He Chengzhou is a full Professor of English, Drama, and Comparative Literature, and currently serves as Dean of the School of Arts at Nanjing University. He holds a Doctor of Arts from Oslo University, following B.A. and M.A. degrees from Nanjing Normal University. His academic leadership roles include Chinese Co-Director of the Johns Hopkins University-Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies (2013-2017), President of Jiangsu Comparative Literature Association (2016-present), and former Chairman of the International Ibsen Committee (2010-2012). Research focuses on Henrik Ibsen, Scandinavian literatures, intercultural theatre, and comparative drama. Key works include (2004) and (2009). He has been honored with the Ibsen Medal (2002) and the prestigious Changjiang Distinguished Professor title (2015). Professional contributions include directing the Chinese-Nordic Cultural Centre and European Studies Centre at Nanjing University. His academic trajectory spans over three decades, with influential publications in intercultural performance, gender studies, and environmental literary analysis.
Dr. Amanda Hsieh is an Assistant Professor of Musicology in the Department of Music at Durham University. Her research examines the intersection of music and politics, with a particular focus on global music history and transnational exchanges between East Asia and Central/Western Europe during the 19th-20th centuries. Her current book project, 'The Japanese Empire's German Art Music, 1910–1945', investigates musico-political networks connecting Germany, Japan, and Taiwan. Hsieh employs interdisciplinary approaches including global history, biography, and infrastructure theory to analyze how Western art music influenced Japanese state-building initiatives. Dr. Hsieh actively builds equitable scholarly networks as co-founder of the Asian-German Studies in Music Working Group and former co-chair of the AMS Global East Asian Music Research Study Group. She serves as Reviews Editor for the Journal of the Royal Musical Association, where she promotes linguistic and geographical diversity in music scholarship. Her recent publications explore themes of gender representation in opera, cultural diplomacy through music, and methodological challenges in global music history. She has received prestigious awards including the Kurt Weill Prize and Jerome Roche Prize for her contributions to music scholarship. Dr. Hsieh currently supervises PhD research on women opera singers in 19th-century Britain and welcomes doctoral applicants interested in music and mobility, music and politics, and global music history.
Paize Keulemans is an Associate Professor of Chinese Literature at Princeton University's Department of East Asian Studies. His research focuses on the interplay between oral and written literary traditions in Chinese literature, particularly exploring acoustic dimensions in 19th-century martial arts fiction and the role of gossip and rumor in 17th-century texts. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago (2004) and a B.A. from Leiden University (Netherlands). His work bridges literary analysis with cultural studies, examining topics like Dutch-Chinese interactions since the 17th century and the adaptation of classical texts like The Three Kingdoms into modern media such as video games. Education: Ph.D. in East Asian Languages and Literatures, University of Chicago B.A. in Chinese Language and Literature, Leiden University Research Interests: Acoustic imagination in printed novels Rumor dynamics in late-Ming literature Cultural exchanges between the Netherlands and China Modern adaptations of classical Chinese narratives Publications highlight his exploration of Ming-Qing transition narratives through Dutch tragic plays and the sonic dimensions of martial arts fiction. Current projects include analyzing video game adaptations of classical texts and the role of 'idleness' in literary production.
Dr. John Severn is a Research Fellow at Macquarie University's Department of International Studies: Languages and Cultures. His career spans academia, law, and translation, with a focus on theatre internationalization, Shakespearean adaptation, and community engagement. Education: PhD in Theatre Studies and English, University of New South Wales MA(Hons) in Shakespeare and Theatre, University of Birmingham LLB(Hons) in Law and French, University of Edinburgh Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, University of Edinburgh BA(Hons) in Theatre Studies and Opera Studies, University of Manchester/Rose Bruford College CertHE in Scottish Gaelic language and culture, University of the Highlands and Islands His research explores theatre and internationalization through opera, musicals, and Shakespearean adaptation. He investigates how performing arts foster inclusive/exclusive communities and addresses barriers to participation. His work intersects European cultural history, arts policy, and transnational practices. Recent publications highlight trends in Shakespearean operatic adaptation, Australian theatre censorship, and decolonial processes in performance. His co-edited works include The Routledge Companion to Theatre and Internationalization and Theatre and Internationalization: Perspectives from Australia, Germany, and Beyond . Dr. Severn collaborates with institutions like the University of Sydney, University of New South Wales, and the Goethe-Institut Australia. He founded the research cluster 'Staging Migration in Berlin' and co-organizes international conferences on theatre internationalization.
