Susanne Wooley serves as a Part-Time Lecturer (Adjunct Instructor) in the Department of Performing Arts, focusing on string instrument instruction. Her office is located in the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center. Her academic interests center on: Performance pedagogy for string instruments (guitar, violin, viola, cello, bass) Music education methodologies Performing arts curriculum development
Dr Elena Artamonova serves as a Lecturer in Russian Studies at the University of Central Lancashire's School of Psychology and Humanities. She is an active member of both the Vladimir Vysotsky Centre for Slavonic Studies and the Lancashire Research Centre for Migration, Diaspora and Exile (MIDEX). With over 20 years of teaching experience, Dr Artamonova successfully combines scholarly work with professional viola performance. Her research interests focus on Russian music history, particularly Soviet-era composers and the cultural exchange between Russia and Britain. Dr Artamonova specializes in archival research on composers including Grigori Frid, Rudolf Barshai, Sergei Vasilenko, and Vladimir Rebikov. Her work reveals significant connections between Russian musical traditions and Western reception, with particular attention to viola repertoire and performance practices. She examines how political contexts, especially during the Soviet period and WWII, influenced musical creation and transmission. Dr Artamonova's scholarly output demonstrates consistent engagement with historical musicology, cultural studies, and performance research. Her publications reveal a distinctive pattern of uncovering previously unknown archival materials related to Russian composers, particularly those with connections to Britain. She has made significant contributions to understanding the viola repertoire through her research on composers like Frid, Grechaninov, and Vasilenko, whose works were largely neglected until her scholarly interventions. As a performing musician, Dr Artamonova has recorded several albums featuring Russian viola works for Toccata Classics, including complete music for viola and piano by Grigori Frid, Alexander Grechaninov, and Sergei Vasilenko. These recordings have brought previously obscure repertoire to international attention and demonstrate her dual expertise as both scholar and performer. Dr Artamonova actively participates in international academic collaboration through her involvement with the Vladimir Vysotsky Centre for Slavonic Studies and MIDEX research centers. Her work bridges disciplinary boundaries between musicology, cultural history, and performance studies, creating innovative approaches to understanding Russian musical heritage and its global reception.
Christine D'Alexander serves as Associate Professor of Instrumental Music Education at Northern Illinois University's School of Music within the College of Visual and Performing Arts. Her academic journey includes a D.M.A. in Music Education from the University of Southern California and B.M. in Viola Performance from Arizona State University. Her research examines community youth orchestra participation and music program integration in underserved neighborhoods , with fieldwork spanning multiple continents. She applies dual Kodály and Orff certifications to develop culturally responsive pedagogical frameworks for diverse urban settings. Recent publications analyze cross-cultural participation trends and sustainable program models, reflecting her international presentation record across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. Her scholarly contributions appear in Revista Internacional de Educación Musical and ISME proceedings. Professional affiliations include: National Association for Music Education (NAfME) American String Teachers Association (ASTA) International Society for Music Education (ISME) American Viola Society Pi Kappa Lambda National Honor Society Dr. D'Alexander's practical experience encompasses establishing youth orchestras, directing the LA Philharmonic's YOLA program, and adjudicating national music competitions. She maintains active community engagement through outreach programs while teaching strings, general music, and theory courses at NIU.
Matthias Buchholz is Professor of Viola at Manhattan School of Music, specializing in Classical Viola within the Strings department. An internationally acclaimed performer, he serves as Artists in Residence with the American String Quartet and maintains active performance careers across Europe, the Americas, and Asia. His educational trajectory includes foundational training in Hamburg followed by advanced studies at: University of Cincinnati Hochschule für Musik Detmold Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia Buchholz's artistic practice centers on viola repertoire expansion through solo performance, chamber music innovation, and orchestral leadership. His interpretations bridge historical and contemporary works, with particular emphasis on 20th-century compositions and cross-cultural collaborations, demonstrated through decades of masterclasses worldwide. His competitive excellence earned recognition at premier international venues: Bonn International Viola Competition Laureate (1978) Los Angeles International Viola Competition Laureate (1981) Budapest International Viola Competition Laureate (1984) Buchholz maintains significant ensemble affiliations including principal viola of Stuttgart Radio Orchestra (1986-1990), founding membership in Heine-Quartett (2003-2008) where he premiered Aribert Reimann's "Adagio für Streichquartett" (2006), and ongoing participation in Linos-Ensemble since 1991. He performs regularly at major festivals including Marlboro, Salzburg, Avignon, and Schleswig-Holstein, while serving as leading member of Seoul's Hwaum Chamber Orchestra and holding a 2013 professorial appointment at HEM Geneve.
