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Anna Morcom is Professor and Mohindar Brar Sambhi Chair of Indian Music in the Department of Ethnomusicology at UCLA's Herb Alpert School of Music. She previously held a professorship at Royal Holloway, University of London, and earned her Ph.D. from SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies) in 2002, where she also completed her undergraduate studies in Ethnomusicology and Hindi (1993-1996). Her research spans music and dance in India and Tibet, employing ethnographic and oral historical methods to examine the intersections of musical culture with politics, nationalism, identity, gender, inequality, economic development, and media. Morcom's scholarship is notable for its interdisciplinary approach that bridges traditional and popular musics with contemporary theoretical frameworks. Her work demonstrates significant trends toward examining music within economic frameworks, particularly through her founding of SEM's Special Interest Group on Economic Ethnomusicology. Recent publications increasingly focus on cultural economies, performance labor, and the relationship between artistic practice and economic systems in South Asia. Society of Ethnomusicology's Allan Merriam prize (2014) Marcia Herndon prize of SEM's Gender and Sexualities section (2014) Morcom's research has been supported by multiple grants from the Leverhulme Trust and the British Academy. She has been interviewed by prominent media outlets including BBC Radio 4's Thinking Allowed, The Hindu, Tehelka, and Scroll regarding her influential work on Indian dance cultures. As founder of SEM's Special Interest Group on Economic Ethnomusicology, she has shaped scholarly discourse on the economic dimensions of musical practice. Her current projects include the monograph on Hindustani music and co-editing two significant volumes: Creative Economies of Culture in South Asia: Craftspeople Performers (Routledge) and the Oxford Handbook of Economic Ethnomusicology (OUP).

• Ethnomusicology
• Indian Music
• Tibetan Music
• +7 more

Seagh Kehoe is a Senior Lecturer in Chinese Studies at the University of Westminster's School of Humanities, joining in 2019. Previously, he taught at the University of Leicester, University of Nottingham, and University College Dublin. His research focuses on cultural dimensions of social and political transformation in modern China, particularly Chinese media representations of ethnicity, race, gender, sexuality, nationalism, and military. He holds a BA from University College Cork, an MA from Leiden University, and a PhD from the University of Nottingham, with additional studies in Mandarin and Tibetan. His academic work spans journal articles in China Quarterly , positions , and Media, Culture & Society , as well as edited volumes like Cultural China . His research interests include Tibet-China relations, critical university studies, and abolition theory. He supervises undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations on diverse socio-political topics. Kehoe has presented at conferences such as the British Association of China Studies and contributed to workshops on decolonizing Chinese studies. His recent work examines temporal politics in post-2008 Tibet and queer cinema in China. Education: BA Chinese Studies & Sociology (University College Cork) MA East Asian Politics (Leiden University) PhD (University of Nottingham) Mandarin Studies (Sichuan University) Tibetan Studies (Rangjung Yeshe Institute) Grants & Labs: Active in the Contemporary China Centre, contributing to interdisciplinary research on modern China.

• Chinese Media Representations
• Ethnicity and Race Studies
• Gender and Sexuality Studies
• +5 more

James A. Millward is a Professor of Inter-societal History at Georgetown University's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service and Department of History. He holds a Ph.D. in History from Stanford University (1993), an MA from the School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London, 1985), and a BA in East Asian Languages and Civilizations from Harvard (1983). Millward specializes in Qing imperial history, the Silk Road, Xinjiang studies, and cross-cultural musical exchanges across Eurasia. Research Interests: His work critically examines Sinicization narratives, the Qing tribute system, and the impact of colonial historiography on contemporary China's ethnic policies. He also explores musical instrument diffusion along the Silk Road, comparing lutes like the pipa and oud. Publications: Notable works include Eurasian Crossroads: A History of Xinjiang (2007, 2021), The Silk Road: A Very Short Introduction (2013), and chapters in edited volumes analyzing Qing multiculturalism and cultural assimilation frameworks. Academic Leadership: As former president of the Central Eurasian Studies Society (2010) and contributor to the International Studies Association award-winning Culture and Order in World Politics (2019), Millward bridges historical analysis with modern political discourse. Media Engagement: A frequent contributor to The New York Times , Washington Post , and international media, he provides expert commentary on Xinjiang, Uyghur issues, and China-West relations. His current projects include a study of lute cultural exchange and the book Decolonizing History in China , challenging exceptionalist narratives in mainland historiography.