Prof. Nicola Jürgensen is a distinguished German clarinetist and Professor of Clarinet at Faculty 1 of Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, Germany. She also serves as Dean of Faculty 1 and is a Confidential Lecturer for the German Academic Scholarship Foundation. Her career seamlessly integrates performance, education, and artistic leadership. She is the Artistic Director of WDR 3 Campus Concerts and a board member of the Folkwang University Foundation. Professor of Clarinet, Folkwang University of the Arts (2018–present) Dean, Faculty 1 Artistic Director, WDR 3 Campus Concerts Board of Directors, Folkwang University Foundation Principal Clarinet (former), WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne (2001–2018) Regular coach, German National Youth Orchestra (2020–present) Nicola Jürgensen's research and artistic interests center on clarinet performance, chamber music, and contemporary repertoire. She is deeply committed to historical performance practice, evidenced by her recordings on basset clarinet, and to expanding the global reach of classical music through international masterclasses and festivals. Her work bridges traditional European repertoire and modern experimental works, including performances in avant-garde operatic productions. She has collaborated with leading orchestras and ensembles worldwide, from Berlin and Leipzig to New York, Bangkok, and Auckland. Her recent artistic output reveals a strong focus on rediscovered works (e.g., Wilms' concerto), contemporary compositions (e.g., Kancheli, Zwilich), and cross-cultural collaborations (e.g., German Masters Music Festival in Thailand). She emphasizes pedagogical innovation and performance excellence, mentoring students who now hold principal roles in Germany’s top orchestras. Her recordings and performances consistently highlight expressive depth, technical mastery, and scholarly engagement with historical instruments and arrangements. Scientific and Artistic Awards: Mozart Prize, Wiesbaden Mozart Society German Music Competition Soloists' Prize (1999) Germany Radio Promotion Prize (2002) Nicola Jürgensen has been instrumental in guiding numerous students into prestigious orchestral positions and leads the ensemble 'Folkwang Clarinets' with her students. She holds multiple leadership roles in academic and artistic institutions and continues to perform as a guest principal clarinetist with major orchestras like the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra. Her involvement in grants and funding appears indirect through institutional roles and festival organization. She is actively involved with several artistic initiatives, including the 'Spannungen' festival, WDR 3 Campus Concerts, and international masterclass programs. Her ensemble collaborations and educational outreach reflect a sustained commitment to excellence, innovation, and accessibility in classical music.
Professor Adam Gorb is a renowned composer and academic, serving as Professor of Composition and former Head of the School of Composition at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) from 2000 to 2023. He holds a PhD in Composition from the University of Birmingham (2013), alongside degrees from Cambridge University (BA 1980) and the Royal Academy of Music (RAM, MMus with Principal’s Prize 1993). His research and creative output focuses on orchestral, operatic, and wind ensemble composition. Notable works include operas Anya 17 (2012) and The Path to Heaven (2018), which explore themes like human trafficking and the Holocaust. His wind ensemble pieces, such as Towards Nirvana and Farewell , have won British Composer Awards and are performed globally. Awards include three British Composer Awards and a House of Commons accolade for Anya 17 . He advises PhD students in composition while maintaining international collaborations, including recent projects in Romania, Australia, and the USA. His music is frequently recorded and performed worldwide, with CDs such as 24 Preludes (2022) and Dancing in the Ghetto (2016) showcasing his diverse output. Teaching roles include undergraduate and postgraduate composition at the RNCM, alongside guest lectures at institutions globally. His current projects include commissions for the Royal Academy of Music and interdisciplinary work with Parkinson’s patients.
Dr. Naomi Matsumoto is a Reader in Music at Goldsmiths, University of London , specializing in opera studies, music historiography, and Baroque performance practices. She serves as Convenor of the Integrated Degree in Music and International Admissions Tutor, bridging academic administration with research leadership. Key affiliations: Royal Musical Association, Society for Seventeenth-Century Music, Japan Musicological Society Fellowships: Royal Society of Arts, Royal Historical Society Research Interests include: Operatic madness from Monteverdi to Donizetti Baroque performance conventions and manuscript studies Transnational reception of Western opera in Japan Interdisciplinary work with medical history and cultural studies Her publications focus on Lucia di Lammermoor , Carmen , and Madama Butterfly , examining their cultural adaptations and diagnostic representations. Recent projects explore Wagner's influence on Japanese theatre and Bess of Bedlam's identity crisis. Scientific Awards : Overseas Research Scholarship British Federation of Women Graduates Award Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation Award Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation Award Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Award Royal Musical Association Prize As an educator , she supervises areas in 17th-19th century Italian opera, intercultural reception studies, and Baroque performance. She contributes to critical editions and liner notes for major musical releases.
