Find Academic Supervisors

VESNA RILAK-STANIMIROVIĆView profile

Associate Professor

• Classical Music
• Orchestral Performance
• Chamber Music
• +3 more

Vesna Rilak-Stanimirović is an Associate Professor at the Department of String Instruments (Viola, main subject) within the Faculty of Music Arts. She holds an MA from the Faculty of Music Arts in Skopje (1961), studying under Prof. Ljubomir Gospodinov, and further trained under Prof. Ognjan Stanev in Sofia. A distinguished performer, she has been a member of the Symphony Orchestra of Radio-Television Ljubljana, leading over 200 concerts across Europe, and served as viola leader of the Niš Symphony Orchestra and the String Chamber Orchestras of KPGT Theatre and Constantinus. She has collaborated with leading European conductors and soloists, and since 2001, performs as a soloist with pianist Hristina Vuković, appearing at festivals like NIMUS, SANU Gallery, and OKTOH. Her pedagogical excellence is evidenced by her students’ prestigious awards at competitions. She served as a jury member for Nataša Stanojević’s doctoral project at Belgrade’s Faculty of Music Arts. She has recorded for Radio-Television Skoplje and remains active in both performance and education.

• Classical Music
• Chamber Music
• Viola Performance
• +3 more

Krzysztof Komendarek-Tymendorf is an Associate Professor of Viola and Chamber Music at the Stanisław Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdańsk and the Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz. He holds a PhD and habilitation, specializing in viola performance and contemporary music interpretation. His academic career began at age 24 after winning assistant professor competitions. He has performed globally with major orchestras like the National Philharmonic, Gdańsk Baltic Opera, and international festivals including Berliner Philharmonie and Vienna Konzerthaus. He completed postgraduate studies in Culture Management and MBA at Adam Mickiewicz University. Notable awards include the Bronze Medal for Merit to Culture (Gloria Artis), Opus Klassik nomination, and Fryderyk Award recognition. His discography includes acclaimed albums like ReVIOLAtion (NAXOS) and Quantum of Silence (ODRADEK). As an educator, he teaches at three institutions and mentors over 40 students, many of whom hold positions in leading orchestras and music schools. He actively engages in masterclasses across Europe and North America, and leads initiatives like the EURO Chamber Music Festival. His research focuses on Baroque to contemporary viola repertoire, with publications in the Journal of the American Viola Society.

Lisa DowdallView profile

Lecturer

• Chamber Music
• Contemporary Music
• Baroque Music
• +3 more

Lisa Dowdall is a viola faculty member in the Strings department at the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM). She specializes in chamber music across historical periods and contemporary genres, blending classical traditions with experimental collaborations. Her performance career spans major venues like Carnegie Hall, BBC Proms, and the Edinburgh Festival, alongside residencies at institutions such as Princeton University and Aldeburgh Residencies. Ensembles: Crash Ensemble (new music), Irish Baroque Orchestra, Camerata Kilkenny, and Spackling Band Specializations: Viola d’amore, baroque viola, interdisciplinary projects with poets/dancers Recordings: NMC, Cantaloupe, Nonesuch, and Bedroom Community labels Her teaching extends to roles as an Arts Council Creative Associate and instructor for programs like the South African National Youth Orchestra and Irish Youth Baroque Orchestra.

Heather Austin-StoneView profile

Lecturer

• Violin Performance
• Music Education
• Chamber Music
• +3 more

Heather Austin-Stone is a violinist and music educator affiliated with Shepherd University's School of Music, where she teaches violin and viola. She holds positions as Concertmaster of the Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra, Assistant Concertmaster of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra, and 1st violinist with the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra. Her performance experience includes engagements with the Fairfax Symphony, Prince William Symphony, Annapolis Symphony, and Kennedy Center performances. She is a strolling violinist at Violino Ristorante Italiano and co-founder of the Shenandoah Virtuosi String Quartet, which has produced a CD and performs for weddings and events. Teaching roles include Shepherd University and the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts in Hagerstown, MD. At Shepherd, she also serves as the 1st violin sectional coach for the Shepherd Community Orchestra and teaches in the preparatory division. Her 2012 solo performance of Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto with the Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra highlights her artistic achievements.

