Hedvig Jalhed is a Senior Lecturer at Lund University's Faculty of Fine and Performing Arts, affiliated with the Inter Arts Center. As an opera artist-scholar, she pioneers multi-sensory composition and AI integration in contemporary chamber opera through practice-led research. Active in fields of Opera, Artificial Intelligence, and Game Design Manages infrastructure projects like Creative Data Lab Collaborates with researchers across disciplines including Digital Humanities and Creative Technologies Her work explores immersive performance through larping, role-playing, and interactive systems, creating novel operatic concepts for contemporary audiences. Recent outputs examine embodiment in opera, AI-based casting systems, and the intersection of ritual with performance technologies.
Chris Greenhalgh is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Nottingham, where he co-leads the Mixed Reality Laboratory and is a member of the Horizon Digital Economy Research Institute. He has been a member of academic staff in the School of Computer Science since 1996 and has served in various administrative roles including Senior Tutor and Director of Taught Programmes. First class BA (with distinction) in Electrical and Information Sciences from Cambridge University (1991) PhD in Large Scale Collaborative Virtual Environments from University of Nottingham (1997) Professor Greenhalgh's research focuses on interactive and multi-user applications, software infrastructure for networked, mobile and embedded systems, and empowering people to use complex technologies. His work spans ubiquitous computing, personal data management, and interactive music-based experiences. He is particularly known for developing the Muzicodes interactive musical control system and the daoplayer app for adaptive mobile music experiences. His recent publications show a strong focus on responsible innovation, digital mental health interventions, and human-computer interaction, with an increasing emphasis on applications in mental health, ethical technology development, and creative computing. His work bridges technical infrastructure development with practical applications in health, music, and everyday experiences. 1998 BCS/CPHC Distinguished Dissertations in Computer Science competition winner PhD thesis published by Springer as a result of this award Professor Greenhalgh has supervised numerous PhD students across multiple disciplines including Computer Science, Cultural Studies, Architecture, Sociology, and Mental Health. He has been a co-investigator on significant projects including the Databox project for personal data management and the FAST IMPACt programme grant for interactive music systems. His work often involves interdisciplinary collaboration and public engagement through partnerships with artists and performers. He co-leads the Mixed Reality Laboratory and has been instrumental in developing several research platforms including the MASSIVE Collaborative Virtual Environment system, the Equator Integrated Platform (EQUIP), and the Digital Replay System (DRS). His current work focuses on personal data stores, interactive music experiences, and accountable Internet of Things systems.
Edward Check serves as Senior Lecturer in Theatre at Smith College, where he teaches set and production design for theatre and film while actively designing for the Theatre Department's productions. His academic credentials include: M.F.A. from Yale University B.F.A. from the State University of New York, Purchase College Check's professional practice centers on theatrical and cinematic spatial design, with expertise spanning historical drama, contemporary plays, and opera. His portfolio demonstrates mastery in creating immersive environments for diverse narratives, from classical works like Macbeth and Hamlet to modern pieces including Dance Nation and The Wolves . He bridges academic instruction with professional practice through international projects like the Beijing production of Eurydice and collaborations with institutions including Amherst College and University of Massachusetts. His industry recognition includes Emmy nominations for HBO's "Sex and the City" art direction, while his film credits span major productions like "Spider-Man 2" and "Batman Forever". Check also contributed to cultural preservation through the "Celebrating the Fiber Arts" exhibition at Historic Deerfield's Flynt Center, demonstrating applied design in museum contexts.
Massimiliano Savorra is an Associate Professor at the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering , University of Pavia. His research spans Architectural History , Urban History , and History of Design , with a focus on ideological architecture, cultural transfers, and interdisciplinary methodologies. Educational Focus: Specializes in Beaux-Arts pedagogy and historical architectural education Research Themes: Explores fascist-era maternal architecture, post-war urban resilience, and the intersection of politics with architectural form His recent publications examine digital tools in heritage preservation , thermal park architectures , and 20th-century urban transformations . While he has no listed scientific awards, his work frequently analyzes ideological re-signification of buildings and interdisciplinary urban studies . He contributes to academic discourse through detailed historical investigations rather than student supervision.
