Brian A. Silvey is a Professor of Music Education and Director of Bands at the School of Music, University of Missouri , where he teaches undergraduate and graduate music education courses, supervises doctoral students, conducts the Wind Ensemble, and oversees the band program. His academic credentials include: BME, Morehead State University MME, Wichita State University PhD, University of Texas-Austin Research Interests: Silvey focuses on conducting expressivity and effectiveness, instrumental conducting pedagogy, intonation strategies, and preservice teacher preparation. His work explores the psychological and pedagogical aspects of conducting and ensemble performance. Scientific Contributions: He has published in top-tier journals like the Journal of Research in Music Education , International Journal of Music Education , and Psychology of Music , with recent 2025-2024 studies examining conducting anxiety, ensemble expressivity, and vocational identity development in music students. Awards & Recognition: William T. Kemper Award for Teaching Excellence (MU's highest teaching honor) Fulbright Scholar appointment to University of Melbourne (Spring 2025) Leadership Roles: Silvey serves as Research Grant Chair for the American Bandmasters Association and currently holds editorial board positions for International Journal of Music Education , College Band Directors National Association Research Journal , and Missouri Journal of Research in Music Education .
Wendy L. Sims is a Curators' Distinguished Teaching Professor of Music Education at the University of Missouri's School of Music (College of Arts and Science). She holds a PhD from Florida State University and has been a faculty member since 1985. Her roles include Director of Undergraduate/Graduate Studies in Music Education and advisor to numerous students. Dr. Sims specializes in early childhood and elementary music education, focusing on curriculum development, teacher training, and research methodologies. Her educational background includes bachelor's and master's degrees from Kent State University, followed by a PhD in Music Education from Florida State University. She previously taught K-6 general music and currently volunteers as a music teacher at MU's Child Development Laboratory. Research interests include music pedagogy, child development through music, and the psychological aspects of music education (e.g., impostor syndrome among students and faculty). Her work spans national and international journals, with editorial roles at the Journal of Research in Music Education and International Journal of Music Education . She is a co-author of influential books like Strategies for Teaching: Prekindergarten Music and Music in Prekindergarten . Dr. Sims has received prestigious awards, including the Kemper Fellowship for Excellence in Teaching and NAfME's Senior Researcher Award (2016). Her leadership includes roles in the National Association for Music Education, Missouri Music Educators Association, and International Society for Music Education (ISME), where she was honored as an Honorary Life Member. Her recent articles analyze impostor phenomenon in music students, trends in music education research, and ethical publishing practices. She advocates for mentorship in doctoral training and the integration of research into classroom practice.
Esther Díaz Martín is an Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), holding dual appointments in the Department of Latin American and Latino Studies and Gender and Women’s Studies. Born in Jalisco, Mexico, and raised in California’s San Joaquin Valley, she is a first-generation scholar. Her research focuses on the intersections of sound, oral traditions, and feminist knowledge production in Latinx cultures, particularly through the lens of popular media and digital activism. She completed her Ph.D. in Spanish at the University of Texas at Austin with support from the IUPLR/Mellon Dissertation Fellowship. Education: Ph.D. in Spanish, University of Texas at Austin (with Graduate Portfolio in Mexican American and Latina/o Studies) Research Interests: Her work explores Latina feminisms, sonic and aural knowledge-making, gender politics in digital media, and the cultural impacts of narcocultura. Current projects include a manuscript on radio声音与Latina feminisms, and analyses of YouTube-based contestaciones (counter-songs) challenging misogynist music. Publications & Awards: Key articles include studies on cyber-hociconas, autodefensa memes, and embroidery as meditative knowledge. Recognized for her 2021 Mellon Fellowship and contributions to interdisciplinary studies. Teaching & Leadership: Teaches courses such as 'Sound and Latinx Cultures' and 'Latinx Futurity'. A 2021-2022 Institute for the Humanities faculty fellow at UIC. Labs/Teams: Engaged in collaborative projects on digital activism and feminist media practices within UIC’s humanities initiatives.
Eugenio Di Sciascio is a Full Professor and Scientific Coordinator at Politecnico di Bari. His research spans artificial intelligence, semantic web technologies, machine learning, and explainable AI, with applications in recommender systems, healthcare, and cybersecurity. As evidenced by 413+ publications, his work frequently bridges theoretical computer science with practical implementations. Recent research trends focus on trustworthy AI systems, particularly in healthcare diagnostics and recommendation security. His 2024-2025 publications demonstrate strong emphasis on explainable AI methodologies in medical applications (e.g., BRAINEX for brain age prediction, MORIX for mortality inference) and adversarial robustness in recommender systems. Additional work explores neurotechnology interfaces and semantic web foundations.
