Alexandra Balandina
PhD, MMus, BA
Alexandra Balandina is the Course Director (acting) of the MA in Ethnomusicology at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick since 2006. Her qualifications include BA in Social Anthropology and Social Policy (Panteion University, Greece), MMus and PhD in Ethnomusicology (Goldsmiths College, University of London).
She conducted extensive fieldwork in Iran where she researched the dynamic development of tombak playing within the domain of Iranian classical music, and learned to perform on the tombak (goblet shaped drum) with the eminent Bahman Rajabi, among others. She also performs on various types of frame drums (daf, bendir/dayre) and she is currently learning the Irish bodhran. Alexandra has performed with renowned musicians, including Ross Daly and his ensemble Labyrinth, and the Greek-Kurdish-Iranian ensemble Persepolis.
Main Areas of Research:
Middle East, Balkans, Eastern Europe, Social Anthropology, Ethnography, Performance Theory, World Music Ensembles, Islam, Music Censorships, Organology, Music and Identity.
20 February, 2008
