchy in the Archive: Cornell's Punk Collections' and 'Electrifying Music: The Life and Legacy of Robert Moog,' and conducted interviews with prominent musical figures like Masha Alyokhina (Pussy Riot), John Doe and Exene Cervenka (X), and Gary Numan. As an educator, she teaches undergraduate courses including The History of Rock Music, Punk Culture, The Beatles, and Music and Queer Identity, as well as graduate seminars on The Velvet Underground Archive, Medieval Song traditions, and Gender and Glam Rock. She also performs as a conga drummer with Cornell ensembles and local Latin jazz groups.

• LGBT and Queer Theory
• Medieval Song
• Rock Music
• +6 more

Jonathan Kulp is Professor of Music History and Theory at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette's School of Music and Performing Arts, where he has served on faculty since 2001. He held significant administrative positions including Director of the School of Music and Performing Arts from 2016-2020 and Interim Associate Dean of the College of the Arts from 2021-2022. Dr. Kulp earned his Ph.D. in Historical Musicology from the University of Texas at Austin in 2001, following a Master's in Music Theory from the same institution and a Bachelor's in Guitar Performance from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. His research focuses primarily on Argentine composer Carlos Guastavino, with multiple publications in the Latin-American Music Review and contributions to major reference works including The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians and Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart. As a composer, his works for guitar, voice, and various ensembles have been published by Les Productions D'Oz and G. Schirmer, with recordings appearing on several albums. Dr. Kulp has pioneered digital educational resources, creating accessible digital editions of historical music theory texts and developing open-source educational materials. His publications reveal consistent scholarly interest in Latin American music, counterpoint pedagogy, and digital accessibility in music education. Winner of G. Schirmer's 1995 Young Americans Art Song Competition Described by Classical Guitar Magazine as having 'a mesmerizing montage of rhythmic patterns' Contributor to major music reference works including New Grove Dictionary Creator of innovative open-source digital music theory textbooks As an educator, Dr. Kulp has developed novel approaches to music appreciation and theory instruction, with particular focus on universal design principles and accessibility standards. His creative work extends beyond traditional academic boundaries, including building his own recumbent bicycle and having been a former competitive skateboarder.

• Musicology
• Music Theory
• Argentine Music
• +5 more

Donald Crockett is a Professor and Chair of the Composition Department at the University of Southern California (USC) Thornton School of Music, and Senior Composer-in-Residence with the Bennington Chamber Music Conference. He has held significant roles in contemporary music composition and conducting, including Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs at USC. His research and creative work spans orchestral and chamber music, opera, and instrumental compositions. Notable projects include conducting and composing for ensembles like SAKURA, HOCKET, and Xtet, with a focus on ecological themes and interdisciplinary collaboration. Major compositions include Carving an Alphabet (2020) for cello quintet, And the River (2018) for piano duo and chamber orchestra, and Night Scenes (2017) for piano trio, alongside a diverse portfolio of chamber operas and concertos. Arts and Letters Award in Music (2013), American Academy of Arts and Letters Guggenheim Fellowship (2006) Grants: Barlow Endowment, Bogliasco Foundation, Copland Fund, National Endowment for the Arts Active as a conductor, Crockett has premiered over a hundred orchestral works by student composers and collaborated with renowned ensembles like the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and Hilliard Ensemble. His music is published by Keiser Classical and recorded on labels including Albany, ECM, and New World Records.

• Music Composition
• Contemporary Classical Music
• Orchestral Conducting
• +4 more

Neil Leonard is a Professor at Berklee College of Music and the founding Artistic Director of the Berklee Interdisciplinary Arts Institute. He is affiliated with the Department of Electronic Production and Design (EPD) within the College of Arts and Sciences. His artistic and academic work bridges music, technology, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in composition or sound art (inferred from academic rank and output) Extensive international residency and fellowship experience Leonard's research and artistic practice centers on sound art, electroacoustic composition, and multimedia performance . He explores immersive multichannel audio, live electronics, and collaborations with visual artists, dancers, and filmmakers. His work investigates the resonance of cultural memory, urban soundscapes, and historical acoustics. He integrates technology and philosophy, often drawing from astronomy, Plato, and intercultural exchange. His recent works, including Matanzas Sound Map (Tate Modern, 2025), Sonance for the Precession , and For Kounellis , reflect a trend toward site-specific, durational sound installations that merge scientific concepts with poetic expression. These pieces utilize field recordings, algorithmic processing, and spatial audio to create immersive environments. His scientific and artistic honors include: Fulbright Specialist Award (2016) Distinguished Faculty Award, Berklee (2011) International CubaDisco Award (2015) Rauschenberg Residency (2016) Sacatar Institute Fellow (2023) MIT Art, Culture, and Technology affiliate U.S. State Department Fulbright Specialist Roster (2013–present) Leonard is deeply committed to mentoring students, particularly in refining portfolios and developing lifelong learning strategies. He emphasizes time management as a compositional skill and encourages adaptability in the evolving music industry. He has led major collaborative projects such as The Berklee Sessions with Robin Rimbaud (Scanner) and has performed with renowned artists including Vijay Iyer, Rudresh Mahanthappa, and Los Muñequitos de Matanzas. He co-founded and leads the Berklee Interdisciplinary Arts Institute , fostering cross-departmental collaborations and innovative performance practices. His work continues to be exhibited globally, from Documenta and Venice Biennale to Mass MoCA and the Peabody Essex Museum.

