PhD Fellow in Artistic Research: Performance Practice in Classical Music/Art Music

The University of Stavanger invites applicants for a PhD Fellowship in classical music/Western art music, connected to the topic of performance practice at the Faculty of Performing Arts, Department of Classical Music. 

We are looking for an experienced performer who wants to complete a PhD program in artistic research. The successful candidate will be employed in a full-time position as a Research Fellow for a period of three years.

We are looking for a performer who wants to investigate, develop, and reflect over their own artistic practice. The PhD project must consist of artistic projects/results, supported by reflection material in the form of text or similar. The successful applicant will be enrolled on our PhD programme in artistic research, recently established in collaboration with the University of Agder. The position is meant to qualify for artistic work and artistic research at a national and international level.

By law, artistic research has been equalled to scientific research in Norway since 1995, and can be found in the national qualifications framework’s descriptions of skills and knowledge.

The PhD programme in artistic research is the arts disciplines’ parallel to scientifically-based research training on a doctoral level, where artistic practice should be at the centre of the doctoral work. At the same time, the artistic practice must be accompanied by an explicit reflection, that, when presenting the project, makes it possible for others to take part in the working methods and insights generated by the work.

In accordance with academic tradition and standards for research ethics, the doctoral degree programme is meant to qualify candidates for artistic research of international standard and for other work in society where high demands are placed on artistic insight and competence.

The candidate should be at the forefront of knowledge within key practices, directions and discourse in the chosen artistic field. After graduation, the candidate should also be able to develop, articulate and carry out artistic projects of high complexity and academic relevance, as well as communicate their own work in a way that creates awareness of the topics addressed through the work. Throughout the doctoral programme, the candidate should be able to identify relevant ethical issues and exercise his or her oeuvre with professional integrity.

Read more about the PhD programme on our website.

Performance practice is a key knowledge field for performers in classical music/Western art music, and we are seeking a candidate wanting to immerse themselves in that; linked to personal specialisation, and within a defined repertoire or other specified artistic direction. Performers within classical music/Western art music interested in having performance at the core of a PhD project are encouraged to apply.

Projects that have performance at their core and are linked to the call's overarching theme - performance practice in classical music/Western art music – will be relevant, and we encourage applicants to define projects in line with their own professional specializations, interests and opportunities. At the same time, when assessing the applications, we will emphasise that the content and profile of the project correspond to the capacity and academic resources available at our faculty; i.e. supervisory competence, members of faculty’s expertise, artistic activities, etc.

At the Faculty of Performing Arts, there are many academic and artistic specialisations that can form the basis for PhD projects. Within classical music/Western art music we have strong professional environments in opera, singing, piano, organ, wind, strings, percussion, and conducting. In addition, the faculty has academic-artistic communities in contemporary dance, jazz/improvised music and music production that will be able to form the basis for multidisciplinary approaches/collaborations for classical musicians who choose such a direction. See www.uis.no/bjergsted  for more information about the faculty.

At the faculty, there are also a number of other specialisations that can be good starting points for an artistic PhD project, such as conducting and digitalization; i.e. the recently completed the Erasmus+ project ConductIT . Another example is an ongoing Erasmus+ project, Voices of Women , which concentrates on the repertoire of female composers. In addition, the faculty has recently strengthened its expertise in i.e. historically informed performance practices in the Romantic repertoire, as well as new music.

We encourage potential applicants to contact us for advice and more information in connection with relevant specialization and competence.

The overarching theme for the project should be performance practice within classical music/Western art music. Applicants must submit a project description that contextualises and delimits the artistic development work. The project description must contain the main objective of the artistic development work in addition to a plan for how or what type of activities and artistic projects will be appropriate for the stipulated goals.

The artistic development work in the doctoral degree must consist of:

• artistic activity/production - here it is assumed that at the end of the research fellowship period one will perform at a high international level and with a special specialization that is relevant to the subject area
• a reflection on one's own artistic activity.   

Your preliminary project proposal will be included in the application assessment. During the first three months of the employment period, the project proposal and progress plan will be further developed in cooperation with your supervisors and completed for the final plan for the PhD-project. A project proposal template can be found here.

In order to qualify for the PhD programme, you must normally have completed a master's degree in a relevant field of study at a Norwegian or foreign institution. Equivalent artistic competence

and production may, subject to a special assessment, form the basis for admission to the programme.

The master's (or equivalent) academic relevance will be assessed against the proposed project, and documentation (text, artistic production, etc.) relevant to the master's degree must therefore be attached to the application.