Dr. hab. Krzysztof Komendarek-Tymendorf serves as Associate Professor of Viola and Chamber Music at the Stanislaw Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdansk and Associate Professor of Viola at the Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz. As a national consultant for the Center for Artistic Education (CEA), he represents contemporary Polish viola performance and pedagogy at the highest level. His affiliations include the Polish Viola Society and leadership roles in major cultural initiatives. His research focuses on contemporary viola repertoire with over 60 world premieres, electronic music integration, and innovative pedagogical methods. Komendarek-Tymendorf has premiered works by leading Polish composers including Tadeusz Dixa, Marek Sewen, and Krzysztof Falkowski, establishing himself as a protagonist of new music for viola. His scholarly contributions include publications in the Journal of the American Viola Society and meakultura.pl. His 15 most recent articles demonstrate specialization in contemporary viola performance, particularly in Polish compositions and electronic integrations. The works span solo, chamber, and orchestral contexts, with strong emphasis on technical innovation and emotional expression. Critical reception highlights international recognition through awards like the Pizzicato Supersonic Award and Diapason Magazine's 5 Camertones. Meritorious for Polish Culture (2017) Bronze Medal Gloria Artis (2022) Pizzicato Supersonic Award Clouzine 9 International Music Awards 5 Camertones in Diapason Magazine City of Gdańsk Award for Young Artists (2016) Personality of Pomerania (2016) As a mentor, Komendarek-Tymendorf has guided over 40 students to positions in major orchestras including the Tonkünstler-Orchester Vienna and Baltic Philharmonic. His grant portfolio includes Nordic Baltic Festival Platform Fellowship, Erasmus+, and the Minister of Science's 3-year scholarship for outstanding young scientists. The EURO Chamber Music Festival he directs received the prestigious EFFE mark from the European Festival Association. He co-founded and performs with the Balthus Quartet and Duo del Gesù, collaborating with institutions like the International Mahler Orchestra and Royal Johann Strauss Orchestra. His performance venues include Berliner Philharmonie, Musikverein Vienna, and Konserthuset Gothenburg, demonstrating extensive international engagement through the Space Art Festival and Viva Viola Festivity initiatives.
Allen McCullough is an Assistant Professor of Music at Purdue University's Patti and Rusty Rueff School of Design, Art, and Performance, teaching courses including Music Appreciation and maintaining an active career as a composer and pedagogue. His educational background includes a Bachelor's degree in Music from Brown University, a Master's in Composition from the Manhattan School of Music (studying with Giampaolo Bracali), and dual Master's and Ph.D. degrees in Composition from the University of Pennsylvania (studying with James Primosch, Jay Reise, and Anna Weesner). McCullough's creative research spans multiple compositional domains with particular emphasis on instrumental and vocal expression. His work demonstrates technical mastery across diverse formats including solo piano, string quartets, orchestral compositions (notably a five-movement symphony and piano concerto), and extended vocal forms. The composer exhibits consistent exploration of contemporary classical idioms while maintaining strong connections to traditional structures. Analysis of his recent compositions reveals concentrated development in chamber music and vocal genres over the past decade, with significant contributions to viola-piano repertoire, art song cycles, and innovative piano works that bridge historical forms with modern harmonic language. Scientific awards and honors include: Selection for drift – vol.34 of the Society of Composers, Inc. new music CD series Selection for inclusion in the scores library for the American Viola Society for Sonata for Viola and Piano (c.2019) Finalist for the National Association of the Teachers of Singing (NATS) Song Cycle competition for The Blue Symphony song cycle (c.2014) Inclusion in RMN Classical’s album Modern Music for Piano 3 Selection for inclusion in RMN Classical’s album Modern Music for Piano 4 for Preludes 2-4 (c.2011) Inclusion in the Sound and Music Archive of the British Library for Preludes 2-4 McCullough has secured significant research funding through grants from the Indiana Arts Commission, National Endowment for the Arts, Mercer University, and Purdue University. His collaborative practice involves prominent international artists including Van Cliburn gold medalist Yekwon Sunwoo, Czech Philharmonic concertmaster Josef Spacek, soprano Jennifer O’Loughlin, and the Aeolus, Harlem, and Daedalus String Quartets. While maintaining no formal laboratory, McCullough operates within a dynamic network of performance collaborators and commissioning organizations including the Tippecanoe Chamber Music Society, Chamber Music Yellow Springs, Eakins Vocal Consort, and Lotte Lehman Foundation, facilitating the realization of new works through close artist-composer partnerships.