• Sound Art
• Experimental Music
• Multimedia Performance
• +7 more

George A. Sprengelmeyer is an Associate Professor of Music and Director of the Music Program at Quinnipiac University. A guitarist, teacher, and scholar, he earned his Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) from the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University. Education: BM, Hartt College of Music MM, Hartt College of Music D.M.A, Johns Hopkins University His research spans Guitar Performance , Celtic Music , and Philosophy of Music , with a focus on Zen influences in avant-garde composition. In 2022, he co-presented on John Cage's Zen-inspired methods at the Pacific Association for the Continental Tradition conference. He teaches courses including Private Music Lessons and American Popular Music: From the Blues to Hip Hop . As Artistic Director of the Frank J. Natale concert series, he contributes to arts administration. Contact: George.Sprengelmeyer@quinnipiac.edu , Office: 515 Sherman Ave 211.

• Guitar Performance
• Music Composition
• Celtic Music
• +3 more

William Kanengiser serves as Interim Vice Dean for Classical Music and Composition and Professor of Practice at the USC Thornton School of Music, a position he has held since joining the guitar faculty in 1983. Recognized as one of America's finest classical guitarists, he has won major international competitions and Grammy awards, and is celebrated for his unique repertoire and dedication to music education and wellness. His academic background includes: Master of Music, USC School of Music, 1983 Bachelor of Music, USC School of Music, 1981 Mannes Conservatory Preparatory School, 1974-1977 Kanengiser's artistic focus encompasses classical guitar performance and repertoire expansion, ranging from Baroque and Classical arrangements to jazz-inspired compositions and world music. He is also a pioneer in musician wellness, developing and teaching a course on "Musician's Health and Wellness" at USC, and advocates for holistic education that integrates music with broader academic disciplines. His recent projects, including the Grammy-nominated "LAGQ: Latin" and Grammy-winning "LAGQ’s Guitar Heroes", as well as the 2023 album "British Invasion" with the Alexander String Quartet, demonstrate a consistent theme of innovative collaborations and narrative storytelling, bridging classical traditions with popular and global influences. His accolades include: First Prize, Concert Artists Guild International Competition (1987) First Prize, Toronto International Guitar Competition (1981) First Prize, Paris International Guitar Competition (1983) Solo Recitalist Fellowship Grant, National Endowment for the Arts (twice) INDIE Award for Best Classical Recording Grammy Nomination, Classical Crossover (2001) for "LAGQ: Latin" Grammy Award, Classical Crossover (2005) for "LAGQ’s Guitar Heroes" As an educator, Kanengiser has mentored generations of guitarists, including notable students such as Andras Csaki, Mak Grgic, and David Steinhardt. He directs the USC Guitar Orchestra and has organized tours for student ensembles like the Helios Guitar Quartet. His teaching philosophy emphasizes a supportive, family-like environment that nurtures individual potential without competition. He is a founding member of the internationally acclaimed Los Angeles Guitar Quartet (LAGQ), which has performed and recorded extensively for over three decades, and continues to be active in master classes and educational outreach programs worldwide.

• Classical Guitar Performance
• Music Arrangement and Composition
• Music Pedagogy
• +1 more