Eileen Simpson is a Reader at Manchester School of Art, Manchester Metropolitan University, specializing in the intersection of sound art, digital archives, and information networks. She co-founded the Open Music Archive with artist Ben White, a collaborative initiative focused on sourcing, digitizing, and distributing out-of-copyright sound recordings while facilitating networked artistic projects. Her research centers on archival practices , collaborative sound production , and critical data engagement , exploring how communities interact with historical audio materials through participatory frameworks. Key methodologies include distributed network performance , public domain reactivation , and speculative archival futures , often manifested in large-scale exhibitions that transform institutional spaces into sites of collective sound exploration. Notable projects span British Art Show 8 ( Auditory Learning , 2015), Modern Art Oxford ( Premonition 2037 , 2016), and international venues including Casa Luis Barragán in Mexico City ( Open House: Divided Estates , 2012). Her 2025 works Please Destroy All Previous Lists and All or Together advance critiques of data ownership and collaborative sound production. Simpson's output consistently examines power dynamics in archival systems , community-based knowledge sharing , and temporal dimensions of sound preservation . As a core member of the Art and Performance Research Hub, Simpson operates through long-term collaborations rather than conventional advising structures. Her work integrates institutional partnerships with grassroots community engagement, particularly through the Open Music Archive's distributed network of contributors. Current projects like Toward Usership (2025) investigate collaborative data mining within orchestral archives, bridging historical collections and contemporary participatory practices. The Open Music Archive functions as her primary research vehicle, operating as both a digital platform and physical project space facilitating workshops, exhibitions, and international residencies. This initiative embodies her commitment to decentralized knowledge production and critical engagement with copyright frameworks , creating infrastructure for communities to reclaim and recontextualize historical sound materials.
Konstantina Dogani is an Associate Professor at the Department of Early Childhood Education and Education Sciences, School of Early Childhood Education, at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. She specializes in Music Education in Preschool Age and has been actively contributing to the field through teaching, research, and publications. Her work focuses on integrating music into early childhood education, with particular emphasis on creative music making, musical improvisation, and the role of music in multicultural classrooms. Educational Background: Bachelor's degree in Preschool Pedagogical Science, Department of Early Childhood Education, National and Kapodistrian University of Greece (1996) Piano Degree, Model Experimental Conservatory of Athens (1996) Master of Arts in Music Education, School of Education, University of Reading, Greece (1998) Doctorate in Music Pedagogy (DPhil, Doctor of Philosophy in Education), School of Education, University of Exeter, Greece (2003) Konstantina Dogani's research interests center around music education in early childhood, with specific focus on musical improvisation, children's musical creativity, and the integration of music into multicultural preschool classrooms. Her work explores how children naturally engage with music through free play and spontaneous musical behaviors, and how educators can build upon these innate tendencies to develop more effective music pedagogy. She has conducted extensive research on the role of music in supporting social interaction, emotional development, and cognitive processes in young children. Her approach emphasizes experiential learning, where children's own experiences serve as the foundation for meaningful musical engagement. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on interdisciplinary approaches to music education, particularly the connections between music and mathematics, music and visual media, and music and movement. Her work consistently emphasizes child-centered approaches that prioritize children's natural musical behaviors and spontaneous creativity. A significant portion of her research addresses the integration of music into multicultural classrooms, especially in the context of Roma children's education in Greece. Konstantina Dogani has supervised numerous undergraduate and graduate students, guiding research on topics such as group musical improvisation, children's spontaneous singing during free play, and the use of music in supporting children with behavioral challenges. Her administrative roles have included serving on various committees related to curriculum development, student practice, and strategic planning within the School of Early Childhood Education. She has coordinated several research projects, including 'Investigation of the way of incorporating the spontaneous musical reactions of preschool children into creative musical activities in the classroom' and 'Integration and Education of Roma Children in Eastern Macedonia - Thrace.' Her work has been presented at numerous international conferences, and she has published extensively in the field of early childhood music education.
