Brenda Patterson is a Lecturer in Voice at the University of Virginia and a renowned mezzo-soprano with an international opera career. She has performed as a Principal Artist at the Metropolitan Opera for seven seasons and graced stages at prestigious venues such as Hamburg State Opera, Teatro alla Scala in Milan, and Carnegie Hall. Education: Juilliard School (Taranow Prize in Voice), Barnard College A passionate vocal educator, Patterson has taught at Juilliard, Mannes, Tanglewood, Opera Philadelphia, and the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artists program. She is also a co-founder and Director of Music at the award-winning Victory Hall Opera in Charlottesville. Her performance history includes collaborations with Opera Colorado, Glimmerglass Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and Florida Grand Opera, among others. Scientific_awards: Taranow Prize in Voice
Bradford Clark is a Professor in the Department of Theatre and Film at Bowling Green State University's College of Arts and Sciences. He also serves on the Asian Studies Advisory Board and has taught courses in History of Film, Animation Scene Design, Asian Theatre, and Drafting/Drawing for Theatre. With extensive professional experience, Clark has collaborated with renowned institutions such as the Center for Puppetry Arts, American Conservatory Theatre, and the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. His research focuses on puppetry and mask design, informed by hands-on training with masters like Balinese dalang I Wayan Wija and Japan's Imada Ningyo company. Clark has curated major exhibitions, including Jim Henson: Wonders from his Workshop , and conducted fieldwork across Asia and Europe to document traditional and contemporary performance practices. As a practitioner, he has designed over fifty scenic works for theatre, opera, and dance, while creating original puppet productions at BGSU like Monkey Storms Heaven and Frankenstein . His international collaborations span Bali, Japan, and China, reflecting his cross-cultural approach to theatre design.
Margaret McCubbin is the Senior Lecturer at the Department of Theatre and Film within the College of Arts and Sciences at Bowling Green State University. She holds an MFA from Carnegie-Mellon University and has contributed to costume design and construction in theatre, television, and film. Education: MFA from Carnegie-Mellon University. Her research focuses on costume design and history, art history, costume construction, and film. Ms. McCubbin has worked with notable institutions and companies such as Carnegie-Mellon University, WQED (Pittsburgh), and Laurel Production Company. Professional Affiliations: IATSE/USA (United Scenic Artists), USITT (United States Institute of Theatre Technicians). Her production credits span diverse theatrical genres, including musicals, dramas, operas, and dance. She teaches courses in Costume Design, Period Style and Form, Makeup, and Costume Construction.
Colleen Murphy is a Lecturer in the Department of Theatre and Film at Bowling Green State University (BGSU) and serves as the Dance Program Coordinator. She teaches courses in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Choreography & Design, and Dance Composition, while leading the Dance Repertory Ensemble and advising the University Dance Alliance, a student-run organization. She holds an M.A. in Dance Education from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where she studied on a full tuition scholarship. Her choreography work has earned numerous regional and national awards, and she has performed with groups such as the UH Dance Ensemble and Hawaii Opera Theatre. Dance Teacher of the Year, Kids Artistic Revue Regional Choreography Awards National Choreography Awards Murphy also owns and directs The Beat Dance Company, a private dance studio in Bowling Green, Ohio, and has taught at Owens Community College, Toledo School for the Arts, and the University of Hawaii Outreach College.
Erin Finley is a Lecturer in the Faculty of Art at Ontario College of Art & Design University. She is the creator of innovative drawing methodologies such as 'Memory Drawing,' 'Project Elinor,' and 'Ambi Drawing,' which focus on cognitive stimulation and neuroplasticity in older adults. Her work has been featured in national and international media outlets, including Yahoo News, Fox News, and CBC. Teaches drawing at OCADU and Far Eastern University (Manila, Philippines) through OCADU International Formerly taught at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto Research Interests: Finley's research bridges art and cognitive science, emphasizing therapeutic applications of drawing for memory enhancement, ambidexterity, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Her projects have been supported by grants from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council. Exhibitions & Collaborations: She has exhibited widely across Canada, the U.S., Europe, and Asia, including galleries at Sarah Lawrence College, Siena Art Institute, and Gladstone House. Notable collaborations include Heather Saunders (2012's 'Opera Yoko') and Agustín Plancarte Fexas (2023 ceramic drawing project). Scientific Awards: Recipient of two OCADU Teaching Awards Grants: Received project grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Université du Québec à Montréal, and University of Calgary. Notable Contributions: Developed 'Drawing Disco' with OCADU International and presented talks at institutions like McGill University, University of Toronto, and Utrecht University. Her 'Memory Drawing' project has impacted hundreds of older adults in Ontario long-term-care facilities.
