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Research Alive
2026-2027

Unveiling what makes music so magical in the ears and minds of the listener through live performance and dialogue between researchers and musicians.

About Research Alive

The public face of the Schulich School of Music consists, in large majority, of performances by our excellent faculty and student musicians, at times performing works by our own composers. These performances provide a great glimpse into the talent at the School, but they don't fully represent everything that goes on in the music faculty. So the aim of the Research Alive series is to bring alive the research in music theory, music history and musicology, music education, and sound recording, as well as the many faces of musical science and engineering that make up the music technology area. In performance and composition, much research goes on behind the scenes that leads up to the final product, and that research process will also revealed.

Each event is given by a member of the School to bring to light their research, amply illustrated with live musical examples, and ending with a small piece performed by the faculty and students to tie it all together. So, our motto is "Bring alive the research with music."

This series is curated by Prof. Stephen McAdams.

January 7, 2027

5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. | Multimedia Room
Free Admission

Pop music from 1000 years ago: Throat singing and original instruments from Inner Mongolia

Richard King, Professor, Sound Recording

January 20, 2026

5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. | Tanna Schulich Hall
Free Admission

Wonders of Rome: The Toccatas of Giovanni Kapsperger and Girolamo Frescobaldi

Seth Dempsey, Music Theory, Winner of the 2026–2027 Research Alive Student Prize

The Research Alive Student Prize is made possible by a generous donation from Ms. Jill de Villafranca and Dr. David Kostiuk.

February 10, 2026

5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. | Tanna Schulich Hall
Free Admission

The Mandé Kumbengo: Understanding West African instruments and grooves

Althea SullyCole, Assistant Professor, Ethnomusicology
Fodé Lassana Diabaté (balafón), Guest Artist, Artist-Researcher, Composer, Culture Bearer

March 24, 2026

5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. | Tanna Schulich Hall
Free Admission

The Language of Bebop: Morphology, syntax, and meaning in Charlie Parker's improvisations

John Sweenie, jazz saxophone, Finalist of the 2026–2027 Research Alive Student Prize

The Research Alive Student Prize is made possible by a generous donation from Ms. Jill de Villafranca and Dr. David Kostiuk.

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