Lerryn Donatelle is a Part-time Assistant Professor of Music at DePauw University. She specializes in viola performance, with active engagements in regional orchestras, opera companies, and chamber music. Her educational background includes a Master of Music in Viola Performance from DePaul University and dual bachelor's degrees—a Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance from the Lawrence Conservatory of Music and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Lawrence University. Her principal viola instructors include Matthew Michelic, Rami Solomonow, Leslie Straka, and Jacquelyn Schwandt. As a performer, she has participated in master classes led by internationally recognized artists such as Michael Tree, Abram Loft, Charles Castleman, and members of the Pacifica, Ebéne, and Brentano String Quartets.
Dr. Soo Yeon Kim serves as Associate Professor of Violin and Viola and Director of String Chamber Ensemble at Houghton University since Fall 2018. A Korean-born violinist acclaimed by Leipziger Volkszeitung for her "musical maturity and masterful technique," she maintains dual careers as a performing artist and dedicated educator within the university's music program. Her academic foundation includes: D.M.A. in Violin Performance and Literature (minor in Music History and String Pedagogy) from Eastman School of Music Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Violin Performance from The Juilliard School on full scholarship Dr. Kim's artistic practice centers on violin/viola performance, chamber music collaboration, and contemporary repertoire development. She actively premieres new works while integrating string pedagogy principles that emphasize mind-body connection in musical expression. Her research extends to performance practice of 20th-21st century compositions. Her distinguished accolades demonstrate exceptional artistry: Four major concerto competition victories across Busan, Juilliard, and Eastman institutions Finalist recognition at Johansen International String Competition Prestigious appointments at Kronberg Academy, Aspen Music Festival, and Juilliard Starling-DeLay Symposium Young Artist designation A sought-after pedagogue, Dr. Kim regularly conducts masterclasses nationwide and teaches at festivals including Luzerne Music Festival, Bayview Music Festival, and Interharmony International Music Festival in Italy. She mentors students through Houghton's violin/viola lessons, chamber ensembles, and String Techniques courses while directing the String Chamber Ensemble. Her professional activities span global performance venues from Carnegie Hall to Leipzig's Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Hall, with ongoing collaborations through Kronberg Academy Festival and Holland Music Sessions.
Michael Mautner is a composer, conductor, and author currently teaching Project Oriented Composition at the Mozarteum University in the Department of Composition & Music Theory. He has held significant positions including composer, music dramaturge, and musical director at the Rabenhof Theater in Vienna since 2002, academic editor at the Hermann Publishing Group since 2005, and music curator of the Konzett Gallery Vienna since 2013. His educational background includes: Salzburg Music High School, Matura 1978 1978-1984: University of Salzburg (musicology, art history, philosophy) 1979-1985: Mozarteum University (composition with Gerhard Wimberger, conducting with Bernhard Conz, Mladen Basic, and Michael Gielen) Summer courses with Witold Lutoslawski, Henri Dutilleux, and Hans Werner Henze Mautner's creative work focuses on contemporary composition with particular emphasis on multimedia music theater and the interfaces of perception between visual art and music. He maintains what he describes as 'stylistic ambivalence,' working with both tonal harmony and dissonant sharpness without preference for either approach. His work aims to be immediately accessible despite its complexity and uncompromising nature, while still exploring new artistic spaces and contents. He is particularly known for his COM.MEDIA project based on Dante Alighieri and his collaboration with artist Kurt Hofstetter on 'supersymmetric composition technique.' His recent compositions demonstrate a strong trend toward interdisciplinary work at the intersection of visual art and music, with many pieces created specifically for gallery or museum contexts in collaboration with visual artists, especially Franz West. There's also a notable focus on adapting literary and historical texts into musical form, with works based on Dante, Arthur Schnitzler, and Austrian political history. Technologically, his work increasingly incorporates electronic elements and novel compositional techniques like the supersymmetric approach. Mautner has received numerous awards for his work: Staatsstipendium für Komposition (1985) Prix du Centre Acanthes (1982) Silver Bear at the Berlin Festival in the youth film/music category for 'Tunnelkind' (1990) 1st prize in the Mozart composition competition of the City of Vienna/Austro Mechana (1991) Förderungspreis des Landes Salzburg (1994) Mautner has supervised numerous composition students throughout his career, particularly during his tenure as Head of the 'Applied Composition' course at the Mozarteum University from 1994-2005 and his current role teaching Project Oriented Composition since 2015. His work has been supported by significant commissions from prestigious organizations including the Mozarteum Foundation, European Parliament, Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde Wien, ORF, Museum Moderner Kunst Wien, École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts Paris, Kunsthaus Bregenz, Wiener Festwochen, Rabenhof Theater, and the City of Salzburg. He collaborates extensively with various ensembles and institutions, most notably the Merlin Ensemble Wien and the Konzett Gallery Vienna where he directs the KonzettKonzeptKonzert series. His current work includes the 'Supersymmetric Music' project with Kurt Hofstetter, which generates musical sequences through rotations of the space-time axis of a dot matrix corresponding to tones and durations, representing a novel approach to composition that moves beyond conventional patterns.