• Qing Empire
• Silk Road
• Eurasian Lutes and Music
• +6 more

Stacey Van Vleet is an Assistant Professor at the University of California, Berkeley , specializing in the history of Tibet and Inner Asia. Her research explores how Tibetan historiography intersects with modern transformations in knowledge, economy, and governance, particularly through the lens of medical institutions during the Qing Empire and early 20th-century state-building projects. Previous Affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Central Eurasian Studies, Indiana University, Bloomington. Experience: Two decades of living, studying, and working in the Tibetan Buddhist world. Research Focus spans Sino-Tibetan relations, history of medicine, religion and secularism, borderlands, and manuscript/print culture. Her forthcoming book, The World the Medicine Buddha Built , analyzes Tibetan medical networks as tools of imperial governance and national identity formation. Recent Publications address intersections of medical reform, manuscript traditions, military health, and astrology in Tibet's socio-political evolution. Her work engages interdisciplinary methodologies to map knowledge systems across empires. Scientific Awards Society of Hellman Fellows award (2023-2024) American Council of Learned Societies Fellow (2018-2019) D. Kim Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow (2018-2019) Harvard University Fellow (2018-2019)

• History of Tibet and Inner Asia
• Sino-Tibetan relations
• History of science, technology, and medicine
• +7 more

Henry C. H. Shiu is an Assistant Professor in Chinese Buddhist Studies at the University of Toronto, affiliated with New College and Emmanuel College. He holds degrees from the University of Toronto’s Centre for the Study of Religion, including a BA, MA, and PhD. BA, Department of Religious Studies, University of Toronto MA, Centre for the Study of Religion, University of Toronto PhD, Centre for the Study of Religion, University of Toronto His research spans Mahayana Buddhism , focusing on historical and doctrinal aspects of Madhyamaka and Yogacara traditions, and the theory of Tathagatagarbha. He also explores contemporary Buddhist movements, Buddhist Chaplaincy, and Buddhism in Canada. Additional interests include Western classical music (with three publications via Oxford University Press) and Daoist texts like the Laozi and Zhuangzi. Shiu’s publications span Buddhist studies, ethics, and musicology, with a recent emphasis on Canadian Buddhist communities and cross-disciplinary intersections. He co-edited a special issue of the Canadian Journal of Buddhist Studies on Applied Buddhism and contributed to dialogues on Buddhist architecture and animal release practices. He has taught courses such as Buddhist Ethics, Buddhist Contemplative Care, and Buddhist Psychology, while serving as guest editor and receiving the Wabash Digital Salon Grant for documentary work. His affiliations include the American Academy of Religion and the International Association of Buddhist Studies.

• Mahayana Buddhism
• Madhyamaka
• Yogacara
• +7 more

Dr. Karen Huang is a Senior Lecturer in Asian Studies at the University of Auckland, specializing in Chinese Linguistics within the Faculty of Arts and Education. She holds a PhD in Linguistics from the University of Hawaii at Manoa (2012), alongside MA (2006) and BS (2003) degrees from National Taiwan University and the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Her research focuses on Chinese phonetics/phonology, dialects, sociolinguistics, and language policy, particularly in Taiwan. Key interests include lexical tone variation, language revitalization through music, and virtual language learning programs. She has published in journals like Journal of Chinese Linguistics and International Journal of Chinese Linguistics . Teaching responsibilities include modern Chinese language courses (CHINESE 101-302) and postgraduate educational linguistics (CHINESE 739). Current PhD supervision spans topics from Māori-Taiwan Indigenous language comparisons to game localization studies. She has served on academic committees since 2013 and contributed to language competitions as a judge. Research Themes: Language policy, tone systems, heritage language education Key Projects: Taiwan Mandarin tone evolution, Indigenous language revitalization via music Engagement: NZASIA conferences, Māori language comparison studies