• Music History
• Viola Performance
• Jazz Strings
• +3 more

Dr. Sonya Lawson is a Professor at Westfield State University, specializing in Music History with a Supporting Area in Viola Performance. She earned her B.M. from the University of Memphis, M.M. from the University of Minnesota, and Ph.D. from the University of Oregon, where her dissertation explored the history of strings in jazz. Education: B.M. (University of Memphis), M.M. (University of Minnesota), Ph.D. (University of Oregon) Her research interests include cognitive musicology, innovations in music history pedagogy, and the intersection of string instruments with jazz traditions. Dr. Lawson has authored pioneering publications on jazz violists and the historical evolution of string instruments in jazz, contributing to broader discussions in musicology and performance studies. Professionally, she has served as Principal Violist of the Tennessee Philharmonic and Assistant Principal of the Cheyenne Symphony. As a member of The Knotty Ensemble, an avant-garde chamber group, she has released two CDs on the Third Rail label, blending classical and jazz traditions.

Max WolpertView profile

Assistant Clinical Professor

• Composition
• Contemporary Classical Music
• Multimedia Music Theater
• +7 more

Max Wolpert is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Composition at the Lionel Hampton School of Music, University of Idaho, within the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences. He is a composer, fiddler, and educator whose work bridges traditional, classical, and theatrical music, often drawing on themes of myth and the macabre. Education: D.M.A. in Composition, University of Colorado – Boulder M.M. in Composition, University of Colorado – Boulder B.M. in Professional Music with Conducting Minor, Berklee College of Music Wolpert's research and artistic practice focus on dramatic, narrative-driven compositions that merge diverse musical worlds. His works, such as Monster Dances: A Multimedia Ghost Story for Viola Alone and the forthcoming Leviathans cello concerto, explore folklore, horror, and multimedia storytelling. He is passionate about integrating composition into instrumental pedagogy, having led tunewriting workshops and co-authored the forthcoming method book The Tune Bug . His music has been performed by orchestras including the Colorado Symphony and La Jolla Symphony & Chorus, and at international festivals in Brazil and England. Wolpert actively collaborates with artists across disciplines, including banjoist Jayme Stone, dance company Pilobolus, and violist Brett Deubner. His recordings appear on Naxos Records and Yellow Sound Label. Scientific Awards: No awards explicitly mentioned. Wolpert is dedicated to mentoring and educational outreach through workshops and curriculum development. He has presented at institutions such as CU Boulder, Colorado State University, and the American String Teachers Association national conference. While no formal list of advisees is provided, his pedagogical initiatives indicate a strong commitment to student engagement and creative development. He is involved in innovative artistic teams and collaborative projects, including multimedia performances with visual artist Ryo Nishikawa and interdisciplinary productions with theater and dance ensembles.

Anna WomackView profile

Lecturer

• Classical Music Performance
• String Instrument Pedagogy
• Chamber Music
• +3 more

Anna Womack is a Lecturer in Music (Viola) at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa's Department of Music. She has been a member of the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra since 1994 and has over 30 years of teaching experience in viola and violin. Her students have achieved recognition in Hawaii State Music Competitions and performed internationally in Europe and Asia. She operates a private studio and is affiliated with the Galliard String Quartet (Chamber Music Hawaii) and Pacific International Concert Artists (PICA). She also performs with the Lutheran Church of Honolulu’s Bach Chamber Orchestra and UH Faculty String Quartet. An advocate for new music, she has premiered works by her husband, composer Donald Reid Womack. Her professional activities align with her roles in ensemble performance, music education, and contemporary composition advocacy. No specific scientific awards or grants are mentioned for Anna Womack personally in the provided text. Her academic contributions focus on pedagogy and performance, with no listed publications or student advisement details provided here.

Yuta NishiyamaView profile

Lecturer

• Violin and Viola Performance
• Orchestral Conducting
• String Instrument Pedagogy
• +3 more

Yuta Nishiyama serves as a Lecturer at Berlin University of the Arts within the Faculty of Music's Institute for Artistic Training - Orchestral Instruments and Conducting, specializing in viola performance and pedagogy. His research and teaching domains encompass: Advanced string technique development Orchestral repertoire interpretation Historically informed performance practices Music pedagogy for string instruments Chamber ensemble coaching Conducting methodology Contact is facilitated through institutional email: y.nishiyama@udk-berlin.de.