Aku Matti Ilari Meriläinen is a Doctoral Researcher at Aalto University's School of Arts, Design and Architecture. They work at the intersection of media art and artistic research, focusing on practices that challenge normative expectations by integrating digital technologies and performing arts. Current focus: Combining artistic processes with new technologies to identify discriminatory cultural features from the crip perspective. Key project: Crip Sex Worker (Instagram: @Nakurampa) exploring online sex work as a non-binary person living with Multiple Sclerosis. Collaboration: Photographer Tuisku Lehto in projects like Utopiakaupunkia etsimässä and Crip Sex Worker . Their research interests center on: Dismantling the dominant male gaze in pornography through queer and anti-ableist perspectives. Expanding representations of disability through artistic practices. Developing media art that critiques societal norms around gender and ability. Exploring embodiment in digital performance and immersive technologies. Publications span 2021–2025 with titles including AeRaTe , Hypnos , and Poppean kruunaus , reflecting interdisciplinary work between technology, performance, and social critique. Collaborations include Elina Koivisto, Cynthia Blanchette, Tuisku Lehto, and Tanja Bastamow.
Dan Newell serves as Trumpet Professor at the Royal College of Music within the Faculty of Brass. He holds the prestigious position of principal cornet with the Royal Opera House orchestra and maintains an active performance career that bridges classical and commercial music worlds. His professional expertise spans multiple domains of brass performance: Trumpet Performance techniques and pedagogy Orchestral brass repertoire and execution Commercial music production across film, television, and video games Music education for children and families Newell has performed on over 200 film, TV, and video soundtracks while collaborating with major artists including Muse, Florence and the Machine, Sam Smith, and Sir Paul McCartney, demonstrating exceptional versatility across musical genres. He created Billy's Band, an innovative musical adventure project designed to inspire children and families to engage with music creation. His dual career as both a performing artist with major orchestras and popular music artists provides unique insights for students navigating contemporary music careers. Professional correspondence may be directed to daniel.newell@rcm.ac.uk .
Marko Malenica is a Lecturer at the University of the North (Burgenland), where he has been teaching since the 2019/2020 academic year. He holds a physics degree from the Faculty of Science and Mathematics in Zagreb and is pursuing a doctoral degree in international economic relations and management. His academic work includes contributions to the OPERA collaboration, participation in international conferences (e.g., Bogota, Irkutsk, Qui Nhon), and co-authorship of 11 scientific articles. He has also taught physics at the School of Graphics, Design and Media Production in Zagreb (2018-2020) and worked at the Ruđer Bošković Institute (2013-2017). His research spans particle physics (specifically neutrino oscillations and cosmic rays) and international economic management. He actively participated in OPERA collaborative meetings in Capri, Rome, Zagreb, and Gran Sasso. Beyond academia, he co-founded multiple companies and had a notable basketball career with Croatian national teams and clubs.
Ryan Belock serves as Assistant Professor of Digital and Immersive Media at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory, specializing in projection design and digital storytelling for live performance. His professional collaborations span major institutions: Irish Repertory Theatre Urban Stages The Public Theater Juilliard The Princeton Festival Papermill Playhouse Goodspeed Opera House City Springs Theatre Eccles Theater Notre Dame Stadium Tuacahn Amphitheatre Strathmore Music Center The Kennedy Center Academic credentials include an MFA in Integrated Media for Live Performance and Arts Management certificate from UT Austin, plus a multidisciplinary BA from Notre Dame covering Music, Film/Television/Theatre, and Art History. Research focuses on technological integration in performance through movement-media-music synthesis, advancing immersive storytelling techniques for theatre, dance, and music events while redefining stagecraft boundaries. Key projects include Associate Video Designer for Broadway-bound "A Wonderful World", projection editing for "Here Lies Love" and "Dear Evan Hansen", and Blue Man Group collaboration as IATSE United Scenic Artists 829 member. Personal pursuits include skiing, hiking, and kayaking with family: wife Michelle, son Neil, and golden retriever Sydney.