• Chinese Linguistics
• Phonetics and Phonology
• Chinese Dialects
• +4 more

Dr. Ulrich Theobald is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chinese and Korean Studies at the University of Tübingen, Germany, within the Faculty of Humanities. He has been a dedicated academic at the university since 2003, advancing from Lecturer to Senior Lecturer in 2016. He holds a PhD in Sinology (2009) and an MBA in International Marketing (2002). His research focuses on the economic, military, and administrative history of late imperial China, particularly the Qing dynasty. Key areas include war finance and logistics, military reforms, bureaucratic appointments, and the sale of offices. He has led and participated in major research projects funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation. Dr. Theobald’s recent publications span topics such as Qing military logistics, the May Fourth Movement, demobilization discourse, and Tibetan military reform. His work appears in leading academic journals and edited volumes, reflecting a strong interdisciplinary approach combining history, economics, and political science. He is the editor and sole author of over 3,000 articles on ChinaKnowledge.de , a seminal online encyclopedia on Chinese history, literature, and art. He has co-edited volumes on money in Asia and Southwest China and authored the monograph War Finance and Logistics in Late Imperial China (Brill, 2013). Dr. Theobald actively supervises master’s students on contemporary Chinese politics and society. He teaches courses in modern Chinese history, economy, military history, and Sinology. He has served as co-editor of the journal East Asian Science, Technology, and Medicine and reviews for numerous academic journals. He has presented at international conferences and delivered public lectures on Chinese history, technology, and society. His work bridges classical sinology with modern political and social analysis, contributing significantly to both academic and public understanding of China.

• Late Imperial Chinese History
• Qing Dynasty Military History
• Economic History of China
• +23 more

Andrew Quintman is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Religion at Wesleyan University, where he also serves as core faculty in the College of East Asian Studies and the Program in Global South Asian Studies. His academic work focuses on Tibetan and Himalayan Buddhism, with particular expertise in Buddhist literature, sacred geography, pilgrimage practices, and visual cultures of the Himalayan region. Quintman's research addresses the intersections of Buddhist literary production, circulation, and reception; the reciprocal influences of textual and visual narratives; and the formation of religious subjectivities and institutional identities. He is particularly known for his work on the biographical tradition surrounding Tibet's famous Buddhist saint Milarepa, as well as his exploration of 'borderland Buddhism' in the Himalayan frontier regions between Tibet and Nepal. His publications demonstrate a consistent focus on the relationship between textual and visual representations of Buddhist narratives, with his recent work examining the monumental murals depicting the Buddha's life at Takden Puntsokling Monastery in Central Tibet. Quintman has pioneered digital approaches to studying religious texts and images, developing innovative tools for synthetic analysis of Buddhist materials in their historical and institutional contexts. Scientific Awards: American Academy of Religion's 2014 Award for Excellence in the Study of Religion in Textual Studies Yale University's 2015 Heyman Prize for outstanding scholarship 2016 Association of Asian Studies' E. Gene Smith Book Prize Honorable Mention Quintman has received significant research support including ACLS-Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Fellowships in Buddhist Studies (2015-2017 and 2018-2020). He serves as President of the Board of Directors of the Buddhist Digital Resource Center and is founder and co-editor of the Journal of Tibetan Literature. He previously co-chaired the Tibetan and Himalayan Religions Group of the American Academy of Religion and helped establish the Yale Himalaya Initiative. His current major projects include Buddhism on the Border: The Formation of Religious Tradition on the Frontier of Tibet and Nepal , which examines religious development at Drakar Taso Monastery, and the Life of the Buddha project, which explores the relationship between Buddhist literature, art, and monastic identity at Takden Phuntsokling Monastery through a digital platform for multimodal analysis.