Glen McGillivray is an Associate Professor and Research Director in the Discipline of Theatre and Performance Studies at the University of Sydney. He holds a BA (Honours) from Flinders University (1988) and a PhD from the University of Sydney (2004). His research focuses on performance and emotion, eighteenth-century acting practices, and the role of archives in preserving theatrical history. McGillivray has held academic roles at Western Sydney University and NIDA, where he developed the graduate program in Practice-Based Research. He currently serves as President of the Australasian Association for Theatre, Drama, and Performance Studies (ADSA) and chairs the editorial boards of Australasian Drama Studies and About Performance . His recent research explores emotions in Argentine tango performance and the emotional dynamics of eighteenth-century theatre, challenging conventional views of empathy in actor-audience interactions. He has led major ARC-funded projects, including AusStage (2007–2012), and authored influential works like Actors, Audiences, and Emotions in the Eighteenth Century (2023). McGillivray has supervised over ten PhD and master’s students, focusing on topics like fringe theatre economics and Shakespearean performance techniques. His teaching includes courses on acting methodologies and Shakespearean rehearsal practices.
Professor Jose Jouve-Martin is a faculty member in the Department of Hispanic Studies at McGill University. His research focuses on the intersection of history and literature in colonial Latin America, particularly exploring themes of slavery, literacy, and colonialism. He has held significant academic roles including Director of Undergraduate Programs in Hispanic Studies and has been funded by major grants such as SSHRC and FQRSC. His work spans monographs, peer-reviewed articles, and edited volumes, with notable publications like Esclavos de la ciudad letrada (2005). He teaches graduate and undergraduate courses on colonial literature, the baroque, and Afro-Hispanic studies. Education: Ph.D. in Hispanic Literature, Georgetown University (2003) Licenciatura in Philosophy, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (1994) His research interests include the cultural history of opera, funerary rituals in the Spanish Empire, and the role of writing among enslaved populations. He has advised numerous graduate and undergraduate students on topics ranging from colonial drama to modern Latin American literature. His international collaborations include membership in the MCRI 'The Hispanic Baroque' and Brown University's research groups. Prof. Jouve-Martin’s scholarly contributions have been recognized with awards such as an honorable mention for the Franklin Pease G.Y. Memorial Prize (2007). He actively participates in academic service roles, including editorial boards for Revista Canadiense de Estudios Hispánicos and Latin American Research Review .
Susan McClary is the Fynette H. Kulas Professor of Music at Case Western Reserve University’s Department of Music (College of Arts and Sciences). A globally influential scholar, she has held professorships at the University of Minnesota, McGill University, UCLA, and the University of Oslo. Her work redefines music analysis by addressing its cultural, social, and gendered dimensions, challenging traditional aesthetic frameworks. Education : PhD in Music (Harvard University, 1976). Earlier degrees include a B.Mus. from Southern Illinois University (SIU). Research Focus : McClary’s interdisciplinary research spans the European classical canon and contemporary popular music. Key themes include gender in music, musical form’s socio-political content, and the intersection of music with identity, particularly in Renaissance and Baroque eras. Her approach emphasizes music as a dynamic social practice rather than an abstract art form. Publications & Impact : She authored landmark books such as Feminine Endings (1991) and Conventional Wisdom (2000), translated into 20+ languages. Her writings bridge musicology with feminist theory, cultural studies, and critical social analysis. Awards : 1995 MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship Advising : Oversaw over 50 doctoral dissertations Courses Taught : Music History, Music Theory, Early-Music Performance Practices Her work remains foundational in redefining music’s role in sociocultural contexts.
Sarah J. Townsend is an Associate Professor of Spanish and Portuguese at Pennsylvania State University, affiliated with the College of the Liberal Arts. She holds a PhD from New York University and a BA from the University of Iowa. Her research integrates Marxist theory, political ecology, and performance studies to explore intersections between culture and capitalism in Latin America and beyond. Education: PhD in Spanish & Portuguese (NYU), BA in Spanish (University of Iowa) Her current projects include Opera in the Amazon: Culture, Capital, and the Global Jungle , analyzing the Teatro Amazonas opera house’s role in rubber-boom era capitalism, and Rio-mar, Mare internum , examining transnational connections between the Amazon and Mediterranean regions. She has held prestigious fellowships, including the ACLS Burkhardt Residential Fellowship (2021–2022). Research interests span Amazonian studies, avant-garde theater, sound studies, and critical race theory. Notable publications include The Unfinished Art of Theater: Avant-Garde Intellectuals in Mexico and Brazil (2018), winner of multiple awards, and co-edited volumes like Stages of Conflict (2008). Awards: Modern Drama Outstanding Article Prize (2018), ACLS Burkhardt Fellowship (2020) Academic service includes organizing the Hemispheric Americas lecture series and leading the Redesigning Modernities grant project. Teaching focuses on Latin American performance, modernisms, and cultural ecology, with courses in Portuguese, Spanish, and English.