Marília Prada is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Department of Social and Organizational Psychology at ISCTE-IUL. She holds an aggregation (a higher academic qualification) and is affiliated with the CIS-Iscte research center under the 'Behavior Emotion and Cognition' group. Her academic career began after completing her PhD in Social Psychology at ISCTE-IUL in 2010, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship (2015–2018) examining embodiment theories. She currently coordinates an FCT-funded project exploring sugar consumption determinants and leads the MedDietMenus4Campus initiative promoting Mediterranean diet adherence in campuses. Research Interests : Her work focuses on (1) food perception and eating behavior, (2) instrument development and validation, (3) affective information processing, and (4) crossmodal interactions between music and taste. Recent projects include studying how music influences taste perception and investigating the role of regulatory focus in sexual health behaviors. Teaching : She teaches courses such as 'Social Psychology of Consumption and Communication,' 'Health Attitudes and Behaviors,' and 'Emotions in Marketing and Decision-Making.' Her pedagogical contributions include co-editing an academic skills handbook. Grants and Projects : Coordinates FCT projects like LessSugar4Kids (2023–2025) and MedDietMenus4Campus (2023–2026), which involve interdisciplinary teams addressing dietary habits and food environments. She also participates in the Prevent2Protect project on condom use motivations. Labs/Teams : Active in CIS-Iscte's multidisciplinary teams, her work integrates psychology with nutrition science and consumer behavior studies. Recent collaborations include studies on emoji use in communication and the impact of food labeling on health perceptions.
Karen Smithies is an Associate Lecturer in Accompaniment at the University of Tasmania's School of Creative Arts and Media. Her research focuses on Musicology and Ethnomusicology, with a strong emphasis on performance practices and collaborative music-making. She holds an Orcid identifier (0000-0002-7545-6630) and is active in both academic and community engagement. Smithies has performed in numerous recitals and broadcasts, including live ABC Classic FM performances with artists like Andrew Seymour and Michael Lampard. Her work spans classical, contemporary, and tango repertoires, often featuring premieres of Australian compositions. She has been involved in funded projects such as the 'Assessment of the effects of singing on respiratory function and wellbeing in people with dementia' (2017), highlighting her commitment to interdisciplinary arts research. Her service engagements include community performances like the 'Flight of the Bumblebee' and 'Piano in Stereo' concerts, demonstrating her outreach efforts. Smithies maintains affiliations through her email Karen.Smithies@utas.edu.au and contributes to the university's music department's vibrant performance culture.
Gabriel Vigliensoni is an Assistant Professor in Creative Artificial Intelligence within the Department of Design and Computation Arts at Concordia University. He holds a PhD in Music Technology from McGill University and maintains active research and creative practice at the intersection of artificial intelligence, music, and human-computer interaction. His work spans academic research, artistic performance, and music production. PhD in Music Technology, McGill University Assistant Professor, Department of Design and Computation Arts, Concordia University Vigliensoni's research focuses on sound and music making through machine learning, human-computer interaction, artificial intelligence, embodied musical interaction, music information retrieval, and new interfaces for musical expression. His approach merges formal musical training with extensive experience in sound recording, music production, and computational techniques. His creative work challenges traditional notions of liveness and immediacy in digital music production through procedural composition and embodied interaction. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on interactive machine learning for creative applications, particularly in audio and music domains. The research trends show increasing emphasis on explainable AI for the arts, ethical considerations in AI music applications, and the development of interfaces that facilitate sustained artistic practice with machine learning systems. His work spans from theoretical foundations to practical implementations in musical interfaces. 2025-2027: Co-Applicant, New Frontiers in Research Fund—Exploration 2024–2025: PI, Petro-Canada Young Innovator Award (PCYIA) 2024–2025: Collaborator, Responsible AI UK international partnerships UKRI 2023–2025: PI, Explore and Create | Research Creation (Canada Council for the Arts) 2023–2025: PI, Faculty Research Development Program (Concordia University) 2022–2023: PI, Knowledge Mobilization Grant (FRQSC) 2020–2022: PI, Postdoctoral Research Creation (FRQSC) Vigliensoni supervises graduate students in Design (MDes), Individualized Programs (MA, MSc), and Individualized Programs (PhD). His research is supported by significant grants from Canadian funding agencies as well as international collaborations. His work bridges academic research with artistic practice, creating feedback loops between theoretical exploration and creative output. His studio practice and research involve developing interactive systems for musical expression, with notable projects including Clastic Music, Telematic Awakening, and Re•col•lec•tions. These projects often combine real-time audio processing, machine learning, and gestural interfaces to create novel musical experiences that explore the relationship between human performers and AI systems.
Dr. Kerstin Wilhelms is a researcher at the University of Münster's Department of Modern German Literature, where she focuses on interdisciplinary connections between literature, law, and theater. She co-directs the subproject 'Show Trials: Staging of Law as Social Practice' within the Collaborative Research Center 1385 'Law and Literature' and has led several conferences exploring intersections of legal and theatrical performance. Her research employs models from autobiography studies, political theory, and media analysis to investigate how societal norms are negotiated through cultural texts. Her research examines how aesthetic forms mediate political and legal discourse, with emphasis on: Theatrical representations of historical trials and their socio-political implications Autobiographical narratives as sites of identity construction in digital and historical contexts German pop culture as a lens for national identity formation She has secured funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG) for multiple projects, including the Graduate School 'Literary Form' and collaborative investigations into decision-making cultures. Her pedagogical approach integrates theoretical frameworks with textual analysis across courses on political drama, autobiographical media, and contemporary poetry.