• Buddhist literature and history
• sacred geography and pilgrimage
• visual cultures of the Himalayan region
• +7 more

Timothy A. Grose serves as Associate Professor of China Studies in the Humanities-Social Science-Arts Department at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. His academic profile centers on ethnic minority issues in China, with particular expertise in Uyghur and Tibetan populations, ethnic policy, and minority education. Dr. Grose has established himself as a leading scholar on Xinjiang region dynamics, with his expertise frequently sought by international and national media outlets. His educational background includes a Ph.D. from Indiana University's Department of Central Eurasian Studies (2008-2014), an M.A. from the University of Virginia's Department of East Asian Studies (2005-2007), and a B.A. in East Asian Studies from John Carroll University (2001-2005). Dr. Grose's research interests focus on ethnicity and ethnic politics in China, particularly regarding contemporary Xinjiang and Tibetan pop music. His work examines how Chinese government policies impact Uyghur identity formation, domestic space, religious practices, and cultural traditions. He has organized campus initiatives such as a four-day residency for Tibetan Buddhist monks to increase awareness of East Asian cultures. His scholarly contributions have been recognized with numerous awards including the Central Eurasian Studies Society Book Prize for his 2019 monograph Negotiating Inseparability in China , the ASIANetwork Embodied Learning about Asia Program (2023), and multiple research grants from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and external funding bodies. ASIANetwork Embodied Learning about Asia Program (2023) Social Science Humanities Research Council Partnership Development Grant (2022, collaborator) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Research Award (2018) RHIT Summer Professional Development Grant (2015) Central Eurasian Studies Society Book Prize (2019) Dr. Grose maintains an active research agenda with publications spanning academic journals, book chapters, and public commentary in platforms like ChinaFile, Foreign Policy, and The Diplomat. His work connects academic scholarship with public discourse on human rights, cultural identity, and ethnic minority policies in China.

• Ethnicity
• Ethnic Politics in China
• Contemporary Xinjiang
• +8 more

Caroline Traube is a Professor at the Faculty of Music, Université de Montréal. She leads the Laboratoire de recherche sur le geste musicien (LRGM) and collaborates with interdisciplinary research groups including OICRM, CIRMMT, BRAMS, and LFO. Her work bridges musicology, acoustics, and digital music through empirical and creative approaches. Ph.D. in Music Technology, McGill University (2004) Engineer Degree in Electrical Engineering, Stanford University (2000) Civil Engineer (Telecommunications), Faculté Polytechnique de Mons (1996) Her research focuses on instrumental timbre , performance studies , and musician well-being , integrating acoustics , biomécanics , and digital music methodologies. Current projects include: 2025-2031: Music, Humanities, and Sciences in France (SSHRC-funded) 2025-2030: Analytical Approaches to Orchestration (FRQSC) 2024-2026: PianOptim - Optimal Piano Gestures (FRQSC) She supervises doctoral and master's students in topics ranging from virtual orchestration to Buddhist mantra performance . Her recent publications address digital performance tools and timbre analysis in piano, flute, and video game music contexts.