Svilen Raichev is a researcher affiliated with the National Music Academy 'Professor Pancho Vladigerov' in Bulgaria. His work spans vocal pedagogy, performance practice, music theory, and historical analysis, with a focus on Bulgarian music traditions and avant-garde influences. Research Interests Vocal posture and teaching methodologies Operatic innovation and analysis 20th-century music challenges Historical dance in stage art Cultural policy impacts on music Digital resources for musicians Selected Publications His 2016 works include analyses of Georgi Zlatev-Cherkin's pedagogical principles, avant-garde operas, enharmonic phenomena in Beethoven, and methodological approaches to Bulgarian amateur music movements.
Matthew Saunders is an Associate Professor in the Department of Theater at Swarthmore College and a renowned scenic designer based in Philadelphia. He is a founding member and Associate Artistic Director of the OBIE Award-winning experimental theater company New Paradise Laboratories (NPL), with whom he has collaborated for over two decades. His work spans theater, opera, and dance, and has been featured at major venues including Lincoln Center, The Public Theater, The Kennedy Center, Yale Repertory Theatre, and the Guthrie Theater. Education: MFA in Design from Yale School of Drama Research & Creative Interests: Saunders specializes in scenic and projection design for both traditional and devised performance works. His creative practice integrates visual storytelling with innovative staging techniques, often exploring speculative realism, historical narratives, and social commentary. His designs are noted for their conceptual depth and visual impact, frequently blending architecture, multimedia, and immersive environments. He has contributed to a wide range of genres, including classical plays, contemporary dramas, operas, and experimental devised works. His collaborations with New Paradise Laboratories often involve the creation of original performance pieces that challenge conventional narrative structures and audience engagement. Scientific Awards & Honors: OBIE Award (as part of New Paradise Laboratories) 2015 Hodder Fellow, Princeton University 2014 Pew Fellow in the Arts Drama Desk Award for Best Set Design for a Play (2019) – Daddy Audelco Award for Best Set Design (2023) – FLEX Collaborations & Labs: Saunders is deeply embedded in the professional theater community. Beyond his role at Swarthmore, he maintains an active freelance practice, currently designing for seven ongoing projects, including three world premiere devised works. His affiliations include long-term partnerships with New Paradise Laboratories, Wilma Theater, and numerous national and international institutions.
Paola Girdinio is a Professor at the Department of Naval, Electrical, Electronic, and Telecommunications Engineering (DITEN), University of Genoa. She teaches courses on Electromagnetic Compatibility and Electric Fields and Magnetic Fields, affiliated with both the Bachelor's and Master's programs in Electrical Engineering. Her research focuses on cybersecurity in smart grids, industrial networks, and energy communities. Key Research Areas: Smart Grid Security, Industrial Network Segmentation, Secure-by-Design Energy Systems, Electromagnetic Compatibility Recent Publications: Survey on AI-driven anomaly detection, frameworks for secure energy communities, and datasets for battery storage monitoring Contact: Email: paola.girdinio@unige.it Phone: +39 010 33 52710 Office: Via Opera Pia 11, third floor, Genova
Francesco Fiorito is an Associate Professor in High Performance Architecture at the Faculty of Built Environment of the University of New South Wales. Prior to joining UNSW, he held appointments at The University of Sydney in the Architectural Science discipline and at Politecnico di Bari (Italy) in the Architectural Engineering program. His educational background includes a MEng (1st class Hons), PhD, and CPEng (Italy). Fiorito's research focuses on facade engineering and design, with recent work centered on kinetic facades and smart materials including shape memory alloys, phase-change materials, and chromogenic materials. His research aims to create self-adaptive building components that reduce energy demand while improving indoor comfort. His current activities include development of smart kinetic facade technologies, integrated thermal and visual comfort analyses, implementation of photovoltachromics and electro-active polymers in building envelopes, and integration of renewable energy conversion systems. He serves as the Australian representative in the European COST Action on 'Adaptive Facades Network' and is Chief Investigator for the ARC-funded Training Centre for Advanced Manufacturing of Prefabricated Housing. 