Where can a degree in «Music and Research» take you? Discover the professional journeys of our graduates.
Mauricio Silva Orendain
Mauricio Silva Orendain, Alumnus of the first generation of the MA SP Music and Research, has been admitted as a doctoral candidate at the VU University Amsterdam in collaboration with the Orgelpark and the Basel Academy of Music FHNW.
«In my doctoral research project «Unveiling New Idioms in Organ Music Through Dynamic Wind», I investigate how dynamic wind technologies can unveil new musical languages and expand the expressive possibilities of the pipe organ. By exploring the relationship between air pressure, acoustic phenomena, and musical expression, I approach the organ not only as a traditional instrument but also as a mutable sound sculpture and a medium for artistic experimentation.
This research builds upon the foundations I developed during my time in the MA SP Music and Research programme in Basel, where I explored the compositional and performative possibilities of dynamic wind. The programme was instrumental in shaping my approach to artistic research, particularly in connecting theoretical inquiry with practical experimentation and artistic practice. I am very happy to continue this investigation as a doctoral researcher at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, in collaboration with Orgelpark, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Hans Fidom and co-supervision of Prof. Dr. Martin Kirnbauer.»
Mauricio Silva Orendain ©ULA Productions 
Mauricio Silva Orendain ©Carlos Cruz
Varun Rangaswamy
Varun Rangaswamy, class of 2026, has been admitted as a doctoral candidate at the prestigious Cornell University/USA.
«In my current research project Musical Fabulation, I engage with historical silences in archival materials. This is a path I will further explore in my doctoral work at Cornell, namely, engaging issues of historical redress, primarily as articulated in Black critical thought, through music and sound. My time in the Music and Research programme in Basel was a great help to lay the foundations of this endeavor, especially in exploring ways of communicating academic research through artistic practice.» /2026
Rubén Bañuelos
Rubén Bañuelos, class of 2026, was admitted to the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a full scholarship in fall 2026. He had previously completed his Master of Arts in SP Music and Research in Basel, successfully defending his project titled «Disembodiment as a Performative Spectrum.»
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MA Specialised Performance | Music and Research
- Hochschule
- Basel Academy of Music
MA Spezialisierte Performance | Music and Research
- Hochschule
- Hochschule für Musik Basel