• Digital Music
• Music Information Retrieval
• Performance Studies
• +9 more

Joanna Kaczorowska is a Visiting Assistant Professor at Stony Brook University's Department of Music , where she serves as Director of Undergraduate Chamber Music and Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies . As an internationally acclaimed violinist, she has performed at Carnegie Hall, Suntory Hall, and Wagner Festspiele, collaborating with artists like Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman. Doctorate Degree from SUNY Stony Brook Master Degrees from University of Massachusetts, Amherst and Poznan Music Academy Postgraduate Diploma in Arts and Music Management from Poznan School of Social Sciences Her research and performance interests focus on Violin Performance , Chamber Music , and Contemporary Repertoire , particularly Polish composers and cross-cultural musical dialogues. She advocates for underserved communities through music programs like Carnegie Hall's interactive oncology concerts. Her journalistic work in Nowy Dziennik explores topics such as artistic mentorship, Polish cultural presence in New York, and collaborations with composers like Sheila Silver. Key trends in her publications include Polish musical heritage , innovative concert formats , and interdisciplinary approaches in music. Scientific Awards 40 Under Forty Alumni Award Liszt-Garrison Festival First Prize (2009) Best Interpretation of Franz Liszt Works Performance Prizes from Hood College and Chamber Music on the Hill Series Grand Prize for Steingraeber Hall concert at Wagner Festspiele As founder of New York Chamber Musicians , Joanna Kaczorowska creates charity-focused concert experiences , bridging artistic excellence with social impact. Her violin-making collaborations and TEDxSBU presentation on mentoring further demonstrate her commitment to music education and audience development .

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

Dr. Isabelle Henrion-Dourcy serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Université Laval in Quebec, Canada. With 15 years of research expertise, she focuses on Tibetan cultural expressions including performing arts, traditional/popular music, and media practices. Her research examines: Tibetan opera (ache lhamo) as cultural heritage Traditional and contemporary music evolution Media consumption patterns in Tibetan communities Diaspora identity formation through cultural practices Cross-cultural influences in performance traditions Her publications demonstrate sustained focus on cultural preservation, media impact on diaspora communities, and hybridity in Tibetan performance arts. Works frequently intersect anthropology, media studies, and heritage discourse. She contributes to academic discourse through conferences like ACHS 2016, where she presented on intangible cultural heritage frameworks in Tibetan contexts.

• Anthropology
• Tibetan Performing Arts
• Cultural Heritage
• +4 more

Dr. Franz Xaver Erhard is a Researcher specializing in Tibetology at the University of Leipzig's Faculty of History, Arts and Oriental Studies, where he serves as project leader for the DFG/AHRC project "Divergent Discourses" since April 2023. Previously, he acted as temporary professor for Tibetology since October 2022 and served as research associate from 2017-2021. He has also held academic positions at Oxford University including departmental lecturer and Junior Research Fellow. His academic background includes: Doctoral studies in the DFG Research Training Group "Religious Nonconformism and Cultural Dynamics" at University of Leipzig (2010-2015) Post-doc member of the class "Religious Nonconformism and Cultural Dynamics" at Research Academy Leipzig (2015-2016) Dr. Erhard's research focuses on Tibetan literature, media history, and life writing. His work examines narrative construction in Tibetan historical contexts, particularly through the lens of newspapers and autobiographical texts from the 1950s-1960s. He employs digital philology methods to analyze competing discourses between Chinese government and exile Tibetan communities. His scholarship bridges traditional Tibetan studies with computational approaches to textual analysis. His recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on Tibetan life writing, media history, and cultural transformation. The "Divergent Discourses" project represents a significant shift toward digital humanities methodologies applied to Tibetan newspaper archives. His work shows progression from literary analysis toward computational text analysis while maintaining core interests in Tibetan identity formation and historical representation. Dr. Erhard has secured substantial research funding through the German Research Foundation (DFG), including: "Divergent Discourses: Processes of Narrative Construction in Tibet, 1955-62" (2023-2026) "Secular Biography in Early Modern Tibet: A Study of Kalon Tenzin Paljor's Autobiography 'Music of Candid Speech'" (2016-2021) He has organized international conferences including the 4th International Seminar of Young Tibetologists (2015) and co-edited scholarly volumes such as "The Selfless Ego: Configurations of Identity in Tibetan Life Writing" (2021). His research group focuses on digital approaches to Tibetan textual heritage, particularly newspaper archives from the mid-20th century. The "Divergent Discourses" project involves an international team analyzing competing narratives in Tibetan historical accounts from both Chinese government and exile community perspectives.