Prof. Stephan Mösch is a Professor at the Karlsruhe University of Music, specializing in Music Theatre Studies. He holds a dual habilitation in musicology and theatre studies, focusing on music theatre. His career includes chair positions at the University of Bayreuth and teaching roles at institutions like the University of Zurich and Seoul's Korean National University of Arts. He has led international projects such as the FWF-funded 'Opera between Hermeneutics and Performativity'. Education: Dual degrees in music, theatre & literature from Berlin/Stuttgart; masterclasses with renowned figures like Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. Awards include the Domgraf-Fassbaender Prize and Gottlob Frick Medal (for Opernwelt). Scholarships from German National Academic Foundation and Richard Wagner Foundation. Research interests span opera history, Wagnerian studies, and the intersection of performance art & cultural theory. He has curated conferences globally and serves as a jury member for prestigious competitions like Bundeswettbewerb Gesang and Concours Suisse Ernst Haefliger. Published extensively in Opernwelt and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung , he also contributes to radio/TV broadcasts of major opera festivals. Current roles include German Academy of Performing Arts membership and advisory board positions for institutions like the German Historical Museum (2019-2022).
Olivia Bloechl is a Professor in the Department of Music at the University of Pittsburgh's Dietrich School. Her work focuses on early modern music (1500-1800), particularly French and British Atlantic empires, postcolonial theory, and global music historiography. She holds a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania and has held positions at UCLA and Bucknell University. Her research includes seminal works like Opera and the Political Imaginary in Old Regime France (2017) and Native American Song at the Frontiers of Early Modern Music (2008). She co-edited Rethinking Difference in Music Scholarship (2015) and co-founded the AMS Global Music History Study Group. Teaching encompasses graduate seminars on global musicologies and undergraduate courses like 'Experiencing Music History in Pittsburgh.' Her current project explores music/sound in 18th-century colonial conflicts around present-day Pittsburgh. She has received major fellowships including the ACLS Ryskamp Fellowship. Active in editorial roles, she co-edits the upcoming Oxford Handbook of Global Music History and has guest-edited special issues on topics like 'Colonial Contrafaction.' Her work bridges musicology with postcolonial theory, sound studies, and decolonial methodologies.
Karin Peters is a Full Professor of Romance Literature and Cultural Studies with a Focus on Ibero-Romania at the University of Bonn since 2023. Her academic journey includes a habilitation at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (2021-2022), a doctorate from LMU Munich (2010), and a Magister Artium from the same institution (2006). Her research spans transnational literary history, affect theory, pastoral poetry, and intersections of gender and politics in Spanish and Argentinian literatures. Key projects include co-editing The Face as Scene. Virtuality and Embodiment of Affect and leading the network 'Comic Literacies. Cultural Techniques of the Comic' at KWI Essen. She has supervised doctoral work on Iberoamerican Baroque theater and published extensively on Roland Barthes, Georges Bataille, and contemporary Latin American narratives. Her recent publications analyze the European myth of the emotional subject, pastoral masks in Cervantes, and affective economies in 18th-century literature. She has received scholarships from DAAD, Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes, and e-fellows.net, and actively contributes to academic organizations including the Romanistenverband and the Bonn Center for Dependency Studies.
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Philipp Ther is a Professor of Central European History at the University of Vienna, leading the Research Center for the History of Transformations (RECET) and serving as Deputy Head of the Research Platform for the Study of Transformations and Eastern Europe . He previously held the Chair of Comparative European History at the European University Institute in Florence. His research focuses on post-1989 political and social transformations , East Central European cultural and social history , nationalism , and ethnic cleansing . He has authored award-winning books including Europe since 1989: A History (Princeton UP, 2016), recipient of the Leipzig Book Fair non-fiction prize, and The Outsiders: Refugees in Europe since 1492 (Princeton UP, 2019). He leads major projects like Transformations from Below: Shipyards and Labour Relations in the Uljanik (Croatia) and Gdynia (Poland) Shipyards since the 1980s (2016–2019), funded by German and Austrian research councils. He was awarded the prestigious Wittgenstein Prize (2019), Austria’s highest scientific honor. Teaching : Leads seminars on transformation theories, East European globalization history, and music in the Habsburg Empire. Publications : Over 15 books translated into 15 languages, 12 co-edited volumes, and numerous articles. Affiliations : Department of East European History, University of Vienna; Research Platform for Transformations/Eastern Europe.
