Operatic Design Professors and Supervisors

Leah ReidView profile

Assistant Professor

University of VirginiaUnited States

Dr. Leah Reid is an Assistant Professor of Composition at the University of Virginia , where she teaches courses in composition and technology. Her work bridges music composition , electroacoustic music , and sound art through explorations of timbre, space, and perception. D.M.A. and M.A. in Music Composition, Stanford University B.Mus, McGill University Reid’s research focuses on the perceptual modeling of timbre and its applications in creating immersive soundscapes. She has developed a multidimensional timbre model to explore relationships between reverberant space and timbre , often using interactive sound installations and electroacoustic techniques . Her recent articles/compositions emphasize spectral density , timbral transformation , and spatial audio design . Reid is a Vice President of the International Alliance for Women in Music (IAWM), Vice President for Programs and Projects for the Society of Electroacoustic Music in the United States (SEAMUS), and Artistic Director of the Boston New Music Initiative (BNMI). She has received commissions from ensembles including Accordant Commons , Jack Quartet , and Yarn/Wire , with presentations at international festivals such as ICMC , ManiFeste , and Tilde New Music Festival . 2022 Guggenheim Fellowship American Prize in Composition Pauline Oliveros Award (IAWM) Fellowships from MacDowell, Yaddo, and Copland House Her collaborative projects and educational outreach highlight her engagement with emerging composers and technology-driven music . Reid’s works are published by Ablaze Records, New Focus Recordings, and BabelScores, reflecting her influence in contemporary acousmatic and electroacoustic circles.

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Allison WenteView profile

Associate Professor

Elon UniversityUnited States

Allison Wente is an Associate Professor of Music and Chair of the Department of Music at Elon University, where she coordinates the Theory Area and teaches courses ranging from foundational music theory to senior seminars. Her research bridges musicology, labor studies, and technology history. PhD in Music Theory from The University of Texas at Austin Former Assistant Professor at SUNY Fredonia (2016–2018) Dr. Wente’s research focuses on mechanical instruments and early recording technologies, particularly the player piano’s impact on musical labor and culture. Her book The Player Piano and Musical Labor: The Ghost in the Machine (2022) examines how automation reshaped musical economies and aesthetics. Recent publications analyze Taylorized labor in music, mechanical memory in media, and pedagogical innovations like the Search-Solve-Sing aural skills model. She has presented at leading conferences including the Society for Music Theory and Society for Ethnomusicology. Faculty Research and Development Hultquist Stipend (2019) New Faculty Summer Research Funding (2019) Dr. Wente mentors students and contributes to university governance through roles like Elon Core Curriculum Council Chair and University Lyceum Committee Chair. Her personal interests include reality TV, puzzles, and baking.

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María Carolina Andrada PáezView profile

Professor

Camilo José Cela UniversitySpain

María Carolina Andrada Páez is a Professor at Camilo José Cela University (Faculty of Education) and the University of Design and Technology (UDIT). She holds a PhD in Fine Arts and actively contributes to academia through teaching and research while maintaining a professional career as an exhibited painter and operatic soprano. Education PhD in Fine Arts, Miguel Hernández University of Elche (2015) Master's in Territory and Landscape, Miguel Hernández University of Elche (2012) Bachelor of Fine Arts, Polytechnic University of Valencia (2005) Research Focus Her work bridges Fine Arts, Painting, Music, and Technology, with emphasis on interdisciplinary art forms, audio design for gaming, and landscape aesthetics. She integrates practical artistry into pedagogical frameworks for education and digital media. Publication Themes Her scholarly articles analyze modern art movements, artist retrospectives (e.g., Markus Lüpertz), and cross-disciplinary connections between visual art and music, often exploring abstraction, figuration, and environmental themes. Awards Third International Painting Prize (2010) First National Painting Prize (2011) UNESCO Talents of the Valencian Community (2014) Opera Competition Finalist: Medinacelli (2014), Corsicalirica (2022) Advising She supervises Final Degree Projects at Camilo José Cela University, guiding students in education and creative disciplines.

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Hélène VisentinView profile

Professor

Smith CollegeUnited States

Hélène Visentin is a Professor of French Studies at Smith College , specializing in early modern literature, performing arts history, and digital humanities. She has taught courses on language and culture, Paris as a cultural capital, and French intellectuals. Education: Doctorat from Université de Paris-Sorbonne, Diplôme d'Études Approfondies from Université de la Sorbonne Nouvelle, and B.A./M.A. from University of Montreal. Her research examines the intersection of art and power in seventeenth-century France, particularly through machine theater and Baroque performance . She actively integrates digital humanities into teaching, co-developing a pedagogical edition of La Princesse de Clèves with interactive tools. Recent publications focus on Corneille's tragedies , Italian-French opera connections , and political symbolism in royal entries , demonstrating her interdisciplinary approach combining textual analysis with stage design and urban history . Visentin also served as Associate Dean for Academic Development (2020-2025), directing graduate programs and advancing faculty equity initiatives.

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Henrik AhrView profile

Professor

Mozarteum University SalzburgAustria

Henrik Ahr serves as Univ.-Prof. of Stage Design and head of the Department of Scenography at Mozarteum University Salzburg since 2010, where he integrates academic leadership with an active international career in theatre and opera design. Education Studied architecture in Leipzig Artistic Practice and Research Focus Professor Ahr's work centers on innovative stage space creation through interdisciplinary fusion of painting, architecture, and performance theory. His research manifests in practical applications across European opera houses and theatres, emphasizing visual storytelling through minimalist yet conceptually rich environments. Key collaborations with directors like Tatjana Gürbaca demonstrate his focus on psychological depth in set design for complex operatic narratives. Scientific Awards Invitation to the Berlin Theater Meeting (2003) Borštnikova Theater Prize for Best Stage Design (2011) International Opera Award (London, 2013) Production of the Year by Opernwelt magazine (2013) Professional Collaborations and Future Work Ahr maintains decade-long partnerships with leading opera directors including Michael Thalheimer and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, producing award-winning works for institutions like the Bavarian State Opera and Vienna State Opera. His upcoming 2025 projects include the world premiere of Beat Furrer's 'Das große Feuer' at Zurich Opera House and Wagner's 'Tannhäuser' at Grand Théâtre de Genève, continuing his exploration of contemporary opera staging.

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Jenya TrubnikavaView profile

Visiting Assistant Professor

Macalester CollegeUnited States

Jenya Trubnikava is a pianist, vocal coach, and educator serving as Visiting Assistant Professor of Music at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University, Staff Accompanist at Macalester College, and Music Director at Edgcumbe Presbyterian Church in St. Paul. Born in Belarus, she represents the third generation of musicians in her family and is a native speaker of Russian and Belarusian. Her educational background includes: Belarus National Academy of Music Zürich University of Arts University of Minnesota Dr. Trubnikava specializes in Slavic operatic and art song repertoire as Russian repertoire/diction coach for the Minnesota Opera Resident Artists Program. Her scholarly work includes The Anthology of Belarusian Opera Arias , designed to make Belarusian vocal literature accessible to educators and performers. She co-founded the community ensemble Esperanza, which performs at nursing homes to provide musical comfort. No information available regarding student advising or research grants. Her professional collaborations span the Minnesota Opera, Minnesota Orchestra, Wayzata Symphony Orchestra (where she served 16 years as principal pianist), and masterclasses with renowned artists including Martin Katz (University of Michigan) and Håkan Hagegård (Royal College of Music, Stockholm).

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