• Tibetan Studies
• Tibetology
• Himalayan Studies
• +6 more

Peter Kiefer is a Professor of Sound Art and Composition at the School of Music, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, where he has taught since 2001 and has served as head of the Sound Art-Composition department since 2009. He is also a member of the Gutenberg Academy and the 'Forschungsschwerpunkt Medienkonvergenz' at JGU. In 2017, he was honored with the GRC Fellow Award for his five-year project in sound art research. Kiefer's research interests span Sound Art, Composition, New Media, Acoustic Ecology, and Spatial Sound. His work explores the relationship between sound, space, and perception, with particular focus on how sound installations can create experiential spaces for reflection on contemporary societal issues. His projects often investigate boundaries - both physical and conceptual - as seen in works like 'Liquid Borders' which recorded sea sounds at Europe's outermost points. His artistic output shows a consistent trend toward creating immersive sound environments that engage with philosophical, political, and social questions. Recent works like 'Samsara – Transitions' address themes of uncertainty and change in the contemporary world, while 'Resonating Identities' transforms national anthems into a collective sound experience that questions notions of national identity. His academic publications and conference presentations focus on the theoretical foundations of sound art and its implementation in exhibition contexts. Euregio/NRW composition price for 'Apokalypse' Advancement Award for Music of the city of Aachen Working scholarships in the Experimental Studio of the Heinrich Strobel Foundation Composition scholarship with Luigi Nono Centre Acanthes Paris/Avignon Dartington International Summer Music School music theatre scholarship GRC Fellow Award 2017 As an educator, Kiefer initiated the Master Studies program 'Sound Art-Composition' in 2010 and has supervised numerous students through this program. He has also received research funding through the Gutenberg Research College for his sound art research projects. His work has been exhibited internationally at venues including the ZKM Karlsruhe, the German Historical Museum Berlin, and the Museum of History in Luxembourg. Kiefer's studio practice involves creating sound installations that transform spaces into experiential environments, often collaborating with other artists and institutions. His recent projects include the 'Samsara' installation for the IN FRONT FESTIVAL 2024 in Aachen, which creates a space for reflection on contemporary global uncertainties.

• Sound Art
• Composition
• New Media
• +5 more

Lara Safinaz Balikci is a Research Fellow at the University of Chicago, specializing in music theory, philosophy, and interdisciplinary studies of 20th-century avant-garde. Her work bridges music, art, and esoteric thought, with notable contributions to exhibitions like Remedios Varo: Science Fictions . She holds a Neubauer Family Distinguished Doctoral Fellowship and has presented at venues including the International Society for the Study of Surrealism. Education: M.A. in Music Theory (McGill University, with Gender and Women’s Studies concentration) B.A. in Music (University of Pennsylvania, summa cum laude ) Research Interests: Lara explores intersections between music and philosophy, particularly Tibetan Buddhist thought, Turkish makam traditions, and gender studies. Her work often examines esoteric influences in avant-garde art and music, using frameworks like queer phenomenology to interrogate spatial and temporal dynamics in compositions. Key Projects: Co-organized a research symposium on Remedios Varo (2022) Contributed to exhibitions on Joseph Cornell and Salvador Dalí Public tour on music and modernism (2023) Awards: Neubauer Family Distinguished Doctoral Fellowship Schulich Scholarship (McGill) Shree Mulay Graduate Award in Gender and Women’s Studies Teaching: Served as a TA for Music Theory and Gender Studies courses at McGill. Engages in pedagogical approaches linking theory to contemporary cultural critique. Additional: Classically trained flutist, board member of the University of Chicago Buddhist Association, and alumna of study programs at King’s College London, IRCAM, and Boğaziçi University. Conducted fieldwork in a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Nepal (2016).

• Music Theory
• Music Philosophy
• 20th-Century Avant-Garde
• +4 more