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Dr. Ataru Sotomura is a Senior Lecturer in the Chair of East Asian Cultural History at the University of Würzburg's Philosophische Fakultät. His research focuses on East Asian art history, particularly Buddhist iconography, garden design, urban planning, and cultural transfer between India, China, Korea, and Japan. He has held visiting positions at Kyoto University and the International Research Center for Japanese Studies (Nichibunken). Notable awards include the Hamada Seiryo Award (2017). His work bridges historical texts (e.g., Buddhist sūtras, garden treatises) and material culture, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches. Education: B.A. (Kyoto University, 1983), M.A. (Kyoto University, 1986), Ph.D. (Kyoto University, 1994). He has held scholarships from Rotary International, the Dutch government, and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). Recent projects include leading the DFG-funded study on 'Transformation of Invisible Entities in East Asian Art and Archaeology' (2021–2022). Research Interests: Buddhist cosmology, East Asian capital city designs, historical musical instruments (e.g., biwa lutes), and the cultural symbolism of gardens. His publications span monographs, peer-reviewed articles, and collaborative edited volumes, often exploring how visible/invisible entities shape religious and artistic expression. Grants & Leadership: 2019–2022: Team Leader of 'Interdisciplinary Study on Visible/Invisible Entities in East Asian Arts'; 2021–2022: DFG Project Leader on 'Invisible Entities in East Asian Traditions'. Active in international workshops and bilateral German-Japanese collaborations. Labs/Teams: Affiliated with Kyoto University's Institute for Research in Humanities and Würzburg's East Asian Sinology program, contributing to interdisciplinary research networks in cultural history.

• East Asian Art History
• Buddhist Studies
• Cultural Transfer
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Joachim Held is a Professor of Historical Lute Instruments at the Bremen University of the Arts (Hochschule für Künste Bremen) since 2010. He also teaches at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague since September 2007. Born in Hamburg in 1963, Held received his musical training at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis under Eugen Dombois and Hopkinson Smith, graduating in 1988 with a Diploma in Early Music. His educational background includes studies with Jürgen Hübscher at the Karlsruhe University of Music from 1988 to 1990, where he completed his artistic final examination. In 1990, he won second prize at the Concours Musica Antiqua of the Flanders Festival in Bruges, launching his international career. Joachim Held is renowned for his expertise in historical lute instruments and early music performance. His research interests span across: Historical Lute Performance Practice Baroque Music Repertoire Renaissance Music Historical Performance Techniques Early Music Instrumentology Lute Musicology Held has built an impressive discography of solo recordings focusing on lute music from various historical periods and regions. His recordings show a particular focus on German, Italian, French, Austrian, Polish, and English lute repertoire from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. His 2006 CD "Erfreuliche Lautenlust" with works by Austrian Baroque composers for Baroque lute earned him the prestigious Echo Klassik 2006 award for the best solo recording in the 17th/18th century category. His notable awards include: Echo Klassik 2006 for the best solo recording in the 17th/18th century category Second prize at the Concours Musica Antiqua of the Flanders Festival in Bruges (1990) As an active performer, Joachim Held has maintained a vibrant international career since the early 1990s. He has performed regularly under the direction of Nikolaus Harnoncourt since 1993 and with Il Giardino Armonico (Milan) since 1992. He has participated in productions of major operas including Francesco Cavalli's "La Calisto" and Monteverdi's "L'Incoronazione di Poppea." His concert activities span across Europe, Africa, Japan, and South America, with performances at major festivals and venues. Held is also involved in academic activities including symposia on early music topics, such as the symposium "John Dowland's Activities on the Continent" held at the HfK Bremen in April 2022. He is scheduled to participate in a Lute Symposium at the Bremen University of the Arts on September 22nd-23rd, 2025.

• Historical Lute Instruments
• Early Music
• Baroque Music
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Henrike Seitz serves as a Lecturer at the University of Music Würzburg, specializing in harpsichord accompaniment and basso continuo within the Department of Historical Instruments. She is part of the faculty responsible for teaching early music performance practice at this prestigious German conservatory. Her expertise lies in historical keyboard performance, with particular focus on Baroque-era practices. The Department of Historical Instruments at Würzburg offers comprehensive training in period instruments including Baroque violin, cello, trumpet, recorder, double reed instruments, lute, traverso, and viola da gamba. As a specialist in continuo playing, Seitz contributes to the training of instrumentalists and vocalists in authentic performance practices of the 17th and 18th centuries. Her work supports the university's strong emphasis on historically informed performance across various ensembles including the Baroque Orchestra (BaHI).

• Early Music
• Baroque Performance Practice
• Harpsichord
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Bettina Pahn is a Lecturer in Historical Singing at the University of the Arts Bremen since 2017. She specializes in Early Music performance, Baroque vocal techniques, and historically informed interpretation. Her teaching integrates weekly lessons for Bachelor and Master students, focusing on vocal agility, stylistic expression, and period performance practices. Collaborations with renowned artists like Dame Emma Kirkby and Ton Koopman enrich her pedagogy. Education: Studied cello initially, then voice at the Hanns Eisler School of Music Berlin and Frankfurt/Main under Prof. Elsa Cavelti. Since 2012, trained under Margreet Honig, a leading historical voice pedagogue. Research emphasizes Baroque ornamentation (e.g., Rognoni's diminutions) and Romantic lied interpretation. Her performances with Ton Koopman’s ensemble earned the Echo-Klassik-Preis 2009. Recent projects include recordings of C.P.E. Bach lieder (2017) and Telemann’s moral cantatas (2020). She co-leads student mentorship with Benno Schachtner, guiding participation in competitions like the Bovicelli Competition (student Erika Tandiono won Young Talent Award in 2020). Key collaborations: Duo with Joachim Held (lute), Naxos recordings, and international masterclasses in Holland, Austria, and Italy. Upcoming engagements include a lecture-recital on 19th-century lied ornamentation at the AEC Congress (2021).

• Historical Vocal Performance
• Baroque Music
• Art Song (Lied)
• +3 more