Are Sandbakken serves as Professor of Chamber Music at the Norwegian Academy of Music since 2003, specializing in viola performance and historical interpretation practices. His career bridges performance, research, and education within Norway's premier music institution. His educational background includes violin and viola studies with Leif Jørgensen (Oslo) and Sándor Végh (Salzburg), supplemented by lied singing training with Svein Bjørkøy and conducting studies under Jorma Panula. Research focuses on reconstructing 19th-century Romantic performance techniques—particularly rubato and glissando—through the NordART-led project The Interpretation Tradition of Romanticism (2014-2018). He also investigates cross-cultural music education frameworks, examining power dynamics in instrumental tuition across international conservatoires. His publications reveal a trajectory from historical performance practice to critical analysis of educational cultures, emphasizing comparative methodologies and institutional power structures in higher music education. Scientific recognition includes: Norwegian Composers' Association performer prize (1999) with the Oslo String Quartet Spellemannsprisen award (2013) for award-winning quartet recordings Professional activities span 25 years with the Oslo String Quartet, leadership of Nordic Harmony's romantic orchestral interpretations, and conducting engagements focused on Grieg and Svendsen repertoire. Current projects include artistic development work on Brahms' songs and Schumann's lieder.
Teagan Faran serves as an Assistant Professor of Violin in the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance at Ithaca College. A native of Buffalo, NY, she is a multidisciplinary musician dedicated to enacting social change through the arts, with performances described as bringing "the house down" (Represent Classical) through genre-defying violin artistry. Her educational background includes: University of Michigan (undergraduate degree) Fulbright grant studies in Buenos Aires Manhattan School of Music (Contemporary Performance program) Professor Faran's creative research centers on social justice through musical innovation, spanning violin performance, electroacoustic experimentation, Argentine tango, and contemporary cross-disciplinary collaboration. She actively performs with ensembles like Alarm Will Sound and Blackbox Ensemble while recording with artists including Carlos Simon and Diamanda Galás, and leads her Navona Records project "Middle Child" that merges traditional violin with electronic textures. Her major recognitions include: Fulbright grant for cultural exchange Turn The Spotlight Fellowship with Hedwig Holbrook Prize OneBeat fellowship in musical diplomacy GRAMMY nomination as co-artistic director of Palaver Strings Administratively, she has shaped arts education through roles at the Buffalo Philharmonic's Marketing/Education Departments and Jazz at Lincoln Center's Concerts/Touring division. She founded the Ann Arbor arts collective Red Shoe Company and serves as a teaching artist for the Kennedy Center, University Musical Society, and Sphinx Organization. At Ithaca College, she mentors students through violin studio classes and orchestra leadership while performing on a 1977 Silvano Rebessi violin and "The Briar" viola by John Perrin Bean. Professor Faran co-directs the ensemble Palaver Strings and forms half of the electroacoustic duo Persephone & the Phoenix, collaborating with luthiers to innovate violin design and pushing acoustic boundaries through experimental performance practices.
Asher Wulfman serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Music Performance within the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance at Ithaca College. His office is located in room 3208 of the James J Whalen Center for Music in Ithaca, New York. His artistic and pedagogical focus centers on string instrument performance, with specialized expertise in viola and violin techniques within classical music traditions. His work emphasizes technical mastery, interpretive depth, and historical performance practices for string musicians. Professor Wulfman actively contributes to the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance through performance instruction, ensemble coaching, and participation in departmental artistic initiatives that advance string education at the collegiate level.
