Helena Simonett

Helena Simonett is a Lecturer at the Lucerne School of Music, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), where she also serves as Senior Research Associate. She holds a Lic. Phil. I from the University of Zurich and a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from UCLA. Previously, she was faculty at Vanderbilt University and associate director of its Center for Latin American Studies. Her research focuses on transnational music, Latin American music, Mexican indigenous musical practices, and applied ethnomusicology.

Education:

• Lic. Phil. I (Master’s), University of Zurich, Switzerland
• Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology, UCLA, USA

Research Interests:

• Transnational music and cultural diffusion
• Indigenous ceremonial music of Mexico
• Music and identity formation
• Music perception and emotion
• Applied ethnomusicology in refugee integration

Key Projects:

• "Music as Empowerment": Engaging refugees in music-making for social integration
• "Birdscapes": Exploring avian soundscapes through artistic research
• "Mobile Identities": Studying forced migration’s impact on musical practices

Affiliations:

• Swiss Society for Ethnomusicology (CH-EM), Secretary
• Society for Ethnomusicology (SEM)
• International Council for Traditional Music (ICTM)

Advising & Grants:

• Co-led SNF-funded project on music empowerment for refugees
• Contributed to interdisciplinary collaborations on human-animal soundscapes
• Organized workshops on applied ethnomusicology and cultural preservation

Labs/Teams:

Contributes to the CC Music Education Research MER team, focusing on intercultural music pedagogy and refugee integration programs.