Peter V. SwendsenView profile

Associate Professor

• Computer Music
• Digital Arts
• Soundscape Composition
• +4 more

Peter V. Swendsen is an Associate Professor of Computer Music and Digital Arts at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, part of Oberlin College. His work bridges music composition, digital arts, and interdisciplinary performance, often collaborating with dance and visual media. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia, an MFA from Mills College, and a BM from Oberlin Conservatory. Swendsen's research focuses on soundscape composition, ecoacoustics, and interactive technologies. Notable projects include What Noises Remain (a multimedia piece with Jennifer Torrence) and scores for dance works like Valence and LUNA . His compositions blend live instruments with electronics, emphasizing spatial and environmental themes. Teaching highlights include courses on electroacoustic music, real-time performance, and interdisciplinary collaborations. He has mentored over 20 students listed on his site, many of whom continue in music composition and performance fields. His work has been presented globally, including at the International Computer Music Conference (ICMC) and festivals in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Swendsen’s creative output spans film scores, chamber music, and installations. Recent works include Fireboys (2020 documentary soundtrack) and How Forests Think (2020 album liner notes). He actively engages with community outreach, including workshops for K-12 students and collaborations with institutions like the Cleveland Clinic and GroundWorks Dance Theater.

• String Performance (Viola)
• Music Education
• Community Engagement
• +2 more

Benedict Ng serves as a Teaching Assistant in the Career Orientation and Community Engagement Team at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (YST), National University of Singapore. A Singaporean violist and music educator, he actively bridges performance practice with community outreach through orchestral collaborations and educational initiatives. His academic credentials include First Class Honours in Music from King's College London and a Master's in Viola Performance from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where he studied under James Sleigh, Duncan Ferguson, and Dr. Yeo Jan Wea. Ng's artistic philosophy centers on music's transformative community impact. His performance practice spans orchestral engagements with the Metropolitan Festival Orchestra and Orchestra of the Music Makers, chamber collaborations, and international projects including side-by-side performances with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. His educational focus emphasizes accessible music pedagogy through school workshops and community programs. His distinguished recognitions include: Anthony and Susan Chow International Travel Prize enabling recitals in Penang and Wuxi Finalist in the RCS Governor’s Recital String Award Competition King’s Experience Award for community service through London City Mission Ng demonstrates sustained commitment to educational outreach through workshops at Yuhua Secondary School and National Junior College, OMM’s Community Engagement Team initiatives (PlaywithOMM, OMM Open House), and Benedetti Foundation ambassadorship. His current YST role integrates career development support with community engagement strategies for music students.

Colin RileyView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Music Composition
• Contemporary Classical Music
• Improvisation
• +3 more

Colin Riley is a Senior Lecturer at Brunel University London, affiliated with the Music department under the College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences. He is a composer whose work integrates new technologies, improvisation, song-writing, and large-scale classical forms, creating genre-defying music performed by leading UK ensembles like the BBC Symphony Orchestra and London Sinfonietta. His research interests focus on blending diverse stylistic approaches, with recent compositions including the concerto Warp and Weft , collaborative work In Place , and the percussion piece Rock Paper Scissors . Riley also runs the independent label Squeaky Kate, releasing his own and associated artists' works, and is active in mentoring through the Adopt A Composer Scheme. His recent articles span compositions from 2013 to 2024, covering choral cycles like It Speaks Without Answer , orchestral works like Earth Voices , and experimental chamber pieces. These works often involve commissions from organizations such as the Arts Council of England, Wellcome Foundation, and international ensembles. Riley's teaching emphasizes composition mentorship, and he leads his ensembles Homemade Orchestra and MooV. He has collaborated with artists like Bill Bruford and Michael Rosen, and his works have been performed at venues including the Purcell Room and Queen Elizabeth Hall.