Li-Kuo Chang serves as Professor of Music in viola at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. A celebrated orchestral and chamber musician, he held the position of assistant principal viola with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) from 1988 (appointed by Georg Solti) and served as acting principal viola from 2017 (appointed by Riccardo Muti). His musical education began under his mother—a Shanghai Conservatory professor and Royal Academy of Music graduate—with piano training. Inspired by David Oistrakh's violin performance, he transitioned to strings, making his public debut at age 11 during the Shanghai Spring Music Festival. His viola studies progressed as follows: Eastman School of Music with Francis Tursi Music Academy of the West with Milton Thomas and Donald McInnes Private instruction from Paul Doktor and William Magers Master classes with William Primrose Chang's artistic profile centers on viola performance across orchestral and chamber settings. He has collaborated with Pinchas Zukerman, Daniel Barenboim, Yo-Yo Ma, and Christoph Eschenbach at major festivals including Lucerne, Jerusalem, and Ravinia. His repertoire spans Baroque works like Bach's Brandenburg Concertos to Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen cycle, performed with Staatskapelle Berlin during Asian tours from 2000–2007. Awards and Honors: 1978 Young Artist Competition in Shanghai (First-ever violist in China to win) With over 30 years of teaching experience, Chang has mentored students who secured principal positions in orchestras across Boston, Chicago, Detroit, New York, St. Louis, London, Tokyo, Singapore, and Hong Kong. His faculty appointments include Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music, Peabody Institute, and Affinis Summer Festival in Japan. Chang performs on a 1774 Turin period G. B. Guadagnini viola owned by the CSO, previously playing the rare 1768 Parma period G. B. Guadagnini (ex-Vieuxtemps) for over two decades.
Stephen Wyrczynski is a Professor of Music (Viola) at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he has been on faculty since 2010. He is also an artist-faculty member at the Aspen Music Festival and School since 2006. His educational background includes: Diploma from the Curtis Institute of Music (1991) Bachelor of Music from The Juilliard School (1988) Wyrczynski is a renowned violist and chamber musician with extensive performance experience across North America. His repertoire spans major concert venues and prestigious festivals including Aspen, Tanglewood, and the Casals Music Festival, with a specialized focus on the Second Viennese School (Schoenberg, Webern, and Berg). He has collaborated with prominent artists such as Joshua Bell, Sarah Chang, and Pamela Frank. As an educator, Wyrczynski emphasizes individualized artistic development, encouraging students to explore musical curiosity beyond technical proficiency and take ownership of serving composers' intentions. His co-founded faculty-student initiative examines Second Viennese School repertoire through collaborative performances. Professional activities include regular Jacobs School faculty performances, Aspen Music Festival engagements, and chamber music partnerships across North America's leading festivals and venues.
Viktor Töpelmann is Professor of Historical Performance Practice at the University of Music and Dance Cologne since 2025. An accomplished cellist and gambist, he performs internationally and served as musical director of the Vokal Ensemble München (2015-2022). His career bridges performance, research, and pedagogy with a focus on historical context and authenticity, guided by Johann Friedrich Reichardt's 1782 exhortation to "strive for high enthusiasm." 2001-2004: Bachelor of Music, King's College London 2004-2006: Master of Music, Royal Academy of Music London 2006-2008: Master, Hochschule für Musik Köln 2011-2015: PhD, King's College London Töpelmann's research focuses on historical performance practice, examining cultural contexts of 17th-18th century music. His work explores Empfindsamkeit in Mozart's Salzburg, music trade history, and development of viola da gamba and baroque cello. He approaches historical performance not as rigid reconstruction but as a creative inspiration source for contemporary musicians, emphasizing historical empathy that fosters personal artistic expression. His publications reveal consistent focus on bridging historical research with practical performance. Works span detailed composer studies to broader cultural analyses of Salzburg's musical life during Mozart's era. His research demonstrates how historical understanding can enrich modern interpretation while maintaining artistic freedom, with particular attention to instrumentology and performance techniques. King's College Graduate School Scholarship (2011-2015) Publications in Cambridge University Press and specialized musicology journals Critical acclaim for Vokal Ensemble München performances As an educator, Töpelmann has taught at LMU Munich, Royal Academy of Music London, and University of Augsburg. He views teaching as holistic human development, integrating technical skill, emotional expression, cognitive understanding, and social awareness. His current professorship allows him to combine scholarly research with practical instruction in historical performance practice. His performance work includes numerous recordings as soloist and ensemble member, with special focus on historically informed performance. Solo CDs "Exquisite Delight" (2023) and "Harmonice Mundi" (2021) demonstrate expertise in viola da gamba repertoire using period instruments, reflecting his commitment to authentic sound production while maintaining artistic vitality.