Dr. Susan Peters is an Associate Professor at Utrecht University's Department of Population Health Sciences, affiliated with the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS). She leads the Occupational Health group, focusing on exposure assessment science and chronic disease epidemiology. Her research examines external causes of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and respiratory conditions, aiming to improve global working conditions. Her research interests center on occupational epidemiology, exposome science, and quantitative data analysis. Key areas include developing job-exposure matrices (JEMs), assessing workplace carcinogens (e.g., benzene, silica, metals), and investigating links between environmental exposures and neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and Parkinson's. She coordinates international projects such as EPHOR (Exposome Project for Health and Occupational Research) and SYNERGY (occupational carcinogen interactions). Recent publications demonstrate a strong emphasis on neurodegenerative diseases (particularly Parkinson's and ALS), occupational carcinogens, and innovative exposure assessment methods. Over 60% of her last 15 articles focus on metal/environmental exposures and neurological outcomes, while 30% advance exposure assessment methodologies like AI-driven job coding and COVID-19 JEM validation. She holds key editorial roles ( Associate Editor of Occupational and Environmental Medicine ; Assistant Editor of Annals of Work Exposures and Health ) and serves on advisory committees including the Dutch Expert Committee on Occupational Safety (Health Council of the Netherlands) and the Advisory Committee on Occupational Diseases. She leads multiple EU Horizon 2020 projects including EPHOR, OPERAS, and OMEGA-NET, focusing on harmonizing occupational exposure data across Europe.
Patrick Reading is a Professor of Practice and Technical Director at Kansas State University's School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. Returning to his alma mater, he previously served as a Teaching Assistant Professor/Technical Director at the University of North Dakota, where he oversaw technical operations, stage management, and properties while designing for regional community theatre and arts groups. Current roles: Professor of Practice, Technical Director Prior roles: Teaching Assistant Professor/Technical Director at University of North Dakota Professional work: Production Manager for South Dakota and North Dakota Shakespeare Festival's The Merchant of Venice (2024), technical director for North Dakota Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors (2022) Volunteer leadership: Kennedy Center American College Theatre Region V Stage Management Fellowship Coordinator, KCACTF Region V Advisor Board member His expertise spans technical theatre, sound design, and theatrical production, with notable projects including designing for opera companies, repertory theatres, and creating promotional art installations like the 8’ tall monster for the North Dakota Museum of Art's Maurice Sendak exhibition.
Ben Stark is a Professor in the Theatre department at Kansas State University's School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, and serves as the Assistant Dean for Infrastructure and Faculty Support. His academic and professional career spans multiple prestigious theatrical institutions including Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre, Wolf Trap Opera, and collaborations with Hudson Scenic Studios on Broadway productions such as Sweeney Todd . His research and professional interests focus on Theatre Production, Stage Design, and Opera. With extensive experience as a project manager for scenic studios and festivals, Stark has contributed to the technical and managerial aspects of theatre, including scenic art and stage management. His work bridges academic theatre with professional practice, emphasizing practical production skills and infrastructure support. Stark has been involved in numerous theatrical projects, including Off-Broadway at Soho Rep and various projects for Hudson Scenic Studios. His professional background includes work at Mystic Scenic Studios, Nebraska Shakespeare Festival, and Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, showcasing his expertise in diverse theatrical settings.
