About us

Research in Music Performance has been conducted at School of Music in Piteå at Luleå University of Technology since 2004. The Academy of Music's research environment today has a strong international profile in research on musical interaction, with a base in the research cluster GEMM (Gesture, Embodiment and Machines in Music). This is an interdisciplinary research environment, where research in audio engineering is also an important component. Research in Music Performance is deeply rooted in artistic practices and professional knowledge. Artistic results take the form of performances, scores and recordings. Here, Studio Acusticum and the University Organ constitute a very important infrastructure.

In the international research project The Global Hyperorgan, GEMM and Luleå University of Technology are a leading partner, together with Orgelpark in Amsterdam, wherein the unique properties of the University organ create new artistic and scientific possibilities. GEMM also collaborates with Norrbotten NEO in the creation of new works with interactive technologies.

Research in Music Performance involves the entire environment in Piteå in collaborative projects that have further branches both within Luleå University of Technology as well as nationally and internationally. The central building block is the research cluster GEMM (Gesture, Embodiment and Machines in Music), which is led by Professor and Head of Subject Stefan Östersjö. GEMM was founded in 2018, and conducts internationally leading and interdisciplinary research on interactivity in musical creation.

GEMM conducts basic research in Music Performance through the development of methods for multimodal data collection and analysis. At the same time, the applied research is important, and here the collaboration with professional actors in the music life is a central factor. GEMM aims to drive development in music life, regionally, nationally and internationally. In direct collaboration with regional actors such as Norrbotten NEO and Studio Acusticum, as well as with the music technology company Gestrument, new artistic projects, compositions and technological tools are created that carry the music further in society.

At the Academy of Music, research in Music Performance is an integral part of education at the undergraduate and advanced level. In order to develop the relationship between research and education, postgraduate education is also given in Music Performance with a special focus on pedagogy in higher music education.