Sarah Maria Ross

Professor Sarah Maria Ross serves as Professor of Jewish Musicology and Director of the European Centre for Jewish Music at Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media since 2015. Previously, she held academic positions at the University of Bern (2009-2015) and Rostock University of Music and Drama (2006-2009), establishing expertise in ethnomusicology and Jewish cultural studies.

Her academic credentials include:

• Doctorate from Rostock University of Music and Drama (2009) with thesis: Performing the Political in American Jewish-Feminist Music
• Master's degree from University of Cologne (2004) with thesis: Jewish Women's Songs in the Context of the Rosh Chodesh Ritual
• Undergraduate studies at Kiel University (1997-2001) in Historical Musicology, European Ethnology, and Classical Archaeology

Professor Ross's research program centers on Jewish Music as a living tradition intersecting with religious practice, gender identity, and cognitive processes. Her work demonstrates how musical rituals like Rosh Chodesh function as spaces for community building and theological expression, while her investigations into popular music reveal evolving cultural negotiations within Jewish diaspora communities. This interdisciplinary approach bridges anthropology, religious studies, and music cognition.

Her scholarly recognition includes the 2004 Hadassah-Brandeis-Institute Research Award from Brandeis University. As Director of the European Centre for Jewish Music, she oversees research initiatives that preserve endangered musical traditions while fostering contemporary scholarly dialogue through conferences and publications.

Professor Ross maintains an active mentorship role, having previously directed the 'World Arts' program at Bern and currently guiding research at the European Centre. Her leadership combines academic rigor with cultural advocacy, creating pathways for students to engage with Jewish musical heritage through performance, archival work, and ethnographic fieldwork.