Loes Rusch
Musicologist and saxophonist Loes Rusch currently divides her post-doctoral research on European jazz festivals between the University of Amsterdam and Birmingham City University. As part of [CHIME], a European research project supported by the JPI Heritage Plus programme, she explores ways in which music and music festivals can provide new models for thinking about cultural heritage through an exploration of festival landscapes. Also, she collaborates with Prof Tony Whyton in an evaluation project on behalf of AHRC, to capture the Knowledge Exchange work that is carried out by the current 18 projects of the HERA Joint Research Programme.
Prior to joining Birmingham City University in February 2015, Rusch taught Jazz Studies and Popular Music Studies at the University of Amsterdam and wrote her PhD, focusing on the cultural politics of jazz, concepts of national thought and identity in music, and the relationship between music, representation and cultural policy-making of jazz in post-war the Netherlands. This research was part of the European funded HERA JRP Project Rhythm Changes , a three-year transnational interdisciplinary research project that examines the inherited traditions and practices of European jazz cultures in five countries, developing new insights into cultural exchanges and dynamics between different countries, groups and related media.
Loes is a member of the organizing committee of the Rhythm Changes conferences, works in partnership with institutions from the arts, heritage and museums sector across Europe and works as curator for the Wonderfeel music festival in the Netherlands.