George TaylorView profile

Professor

• Viola Performance
• Chamber Music
• Music Education
• +3 more

George Taylor is a Professor of Viola at the Eastman School of Music , University of Rochester. As a dedicated educator, he co-hosted the 40th International Viola Congress and founded the "Viola Intensive" workshops, including summer technique sessions at Eastman. His career spans decades as a performer and teacher, with affiliations at institutions like Duke University's Ciompi Quartet (1979-1986) and summer programs including Meadowmount and Chautauqua. Taylor is an acclaimed violist known for his eloquence and sensitivity in performance. He has premiered works by composers such as Bill Dobbins and George Walker, and collaborated with ensembles like the Ritz Chamber Players and the Ying Quartet. His recording Night Strings with Nicholas Goluses received critical praise for its expressive tone and technical mastery. He also advocates for music by African-American composers through groups like the Black Music Repertory Ensemble. His professional activities include serving as a juror for international competitions and roles on the boards of the American Viola Society and Sphinx Organization. Taylor's teaching philosophy emphasizes chamber music training, and he has mentored students at programs such as The Castleman Quartet Program and Le Dormaine Forget. Educationally, Taylor studied at the Manhattan School of Music under Jaime Laredo, Raphael Bronstein, and Burton Kaplan, followed by viola studies with Michael Tree and Abraham Skernick. His chamber music mentors included Arthur Balsam, Joseph Gingold, and members of the Guarneri Quartet.

Sally BoudView profile

Lecturer

• Chamber Music
• String Performance
• Contemporary Music
• +2 more

Sally Boud serves as Lecturer in Viola and Chamber Music at Edith Cowan University's West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), concurrently holding the position of Quartet in Residence with the Darlington Quartet since 2023. Her academic foundation includes a Bachelor of Music from The University of Western Australia (1997), completed with First Class Honours under Berian Evans, followed by advanced studies in Berlin with Gertrude Rossbacher. Boud's artistic profile centers on string performance and chamber music innovation, particularly through viola specialization and contemporary Australian repertoire development. Her career demonstrates exceptional integration of performance practice with educational leadership, emphasizing collaborative interpretation and premiere performances of new compositions by Australian artists. Her documented creative output reveals a focused exploration of chamber music evolution, notably through the 2022 reinterpretation of guitar-string quartet works that bridges historical and contemporary performance traditions. Major competitive achievements include: Osaka International Competition First Prize (2002) Premio Paolo Borciani Second Prize (2005) Boud maintains an active mentoring role in viola and chamber music pedagogy while sustaining a high-profile performance career across major Australian and New Zealand orchestras. Her professional trajectory demonstrates continuous engagement with both educational and performance domains since leaving the Australian String Quartet in 2011.

Susan CrawfordView profile

Lecturer

• Violin Performance
• Viola Performance
• Music Education
• +3 more

Susan Crawford is a Lecturer in Violin and Viola at Carleton College , where she has taught since 2014. She offers courses in violin (MUSC 155/255) and viola (MUSC 156/256) at both introductory (100-level) and advanced (200-level) levels, with juried options (155J/255J, 156J/256J) for performance assessment. Degree: Bachelor of Music (BMus) from St. Olaf College Research & Teaching Focus: As a lecturer, her work centers on instrumental instruction, performance techniques, and pedagogy for string instruments. She also supervises recital courses (MUSL 355/356) for violin and viola. Contact: Office located at Weitz Center for Creativity M112; phone: 507 222 4329; email: scrawford@carleton.edu .

Adam PintoView profile

Lecturer

• Piano Performance
• Collaborative Composition (Improvisation/Open-form)
• Musical Modernism
• +3 more

Adam Pinto is a Lecturer at the Conservatorium of Music, University of Western Australia, specializing in musicology, aural studies, and piano performance. He actively collaborates with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra as a guest keyboardist and performs internationally in cross-genre projects like Mix’t and Rompduo . His post-doctoral research focuses on reviving works by composer Roger Smalley OAM, resulting in critically acclaimed recordings such as Transformation . Teaching: Aural studies, piano, 'Musical Revolutions' and 'Music in the 60s' courses Research: Innovations in collaborative composition, improvisation, and modernist virtuosity Recent work includes premiering compositions by Australian artists and participating in New Music Festivals globally. He has received the 2023 Conservatorium of Music Early-Career Research Award for his contributions to revitalizing modernist musical legacies. His performances have been praised for 'stunning virtuosity' (Neville Cohn) and historical significance (Limelight Magazine). Grants: U15K Grant (2020-2021) for research projects Key collaborations: Paul Tanner, Matt Styles, Barry Cockcroft Adam maintains active engagement with academic conferences, including the Musicological Society of Australia and British Saxophone Congress, furthering discourse on contemporary musicology and performance practices.