Furthermore, it is emphasized that you:

• perform music at a professional level that enables you to demonstrate artistic performance at a high international level upon completion of the three-year PhD programme in artistic research.
• have the ability and willingness to reflect on your own artistic activities and to collaborate in an artistic and academic environment
• are motivated and have the prerequisites to complete the doctoral degree during the employment period
• can work independently and in a community, be innovative and creative
• are structured and have a large work capacity
• have good skills in English, both written and spoken

• a PhD education in artistic development work at a large, exciting and socially important educational organization
• an ambitious work community which is developing rapidly. We strive to include employees at all levels in strategic decisions and promote an informal atmosphere with a flat organizational structure.
• salary in accordance with the State Salary Scale, l.pl 17.515, code 1017, NOK 501 200 gross per year with salary development according to seniority in the position. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
• automatic membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund , which provides favourable insurance- and retirement benefits
• favourable membership terms at a gym and at the SIS sports club
• employment with an Inclusive Workplace organization which is committed to reducing sick leave, increasing the proportion of employees with reduced working capacity, and increasing the number of professionally active seniors
• "Hjem-jobb-hjem"  discounted public transport to and from work
• as an employee in Norway, you will have access to an optimal health service, as well as good pensions, generous maternity/paternity leave, and a competitive salary. Nursery places are guaranteed and reasonably priced
• relocation program
• language courses : On this page you can see which language courses you may be entitled to (look up “language courses” under employment conditions)

The university's values are to be independent, involving and creative. We consider diversity as a resource in our working and learning environment, and are committed to showing respect for each other's differences and background. Universal design will characterize our physical and digital learning environment, and the workplace will, if necessary, be facilitated for employees with disabilities.

If you consider the position to be interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, functional ability, cultural background or whether you have been outside the labour market for a period of time.

More information on the position (and project description) can be obtained from Vice Dean for Research and Innovation Hagit Yakira, e-mail [email protected]  or Professional leader of the program Petter Frost Fadnes, e-mail [email protected] .

Information about the appointment procedure can be obtained from HR Advisor Helene Engelsgjerd Figved., tel: +47 51831558, e-mail: [email protected] .

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. If your application is considered to be in conflict with the criteria in the latter legislation, it will be rejected without further assessment.

Employment as PhD Fellow is regulated in "Regulations concerning terms and conditions of employment for the posts of post-doctoral research fellow and research fellow, research assistant and resident ".

Your competence for the position, based on documentation registered in Jobbnorge, will be assessed by an internal expert committee. Based on the committee's statement, relevant applicants will be invited for an interview before any recommendations are made. Auditions or additional documentation of artistic practice may also be relevant. References will also be obtained for relevant candidates. More about the hiring process on our website.

The programme is mainly conducted at the University of Stavanger, except for an agreed stay abroad in a recognised relevant research environment.

It is a prerequisite that you settle down so that you can be present at, and available to, the professional environment at the workplace during ordinary working hours.

The position has been announced in both Norwegian and English. In the event of a difference of opinion between the texts, the Norwegian text shall be used as a basis

Apply for the position online via the "Apply for the position" on this page. Here, the minimum application letter, relevant education and work experience as well as language skills are recorded. In the application letter, you must state your motivation for the position and artistic research.

The following must be uploaded as attachments to the grant application:

• project description (template available on our website )
• CV with a complete overview of education, experience and artistic work, with link to Dropbox, Soundcloud, Youtube or similar
• diplomas and certificates as well as documentation of other activity that is considered relevant

The application will be assessed on the basis of the information available in Jobbnorge at the application deadline. Therefore, make sure that the application clearly shows how your skills and experience meet the criteria described above and that you have attached the necessary documentation.

The documentation must be available in a Scandinavian language or English. If attachments exceed 30 MB in total, they must be compressed before uploading.

Please note that information about the applicant may be published even if the applicant has requested not to be included on the public list of applicants, cf. Section 25 of the Freedom of Information Act. If your request is not complied with, you will be notified of this.

UiS only considers applications and attachments registered in Jobbnorge.

The University of Stavanger (UiS) has about 12,000 students and 2,200 employees. The university has high ambitions. We strive to have an innovative and international profile, and be a driving force in knowledge development and in the process of societal change. Our common direction is driven by consideration for green and sustainable change and equitable social development, through new ways of managing natural resources and facilitating better cities and local communities. Energy, health and welfare, learning for life are our focus areas.

In constant collaboration and dialogue with our surroundings, regionally, nationally and internationally, we enjoy an open and creative climate for education, research, innovation, dissemination and museum activities. Academic life at the University of Stavanger is organised into six faculties comprising various departments/schools and National Research Centres, as well as the Museum of Archaeology. We are a member of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities. The university is located in the most attractive region in the country with more than 300,000 inhabitants. The Stavanger region has a dynamic labour market and exciting cultural and leisure activities.

Together with our staff and students we will challenge the well-known and explore the unknown.

The Faculty of Performing Arts offers higher art education, research and artistic developmental work within the performing and creative disciplines. The faculty educates performing musicians and dancers, instrumental and dance educators. This is done through practical bachelor's and master's programs, as well as annual units and further education. Currently, the faculty has approximately 260 study places and approx. 65 employees divided into sections within classical music, jazz / improvised music, dance, conducting, pedagogy and art didactics, and a unit of music production and recording technique. The Faculty of Performing Arts is active in national and international networks in its fields of expertise, and has a regional responsibility for the national talent development program. With a high frequency of concerts, performances and dissemination activities in several performers' arenas and close to the region's arts and cultural environment, the Faculty of Performing Arts is also a profiled cultural actor in the region. The Faculty is strategically located with its campus near its primary competence- and professional environment, practice fields and regional contact networks in the Bjergsted Cultural Park.