2015-2019: ARC Training Centre for Advanced Manufacturing of Prefabricated Housing 2014-2016: Sydney Opera House Concrete Conservation Strategy Project 2014-2015: Prototyping a self-adaptive shading device activated by smart materials 2014-2015: International Network for High Performance Smart Kinetic Facades 2013-2015: Smart materials for dynamically activated building components 2011-2012: BMG - biomimetic microwind generator project Fiorito is a member of the Chartered Institute of Engineers of Bari (since 2002), International Solar Energy Society (since 2004), and Ar.Tec. (Italian Architectural Engineering scientific association). His professional practice includes structural engineering, building integration of renewable energy systems, and restoration of historic buildings. He teaches ARCH1331 Architectural Fabrication, ARCH7809 Architectural Environment and Building Services, and ARCH7213 High Performance Building Systems at UNSW.
Anne Toewe is a Professor of Theatre Arts and the head of Design and Technology at the School of Theatre Arts and Dance, University of Northern Colorado. She also serves as the Resident Costume Designer. With a career spanning academia and professional theatre, she has taught Costume Design, Costume Technology, Stage Makeup, and Introduction to Theatre at institutions including New World School of the Arts, Florida Atlantic University, and Palm Beach Atlantic College. B.A. in Biology from The College of William and Mary MFA in Costume Design from Tulane University Ph.D. from the University of Colorado at Boulder Her research focuses on Costume Design , integrating historical and contemporary practices in theatre, opera, film, and television. She has designed costumes for over sixty productions at UNC, including Sweeney Todd , Jekyll and Hyde , and Titanic , with work recognized by the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival and the Greeley Tribune. She authored the book Flowers in the Desert (2014), exploring Cirque du Soleil's impact on Las Vegas performance culture. Her career bridges academia and industry, including freelance work with Parsons-Meares on Broadway. Carbonelle Award for Best Costume Design (The Dead, GableStage) KCACTF Meritorious Achievement Awards (multiple) KCACTF Meritorious Achievement Award for Best Direction (Eclipsed)
Introduction: Kenneth Amis serves as Assistant Professor of Tuba at Berklee College of Music's Boston Conservatory since 2006, with concurrent appointments as assistant conductor of the MIT Wind Ensemble, wind ensemble director at Lynn University, and tuba professor at Boston University, Longy School of Music, and New England Conservatory. His multifaceted career spans performance, composition, and conducting across major musical institutions. Education: Bachelor of Music in Composition from Boston University (enrolled at age 16) Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music in Performance Master of Music in Composition from New England Conservatory Research Interests: Amis specializes in contemporary wind ensemble composition and brass performance practices, with significant contributions to tuba repertoire through commissioned works for academic and professional ensembles. His creative output focuses on expanding brass chamber music literature while integrating traditional forms with modern techniques, evidenced by performances from Shanghai Symphony Orchestra to Royal Academy of Music Symphonic Winds. Educational philosophy emphasizes student autonomy in musical development. Scientific Awards: Outstanding Alumni Award from New England Conservatory (2003) Advising and Grants: Mentors students through personalized pedagogical approaches centered on self-directed learning in tuba performance and composition. Commissioned works from organizations like College Band Directors National Association and consortiums of 20+ universities demonstrate significant grant recognition, though specific funding amounts remain undocumented. Labs and Teams: Principal tuba player for Empire Brass since 1993 and Palm Beach Opera Orchestra, while leading Lynn University Wind Ensemble. Serves as performing artist for Besson instruments, influencing tuba design and performance standards through professional collaborations.
