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Jan Herbst is a Professor of Music at the University of Huddersfield and Director of the Centre for Research in Music and its Technologies. His academic journey includes multiple doctorates (PhD, Dr. habil.) from Leuphana University Lüneburg and research expertise in popular music studies, music production, and systematic musicology. He leads AHRC-funded projects such as 'Heaviness in Metal Music Production' and 'Songwriting Camps in the 21st Century.' His work bridges practical music production and theoretical research, with over 80 publications including books like The Cambridge Companion to Metal Music and Heaviness in Metal Music Production . Herbst’s research focuses on metal music aesthetics, record production techniques, and the cultural dimensions of music technology. He has held roles at German and Swiss universities, including teaching guitar performance and music production. His editorial roles include the Cambridge Companions series and journals like Metal Music Studies . Current projects explore blockchain in music, gear acquisition syndrome, and extreme metal vocal techniques. His academic affiliations include the IASPM UK & I executive committee and editorial boards for major musicology publications. Herbst actively engages with industry through collaborations with producers and performers, maintaining a balance between academic rigor and practical music creation.

• Popular Music Studies
• Metal Music Studies
• Music Production
• +7 more

Professor Peter F. Driessen is a faculty member in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Victoria, with a cross-appointment in the School of Music. He holds a BSc and PhD from the University of Victoria and is a Professional Engineer (PEng). His research focuses on communication systems, signal processing, control, and interdisciplinary projects in computer music and wireless technologies. Key areas include audio/video signal processing, radio propagation, sound recording, and multimedia systems. He leads the University of Victoria Propagation Laboratory, which explores radio wave propagation and Amateur radio integration with engineering education. His work spans theoretical research and applied projects like ECOSat satellite systems, software-defined radio (SDR), and innovative musical instruments such as the Radio Drum. He supervises undergraduate and graduate projects in these domains through ELEC 499 courses. Notable contributions include the APEGBC Editorial Board Award for Best Paper (2002) and patents in wireless networking and signal processing. His teaching includes courses in signal analysis and electromagnetics, and he collaborates on interdisciplinary programs like the Music/Computer Science degree. Education: BSc in Electrical Engineering, University of Victoria PhD in Electrical Engineering, University of Victoria Research Interests: Audio and video signal processing for music and media Software-defined radio and Amateur radio technologies Satellite communication and ground station development Gesture-based interfaces and musical instrument design Error mitigation in streaming audio/video Optical and microwave-photonic systems Labs & Collaborations: Propagation Laboratory (radio wave research) UVic Experimental Radio Group (Amateur radio club) UVic Satellite Design Team (ECOSat projects) UVic Centre for Aerospace Research Grants & Awards: APEGBC Editorial Board Award (2002) Multiple US patents in wireless systems and signal processing

• Communication
• Signal Processing
• Control Systems
• +6 more

Dr. Gary Scavone is a Professor and Department Chair in the Music department at McGill University's Schulich School of Music. He holds a PhD in Computer-Based Music Theory & Acoustics and MS in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, alongside degrees from Syracuse University in Music and Electrical Engineering. His research focuses on music technology, including acoustic modeling, sound synthesis, and instrument design. He directs the Computational Acoustic Modeling Laboratory (CAML), which explores advanced techniques for simulating musical instruments and developing software tools. As a saxophonist, he specializes in contemporary concert music performance. Research interests include physically-based sound synthesis, wind instrument acoustics, and digital waveguide modeling. He has contributed to studies on brass and woodwind impedance measurements, violin soundpost dynamics, and free-reed instrument modeling. His work bridges engineering and artistry, with applications in music pedagogy, instrument design optimization, and virtual acoustic replication. Key contributions include open-source projects for wind instrument modeling and the development of tools for automated timbre assessment. His research often combines experimental methods with computational simulations, addressing challenges in both theoretical and applied music acoustics. Current projects focus on deep learning for friction modeling, impedance measurement systems, and cross-cultural instrument analysis.

• Music Technology
• Musical Acoustics
• Acoustical Signal Processing
• +3 more

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

Jonathan Cannon is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour at McMaster University's Faculty of Science. His research focuses on timing and rhythm in perception and action, with particular interest in timing-related neural dynamics in the basal ganglia, cerebellum, and supplementary motor area. His work combines mathematical modeling with experimental approaches to understand the neural basis of rhythm perception and production. Dr. Cannon's research interests span timing and rhythm perception , neural dynamics , dynamical systems theory , Bayesian cognition , neural oscillations , and autism research . His approach centers on formulating and simulating neurophysiological and cognitive models, drawing on dynamical systems theory and Bayesian cognitive frameworks. His work incorporates psychophysics, EEG experiments, and collaborations with experimentalists to investigate how the brain processes rhythmic information. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on the intersection of rhythm perception, motor control, and autism spectrum disorder. His work demonstrates how beat perception co-opts motor neurophysiology, with particular attention to predictive processes in rhythmic cognition. His research shows reduced precision of motor and perceptual rhythmic timing in autistic adults, while also finding intact sequence learning abilities in certain contexts. Dr. Cannon teaches advanced courses including Machine Learning Methods for Brain Modelling and Neural Data Analysis (PSYCH 734), Computational Models in Neuroscience (NEUROSCI 3MN3), and Neuroscience Seminars. His teaching reflects his interdisciplinary approach that bridges mathematics, neuroscience, and cognitive science. Beyond his academic work, Dr. Cannon is an active musician who performs on violin and guitar, particularly in klezmer and folk music contexts. He has also demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit through founding Flying Leap Games and developing the storytelling game 'Wing It,' which successfully crowdfunded and reached numerous retailers.

