Alana Blackburn

Dr Alana Blackburn is a Senior Lecturer in Music at the University of New England (UNE), affiliated with the Faculty of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education and the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. She holds a PhD in Music from UNE and multiple advanced degrees including a Master of Music in Performance from the Sydney Conservatorium and a BMus from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Her research focuses on Baroque performance practices, contemporary recorder composition, music education technology, and ensemble dynamics.

Alana's teaching spans Performance, Music Theory, and Studio Pedagogy, with a specialization in online music education strategies. She has received awards for excellence in teaching and has secured grants including the Create NSW Project Grant (2020) and UNE Early Career Researcher Grant (2019). Her work bridges performance and academia, with over 60 live performances internationally and contributions to recordings such as Derivations: Human-Machine Improvisations (2014).

Her research explores intersections between technology and music, including web-based learning tools and the application of computer programming in performance improvisation. She has presented at international conferences on topics like group dynamics in chamber ensembles and the impact of digital media on music education. Alana's advocacy extends to recorder advocacy and the challenges of portfolio careers in the arts sector.

• Key Research Areas: Baroque ornamentation, cross-cultural composition, e-learning in music
• Recent Grants: 2020 ASCILITE D2L Research Grant, 2017 School of Arts International Travel Grant
• Performance Highlights: Salut! Baroque, Royal Wind Music, collaborations with Ben Carey and Neal Peres da Costa