Mara Gibson is an Associate Professor of Composition at Louisiana State University (LSU) School of Music, where she serves as area coordinator with tenure. Originally from Charlottesville, VA, Dr. Gibson completed her Ph.D. at SUNY Buffalo after graduating from Bennington College. She has also studied at London College of Music, L'École des Beaux-Arts in Fontainebleau, France, and the International Music Institute at Darmstadt, Germany. Dr. Gibson's creative work spans contemporary composition with emphasis on cross-disciplinary collaborations. Her music has been described as "shocking, gripping and thought-provoking... conjuring a flurry of emotions" (PARMA Recordings). She is a regular collaborator with choreographers, visual artists, writers, and filmmakers, with notable projects including the ArtSounds initiative which ran for 11 years at UMKC. Her recent compositions demonstrate consistent innovation in technique and interdisciplinary approaches. Works like Escher Keys (2021), a bassoon concerto inspired by M.C. Escher, and Galetea's Dream (2021/23), a staged song cycle, showcase her ability to merge visual art concepts with musical expression. Her compositions often draw inspiration from poetry, visual arts, and natural phenomena, resulting in works that are both technically sophisticated and emotionally resonant. Dr. Gibson has received numerous prestigious awards including: LSU Provost Fund for Innovation in Research ($7,500 for "The Devil's Dream" opera, 2024) GRAMMY nomination eligibility for "Unseen World" album (2024) ATLAS grant through Louisiana Board of Regents ($32,000 for bassoon concerto project, 2021) MacDowell Colony Fellowship (2016) Virginia Center for the Arts residency (2015) Yale University Distinguished Music Educator Award (2015) As an educator, Dr. Gibson has significantly expanded the composition program at LSU, more than doubling its size since her arrival. She founded the Constantinides New Music Ensemble, which debuted at Carnegie Hall in April 2022. Previously, at UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance, she coordinated undergraduate composition and tripled enrollment in the program. She is currently working on her first opera, "The Devil's Dream," based on Lee Smith's novel and inspired by the country music powerhouse Carter family.

• Music Composition
• Cross-disciplinary Collaboration
• Contemporary Classical Music
• +3 more

Mark Yeary serves as an Adjunct Professor of Music Theory at the School of Music, University of Puget Sound, where he bridges scholarly research with active musical performance and pedagogy. His academic foundation includes: BA from University of California, Berkeley (1995) PhD from University of Chicago (2011) Yeary's research centers on perceptual dimensions of music, specifically analyzing unusual sonorities in Stravinsky and Messiaen's compositions, examining timbre's role in harmonic music pedagogy, and conducting psychoacoustic studies of vocal production in popular recordings. This interdisciplinary work connects theoretical analysis with empirical perception studies. No scientific awards were documented in the source material. Professional activities include private instruction in voice, guitar, and bass, alongside regular performance as a singer, bassist, and arranger with local ensembles. No grant funding details were specified. No dedicated research laboratories or collaborative teams were referenced.

• Music Theory
• Psychoacoustics
• Contemporary Classical Music Analysis
• +3 more

Samuel Zyman is Professor of Music Theory and Analysis at the Blair School of Music, Vanderbilt University. A prominent Mexican composer and former long-time faculty member at The Juilliard School, Zyman is internationally recognized for his contributions to contemporary classical music across orchestral, chamber, vocal, and film genres. Education: M.Mus. in Composition, The Juilliard School D.M.A. in Composition, The Juilliard School His research and creative work centers on music composition, theory, and analysis, with deep engagement in Mexican cultural identity and Sephardic musical traditions. His compositions often bridge artistic expression with social themes, such as peace and youth empowerment, as seen in works like An Ode to Music and Sacrifixio . Zyman's recent works (2016–2018) reflect a continued focus on large-scale compositions involving orchestra, chorus, and soloists, often inspired by cultural narratives and performed internationally. His music integrates traditional forms with modern compositional techniques, placing him at the forefront of Latin American contemporary music. Scientific Awards: Meet-the-Composer grants (U.S.) Most Outstanding Composer of the Year (1992) – Mexican Society of Theater and Music Critics Mozart Medal (1998) – Austrian Embassy in Mexico Medal of Merit in the Arts (2014) – Mexico City Legislative Assembly Zyman has received numerous commissions and has served as a judge for composition competitions in the U.S. and Mexico. His works are widely performed and recorded by major orchestras and ensembles globally, though no formal advising or lab affiliations are mentioned in the text.