• Timing and Rhythm Perception
• Neural Dynamics
• Dynamical Systems Theory
• +6 more

Dr. Garth Alper is a Professor and Program Coordinator for Jazz Studies at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette's School of Music and Performing Arts. He holds a Doctor of Arts in Music Theory/Composition from the University of Northern Colorado, a Master of Arts in Piano Performance (Jazz Track) from New York University, and a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Jazz Studies from SUNY Empire State College. His research focuses on Jazz Piano, Jazz History, and Popular Music, with notable contributions to understanding improvisation techniques, postmodernism in music, and the cultural legacy of jazz icons like Duke Ellington. Dr. Alper has authored numerous articles in journals such as College Music Symposium , Rock Music Studies , and Jazz Perspectives , and guest-edited a special jazz issue of Popular Music and Society . His music compositions are featured on multiple CDs, including the acclaimed Spider’s Web (2022) and Stratus (2017). He has received significant grants and awards, including the BORSF Endowed Professorship and funding for jazz pedagogy and recording projects. Education: Doctor of Arts in Music Theory/Composition (University of Northern Colorado) Master of Arts in Piano Performance (Jazz Track, New York University) Bachelor of Professional Studies in Jazz Studies (SUNY Empire State College) Research Contributions: Includes analysis of jazz improvisation, postmodern music theory, and the sociocultural impact of jazz. He has authored encyclopedia entries on influential jazz musicians and contributed to critical discussions on popular music pedagogy. Teaching & Courses: Teaches Jazz Piano, Jazz Theory, Jazz History, Film Scoring, and directs the Jazz Combo program. Courses include MUS 312: Jazz Theory I and MUS 438: Film Scoring I . Grants & Recognition: Over $100K in grants for recording projects, multimedia facilities, and pedagogical initiatives. Holder of the Ruth Stodghill Girard BORSF Endowed Professorship since 2001. Labs/Teams: Coordinates the Jazz Studies program and collaborates on projects blending jazz with film scoring and modern media.

• Jazz
• Jazz Piano
• Popular Music
• +3 more

Simon Dixon is a Professor of Computer Science and Director of the UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in Artificial Intelligence and Music (AIM CDT) at Queen Mary University of London. He also serves as Deputy Director of the Centre for Digital Music (C4DM). His work focuses on music informatics, AI, and computational musicology, with emphasis on music signal analysis, performance modeling, and MIR applications. He leads projects funded by UKRI, Innovate UK, and industry partners like Yamaha and Spotify. Dixon has supervised over 20 PhD students and contributed to major initiatives like the Jazz Digital Archives Project and the Dig that Lick study on jazz melodic patterns. His research has been recognized with awards including the Peter Claricoats Award and Turing Fellowship. Education: PhD in Computer Science, BSc(Hons) in related field, with music qualifications (AMusA LMusA) Roles: AIM CDT Director, C4DM Deputy Director, EU H2020 MIP-Frontiers PI Research: Music transcription, expressive performance analysis, MIR, and AI applications in music education Key projects include industry collaborations (e.g., Yamaha for jazz piano modeling), semantic audio analysis, and large-scale music corpus studies. His team has pioneered methods in chord detection, source separation, and alignment algorithms, with top rankings in MIREX evaluations. Publications span journals like TISMIR and ICASSP, with a focus on foundational MIR techniques and AI-driven music systems. His work bridges technical innovation with cultural heritage through projects like JazzDAP and the Dig that Lick analysis of jazz solos.