Wolfgang Gratschmaier , born in 1960 in Styria, is a tenor, director, and lecturer active at the Music and Arts Private University of the City of Vienna since 2015. His career spans performing and directing roles at institutions like the Vienna Volksoper (since 2003), Graz Opera House, and international guest engagements in Berlin, Prague, Seoul, and the USA. He studied singing under Prof. Gerhard Kahry at the Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts and acting with Georg Tabori at Vienna’s Schauspielhaus. Co-founder of Vienna’s independent opera scene Founder of Theatergarten , pioneering collaborative directing with female co-directors Co-founder of neueoper.at (since 1989) Artistic director of SCHLOSS THALHEIM CLASSIC (since 2017) Gratschmaier’s research interests intersect opera performance, theatrical innovation, and scenic design, informed by his interdisciplinary career. He has directed productions of Tosca , I Pagliacci , Don Giovanni , and others, blending classical and modern approaches. His work emphasizes collaborative frameworks in opera staging.
Vera-Viktoria Szirmay serves as a Professor at the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna since 2010 within the Faculty of Performing Arts' Department of Dance. She concurrently holds instructional roles at the University Sports Institute Vienna since 1994 and previously contributed to Danube University Krems' International ChoreoLab Austria (2009-2010). Her academic foundation includes: Classical ballet training at Vienna State Opera Ballet School and Hungarian University of Dance Arts (1992) Ballet pedagogy certification (Vaganova system) from Hungarian University of Dance Arts (1993) Diploma in Theatre Studies, Indology, and Ethnology from University of Vienna Doctoral studies in Theatre Studies with supplementary coursework in 'Culture and Organization' Her research integrates performance practice with scholarly inquiry across Ballet technique, Dance Pedagogy methodologies, Choreographic development, Classical Indian Dance (specifically Odissi), and Theatre Studies. This interdisciplinary approach manifests through international performance tours, specialized seminars, and cross-cultural choreographic projects emphasizing embodied knowledge transfer. No scientific awards were documented in the source material. Her academic mentorship includes supervision of dance practitioners through institutional programs, though specific advisee names remain unlisted. Professional activities span curriculum development for the International ChoreoLab Austria and sustained pedagogical contributions across ballet, pointe work, and classical Indian dance instruction. Collaborative work centers on the International ChoreoLab Austria/Krems initiative where she co-designed study frameworks during her 2009-2010 tenure, fostering experimental choreographic research within academic settings.
Wojciech Dziedzic is a fashion and costume designer currently serving as Lecturer and Head of the Faculty of Fashion Design Profile at Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam, with additional teaching duties at Central Saint Martins in London. His academic background includes: Fashion studies at Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam Training at Arnhem Fashion Institute MA in Fashion/Womenswear at Central Saint Martins under Professor Louise Wilson Dziedzic's creative practice centers on avant-garde fashion design and theatrical costume production, with significant contributions to opera and stage productions. His work bridges contemporary womenswear techniques with performance-oriented design, demonstrated through international exhibitions including London Fashion Week and Dutch Touch showcases in Paris and Rome (2003, 2005). No scientific awards were documented in the source material. Professional mentorship activities and research funding sources remain unspecified in available records. Design studios and collaborative production teams are not detailed in the provided biographical information.
Dr. Avra Xepapadakou is an Associate Professor at the Department of Education, School of Education, University of Nicosia. She specializes in performing arts, musicology, and 19th-century cultural history, with a focus on Eastern Mediterranean markets. As Program Coordinator, she leads academic initiatives while curating archives for renowned theatre directors Romeo Castellucci and Dimitris Papaioannou. Current research involves Balzan Prize-funded projects (2016) at Oxford and Universität Zürich Collaborates with European cultural institutions on digital archives Her research explores: 19th-century salon music and theatrical networks Historical institutionalization of creative industries Contemporary performance curation Scientific contributions include: Co-authoring Interspersed with Musical Entertainment (2017) Developing Thymèle, a dynamic multimedia performing arts dictionary She has pioneered: Modern approaches to theatrical archive infrastructure Cross-cultural analysis of European opera and melodrama