Dr. Emmanuelle Saulnier-Cassia is an Associate Professor of Public Law at the University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ) , where she co-directs the Master 2 Recherche Droit international et européen des droits fondamentaux and has held leadership roles including Deputy Director of the DEM Doctoral School and Director of the Versailles Saint Quentin Laboratory public institutions (VIP) . Her academic career spans roles in doctoral education, research governance, and cross-institutional collaboration with Paris-Saclay University. Her interdisciplinary research bridges European Union Law with theater studies and human rights , focusing on contentious dramaturgical quarrels, EU legal frameworks, and cultural administration. She has authored and edited significant works on EU terrorism sanctions, parliamentary participation in European integration, and art-law intersections. Recent publications explore EU-Brexit legal dynamics , operatic interpretations of human rights , and censorship in performing arts . Her academic service includes jury memberships for national competitions and scientific prize evaluations. 2022 : Senate thesis prize jury member 2016 : IHEDN scientific prize jury appointment
Stefan Herheim is a Professor II at the Opera Academy since 2018. He is an acclaimed opera director with a diploma in musical theatre directing from the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hamburg. Herheim has resided in Berlin since 2000 and is active in international opera productions. Current affiliations: Opera Academy Past teaching roles: Humboldt University Berlin, Hans Eisler Music Hochschule Berlin, Hamburg Music Hochschule, Karlsruhe Music Hochschule, Ca' Foscari University Venice Research and practice focus on innovative opera staging and classical music interpretation. His work spans major international opera houses, including Royal Opera House London, Opéra National de Paris, and Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin. Key accolades: Anders Jahres Cultural Prize (2013) Opernwelt "Director of the Year" (three-time) Herheim directed Wagner's "Der Ring des Nibelungen" at Deutsche Oper Berlin (2020) and will assume opera directorship at Theater an der Wien starting 2022-23 season.
John Singleton Hollins serves as Associate Professor of Music and Associate Director of Choral Studies at Texas Tech University's School of Music, a position held continuously since 2002. An accomplished conductor, pianist, organist, and baritone soloist, he has performed internationally at venues including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and concert stages across Germany, Czech Republic, South Africa, and Italy, while actively contributing to the American Choral Directors Association as a former Repertoire and Standards Chair. Dr. Hollins earned advanced degrees that underpin his expertise in multiple musical disciplines. Doctor of Musical Arts (Choral Conducting, Piano Performance, Musicology) - Southern Seminary Master of Church Music (Organ and Piano) - Southern Seminary Bachelor of Music (Piano Pedagogy) - University of South Carolina His research centers on American composer Dan Locklair's sacred choral works, the synthesis of vocal and conducting pedagogy, and musical-cultural seminars in Germany's historic regions. A passionate advocate for music education, he has shaped community initiatives like Voices of Kentuckiana and the Kentucky Opera's "Music! Words! Opera!" program where students create original operas. Dr. Hollins received the Steinway & Sons Honor in 2024 for advancing piano pedagogy and liturgical pianism through Spirio|r technology. Steinway & Sons Honor (2024) In his academic role, he designs graduate choral literature sequences, teaches undergraduate conducting, maintains an applied organ studio, and directs doctoral research while leading seven university ensembles. His extensive opera direction includes Texas Tech productions of Susannah, Carmen, and Le Nozze di Figaro, plus professional engagements with Lubbock Moonlight Musicals and Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre. Complementing his academic work, he serves as Organist and Choirmaster at St. Paul's-on-the-Plains Episcopal Church, continuing a 40-year career as a church musician across Presbyterian, Baptist, and Methodist traditions.
Frances Brockington is an Associate Professor of Voice at Wayne State University's Department of Music, where she teaches courses like Opera Workshop and Diction and Song Literature . A Detroit native and accomplished soprano, she performs extensively in opera, oratorio, and sacred music contexts while maintaining a private studio and adjudicating nationally. Director of Music at St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church Master Teacher designation Author of A Troubleshooter's Voice Manual and Singers on the Move Featured artist on OCP-label CDs and co-creator of children's operas Her research interests span vocal pedagogy, sacred music traditions, and interdisciplinary performance practices. As an organizational leader, she previously directed Detroit Archdiocese's Cantor Certification Program and shaped music education policy through Joy Preparatory Academy and Artspectrum board presidencies.