• Music Information Retrieval
• Artificial Intelligence
• Music Signal Processing
• +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

Maria Isabel Siewers De Pazur is a distinguished Professor of Guitar at Mozarteum University in Salzburg, Austria, where she has led the Guitar Department since 1989. She also maintains connections with the Department of Music Education in Innsbruck. Born in Argentina, she has established an international career as both a performer and educator, with her work deeply rooted in Latin American musical traditions while embracing contemporary classical repertoire. Her research and performance interests center on Classical Guitar Performance, Latin American Music, Chamber Music with Guitar, 20th Century Guitar Repertoire, Contemporary Classical Music, Argentine Music, and Guitar Education. Siewers has dedicated her career to expanding the guitar repertoire through commissions of new works and premieres of contemporary compositions, with a particular focus on Latin American composers. Her recordings demonstrate remarkable diversity across musical eras and styles, with special emphasis on 20th century masterpieces, Latin American repertoire, and chamber music collaborations. The trajectory of her work shows a consistent commitment to bridging traditional and contemporary forms, with increasing focus on cross-cultural musical dialogues and innovative arrangements that honor historical contexts while speaking to modern audiences. Critic's choice (Gramophone) Best record of the year (Acoustic Guitar) Latin Grammy Award 2018 in the category Classical Throughout her career, Siewers has maintained a strong commitment to education, founding the Musicampus Classical Guitar program that has nurtured over 170 guitarists from throughout Latin America. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes chamber music, community engagement through public performances, and fostering international musical exchange. She has also been involved in recording projects that serve both educational and artistic purposes, documenting important repertoire and commissioning new works that expand the guitar's expressive possibilities. Siewers maintains active collaborations with composers, orchestras, and fellow musicians worldwide, regularly performing with ensembles such as the Prague Virtuosi, Bohemian Chamber Orchestra, and various string quartets. Her work with the Musicampus program demonstrates her commitment to developing the next generation of guitarists while preserving and innovating within the classical guitar tradition.

• Classical Guitar Performance
• Latin American Music
• Chamber Music with Guitar
• +4 more

Steve Waksman is the Leverhulme International Professor of Popular Music in the Department of Media, Humanities and the Arts, School of Arts and Humanities, University of Huddersfield, and a member of the Centre for Research in Music and its Technologies. A leading scholar of popular music, he is author or editor of numerous award-winning books and essays on the electric guitar, heavy metal, punk, live music and music technology. Education & Awards: Dissertation on the electric guitar awarded the 1998 Ralph Henry Gabriel Prize (American Studies Association) Woody Guthrie Prize (International Association for the Study of Popular Music, U.S. Chapter) Music in American Culture Award (American Musicological Society) Research Interests: Waksman’s work spans the history of musical instruments, intersections of music and technology, genre studies (with special attention to heavy metal and punk), live-music studies, sound studies, and the politics of race, gender, sexuality and identity in popular music from the nineteenth to the twenty-first centuries. He is currently initiating a major five-year Leverhulme-funded project on amplification technologies and amplified sound. Recent Publications: His recent outputs focus on the electric guitar’s cultural history and the broad sweep of American live music. These works collectively illuminate how instruments, genres, and performance spaces shape—and are shaped by—technological, social and economic forces. Grants & Projects: Leverhulme International Professorship Scheme: £5 million “Amplification Project” (2025–2030) Outreach & Media: Known as the “Doctor of Rock” on WRSI radio (The River, Western Massachusetts), Waksman regularly contributes historical segments for Black History Month and Women’s History Month. He has also participated in international public-engagement podcasts and press coverage concerning the electric guitar.

• Popular music studies
• History of musical instruments
• Electric guitar studies
• +8 more

Univ.-Prof. Adriano Del Sal is a Professor of Guitar at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (mdw), affiliated with the Institute for Music Education (IAR). His work focuses on expanding instrumental education through inclusive practices, with specializations in guitar pedagogy and interdisciplinary music outreach. He leads projects like the Music to Touch initiative and collaborates with institutions such as SUPERAR and the Exilarte Center. Teaching: Guitar, Music Education for Voice and Instruments (IGP program) Research: Sparkling Science-funded projects on inclusive music practices and gender representation in classical repertoire Awards: 2023 Staatspreis Ars Docendi for teaching excellence His professional activities include organizing workshops (e.g., with Henk Guittart, Torfinn Hoffart), masterclasses, and international cooperations. He actively contributes to gender diversity initiatives and music therapy programs.

• Music Education
• Guitar Performance
• Inclusive Music Making
• +3 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

Dr. Alexander Plopski is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Visual Computing, Technische Universität Graz. His research focuses on advancing augmented reality (AR) technologies, human-computer interaction (HCI), and optical display systems. He holds a PhD, M.Sc., and BSc in relevant fields. His work emphasizes perceptual optimization in AR displays, eye tracking integration, and accessibility solutions for color vision deficiencies. Key research areas include gaze-contingent AR interfaces, light field manipulation for extended reality, and multimodal interaction techniques. Notable contributions include the development of the 'guitARhero' interactive AR guitar tutorial system and studies on focal distance effects in optical see-through displays. His publications span topics from AR display calibration to gesture recognition using radar sensing. He has explored applications in industrial training, medical AR, and robotic telemanipulation. His work often bridges theoretical perceptual studies with practical system implementations, aiming to enhance user experience and accessibility in AR/VR environments.

• Augmented Reality
• Computer Vision
• Human-Computer Interaction
• +4 more