• Music Composition
• Music Theory
• Musical Analysis
• +7 more

Carlos Guedes is Associate Professor of Music at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) , affiliated with the Arts and Humanities division and the Music department. He also holds affiliated positions as Associate Professor in Computer Engineering at NYUAD and in Music Technology at NYU Steinhardt, reflecting his interdisciplinary profile. University: New York University Abu Dhabi School: Arts and Humanities Department: Music Rank: Associate Professor Emails: cag204@nyu.edu, menosmuitomais@gmail.com He holds a BM from the Polytechnic of Porto, School of Music and Performing Arts, and an MA and PhD from New York University. His research and artistic work span music composition, sound design, computational music, and cultural preservation, with a focus on the Gulf, East Africa, and South India. His primary research interests include: Analysis and preservation of music Automatic music generation Interactive music systems Generative computational technologies Audiovisual ethnography Immersive experiences and VR in music He is a founding member of the Music and Sound Cultures (MaSC) research group at NYUAD, which develops hybrid computational-humanistic methodologies and tools such as VR environments and games for cultural enculturation. His recent projects include a faculty research grant from the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation to document the musical traditions of the Shihuh tribe in Ras Al Khaimah. As a composer, Guedes has over 80 international premieres, with work presented at major venues and festivals including Expo ’98, Expo 2020, Ars Electronica, ICMC, SIGGRAPH, and the Beijing Modern Music Festival. His compositions often blend industrial, carnatic, and Western erudite traditions with computational technologies. Notable recent works include the Time Poetries cycle for percussion and electronics, composed during his 2021–2022 residency with Drumming GP . His recent artistic output shows a strong trend toward electronic and computational music, with themes exploring space, time, cultural identity, and human-machine interaction. Albums such as Shadows & Reflections (2021) and Becoming Space (2021) reflect collaborative, improvisatory, and ambient tendencies, while pieces like Phobia robotica (2020) and Far Out (ISS Edition) (2024) explore robotic and cosmic themes. He has been actively involved in teaching a wide range of courses across disciplines, including: Music: Music Theory, Individual Instruction, Capstone Seminars, Computational Approaches to Music Computer Science: Capstone Project in CS Interdisciplinary: Immersive Experiences, Multidisciplinary Artistic Collaborations, Audiovisual Ethnography He mentors students in music capstone projects and computational media, and co-advises research in hybrid artistic-technical domains. He leads and participates in research labs and teams such as: Music and Sound Cultures (MaSC) Research Group – focused on computational ethnomusicology and cultural preservation Immersive Experiences Lab – exploring VR, AR, and sensory technologies in artistic contexts Interactive Media and Sound Computing – developing new instruments and performance systems

• Music Composition
• Sound Design
• Computational Music
• +7 more

Scott Tennant is a Teaching Professor and Chair of Classical Guitar at the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music. A Grammy-winning classical guitarist, he is a founding member of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet (LAGQ) and renowned for his expertise in Spanish music, particularly the works of Joaquín Rodrigo. Tennant studied at USC (1980-1986) under Pepe Romero and James Smith, participating in USC Segovia Masterclasses in 1981 and 1986. Author of the influential guitar technique book Pumping Nylon (and its sequels) Recordings on labels including GHA, Delos, Sony Classical, Deutsche Grammophon, and Telarc Grammy nomination for LAGQ Latin (Telarc) He has won multiple international guitar competitions and focuses on music performance and pedagogy.

• Classical Guitar
• Guitar Technique
• Spanish Music Performance
• +2 more

Silvio dos Santos is an Associate Professor and Area Coordinator for Musicology and Ethnomusicology at the University of Florida's School of Music. He holds a Ph.D. from Brandeis University and specializes in European and Latin American music from the 19th century to the present, focusing on cultural identity, music-politics intersections, and Latin American nationalism/indigeneity. He has received the 2023 Faculty Doctoral Mentoring Award and 2002 Paul A. Pisk Award. His research explores musical narratives of identity, including Alban Berg's Lulu and Villa-Lobos's nationalist compositions. Current projects examine Villa-Lobos's late works and their role in constructing Brazilian national identity through post-colonial theory. He actively performs as a classical guitarist with the Alachua Guitar Quartet and Jacaré Brazil . Publications include Narratives of Identities in Alban Berg's 'Lulu' (2014) and contributions to the American Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians . Ongoing work focuses on Villa-Lobos's O Descobrimento do Brasil and Symphony No. 10 , analyzing their colonialist-indigenous musical narratives.

• Musicology
• Ethnomusicology
• Cultural Identity
• +4 more

David Ying is an Associate Professor of String Chamber Music and Violoncello at the Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester, and serves as Chair of the Strings, Harp & Guitar Department. He is a founding member of the Grammy-winning Ying Quartet, renowned for performances spanning traditional concert halls to unconventional venues. His professional roles include teaching cello and chamber music at Eastman, co-artistic directorship at the Bowdoin International Music Festival, and artist-in-residence positions at Harvard University and Northwestern University. Education: Studied at the Eastman School of Music and Juilliard School under mentors including Leonard Rose and Paul Katz. Awards include Naumburg International Cello Competition and Washington International Competition prizes. His pedagogical impact extends globally, with students in orchestras like the New York Philharmonic and those pursuing legal and artistic careers. Artistic contributions include recording projects ranging from Beethoven to commissioned contemporary works. The Ying Quartet's activities emphasize interdisciplinary collaborations, as seen in their partnership with PUSH Physical Theatre and educational outreach initiatives.

• Chamber Music
• Cello Performance
• Classical Music Repertoire
• +3 more