Congratulations to RJ Wuagneux (PhD, Critical Music Studies) on his appointment as Assistant Professor of Music Theory at Appalachian State University!
Robert James (RJ) Wuagneux is a PhD candidate in Critical Music Studies. His dissertation, “The Ground On Which We Listen: Phish, Improvisation, Affect, and World-Building” is a case study using the contemporary rock band Phish to explore how live improvised music and complementary scene aesthetic work to generate and sustain a highly affective musical environment. In turn, the project considers how participatory scene practices are manifest in fans’ world-building efforts toward racial equity in the live music scene at large. Robert’s interdisciplinary music scholarship has recently been recognized by the Alumni Association Doctoral Summer Fellowship (2023) and the Ackerman Award for Excellence in Music Scholarship (2022) from Stony Brook University. Robert will serve as an Assistant Professor of Music Theory at Appalachian State University beginning Fall 2023.