Oscar Williams Jr. serves as an Adjunct Professor in the School of Music and Worship Arts at Trevecca Nazarene University. He is an ordained elder at The Potter’s House Church under T.D. Jakes and holds leadership roles as CEO of Speak Life Academy of Arts and Music, and as a music ambassador for the U.S. State Department’s cultural exchange programs. His work bridges faith, education, and international cultural diplomacy. Williams’ professional engagements combine artistic creation with community impact, overseeing academic and performance programs through his institution. He has been featured in Trevecca’s news for achievements such as making history in Davidson County and advancing interdisciplinary arts education. His activities reflect expertise in music composition, worship leadership, and arts administration. No specific research publications are listed in the provided materials, though his roles indicate engagement with pedagogy in the arts and cross-cultural collaboration. Awards and grants are not explicitly documented here.
Dr. Maya Ackerman serves as Associate Professor of Computer Engineering in the School of Engineering at Santa Clara University while concurrently leading WaveAI as CEO. This dual role positions her at the critical intersection of academic research and commercial AI innovation, specializing in computational creativity and human-AI collaboration systems. Her work focuses on transforming theoretical AI concepts into practical creative tools that empower users globally. Her research spans three interconnected domains: foundational clustering algorithms (2007-2014), computational creativity frameworks (2015-2020), and ethical human-AI collaboration (2021-present). Early work established theoretical properties of clustering paradigms published in NIPS and JMLR, while recent research develops musical AI systems like ALYSIA that enable accessible song creation. Her scholarship consistently bridges theoretical rigor with real-world impact, particularly in creative domains where AI augments rather than replaces human expression. Runner-up Best Paper Award (Association for Computational Creativity, 2017) Women in Tech Awards Data Scientist Finalist (2019) NSERC Alexander Bell Canadian Graduate Scholarship (2009-2012) First-Year Assistant Professor Award (Florida State University, 2015) Office of Naval Research grant ($400,000 for clustering research) As mentor, Ackerman has guided numerous graduate students through interdisciplinary projects combining computer science with creative arts, evidenced by asterisked co-authors on publications spanning musical AI, poetry generation, and therapeutic applications. Her WaveAI startup, serving millions globally with tools like LyricStudio, demonstrates successful research commercialization. Current work explores AI's role in bereavement support and gender bias mitigation, reflecting her commitment to socially impactful technology.
Keitha Lucas Hamann is Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies at the University of Minnesota’s School of Music, overseeing graduate programs and teaching music education pedagogy. Research Focus Her work centers on choral education, vocal sight-reading, and community-engaged projects like the gender-identity performance study 'Key of T'. She co-authored the sight-reading method Level Up! An Interactive System for Vocal Sight-Reading . Publication Highlights Her research explores historical music education, assessment, and social justice. Recent articles analyze Minnesota youth orchestra conflicts (2017) and university-community partnerships (2016). Education Ph.D. in Music Education, University of Miami (1991) M.M. in Music Education, University of North Texas (1988) B.M.Ed., Western Michigan University (1981)
Sarah Fdili-Alaoui is Reader (Associate Professor) at University of the Arts London's Creative Computing Institute, specializing in interaction design, dance technology, and embodied computing. With 30+ years as a choreographer and Laban Movement Analyst, she pioneers research at the intersection of dance and technology. Key research areas: Interactive dance performance systems Somatic interfaces for creative practice Movement computing for dance documentation Critical approaches to AI in arts Recent publications (2022-2025) focus on bodily awareness in HCI, creative AI applications, and counter-choreographies for data awareness. Articles demonstrate strong methodological innovation through autoethnography, soma design, and practice-led approaches. Awarded Best Paper at CHI 2024 and DIS 2024. Leads the ANR-funded Living Archive project on dance preservation and PEPR Ensemble initiative for AI-art collaborations. Supervises 7 PhD students in projects spanning soft robotics, archival AI, and maternal-cyborg interfaces.
Jason Valdez serves as Adjunct Professor of Guitar and Director of the Guitar Ensemble at St. Mary's University. With a performance background spanning Tejano, jazz, and cruise line entertainment, Valdez brings extensive industry experience to his pedagogical approach. His research interests encompass guitar pedagogy and ensemble performance techniques. Valdez maintains an active performance career in South Texas, collaborating with notable artists including Tom Braxton, Marcy Grace Band, and San Antonio Jazz Orchestra. He has contributed to multiple albums including Jim Waller's 'Bucket List' and Audra Menconi's 'Make It Good'.
