Senior Lecturer in Music Performance

LUCA School of Arts is a creative hub for almost 5,000 people: more than 4,000 students and 800 colleagues. LUCA offers them an educational and research environment to further develop their creative talent. We do this by offering higher education in the broad domain of the arts, and through artistic research, embedded within an associated Faculty of Arts at KU Leuven. LUCA has campuses in four cities: Ghent, Brussels, Leuven and Genk. LUCA is a member of the KU Leuven Association and the European University Alliance FilmEU.

Campus Lemmens in Leuven hosts research in drama and music that supports the programmes in drama (acting/creating and writing/creating) and music (composition, conducting, instrument/vocal studies, jazz, music pedagogy, and music therapy).
In the context of the expertise network Artistic Practices, to be appointed within the team Music Performance, LUCA is looking for a Senior Lecturer who will contribute further to the development and expansion of artistic research within the field of music performance, while strengthening the connections between research, artistic practice and education.

The proposed start date is 1 September 2027.

Main location: Campus Lemmens, Leuven.

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Research

As a senior lecturer, your appointment is equally divided between research (50%) and teaching (50%).

Together with colleagues, you will build a group of PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. You achieve research output of an international level and attract external resources for additional research. You participate and strenghten the research culture of the campus through seminars, symposia and collaborative initiatives and disseminate research outcomes through artistic presentations, performances, publications, and other relevant platforms for artistic research. You engage in artistic dialogue with composers and other creators and explore how performance mediates between the creative process and the listening experience. You contribute to the development of collaborative research projects and applications for external funding. 

The status of special guest lecturer in the arts allows you to be a supervisor of doctorates in the arts and research projects within KU Leuven.

Research topics may include, but are not limited to:

• innovative approaches to musical performance practice;
• research into performance processes, rehearsal methodologies, and artistic interpretation;
• artistic experimentation with repertoire, style, and performance formats;
• interdisciplinary artistic practices connecting music performance with other artistic disciplines;
• performance as a space for interaction between performer, composer, audience, technology, and society;
• artistic research into the dialogue between creation, performance, and listening, including collaborative practices between performers and composers;
• historically informed, contemporary, or experimental approaches to performance practice.

The research should build on an excellent and active artistic practice and demonstrate relevance for the development of music performance as an artistic and research discipline.

Teaching

Your assignment also includes teaching tasks within LUCA Music & Drama. These are mainly situated within the programmes in instrumental/vocal studies, composition and conducting.

Depending on the profile and expertise of the candidate, these tasks may relate to principal study teaching in instrumental and vocal studies, collaborative performance, piano accompaniment or related domains within the music programme. Specific expertise in interdisciplinary artistic collaboration or related performance practices may constitute an additional asset.

The assignment is broader than teaching, supervising and evaluating students. Together with colleagues, you develop teaching and learning activities, tailored to the student audience and within the context of the curriculum and the profile of the program. Together with colleagues, you develop teaching and learning activities tailored to the student population and embedded within the curriculum and profile of the program. You actively contribute to educational quality and act as an ambassador for LUCA towards prospective students and alumni. You support the development and coordination of study tracks within the music programme. 

You design and deliver teaching that introduces students to a wide range of artistic and theoretical perspectives, including non-Western, Indigenous, diasporic, and marginalized voices.

Academic, social and internal service, professional development and international networking are also part of the assignment.

Finally, you are expected to take on a leading role within LUCA at specific moments.

Profile

You hold a Doctorate in the Arts or have a PhD related to music performance. 

You are an actively performing musician with a strong artistic profile demonstrated through performances, recordings, or artistic projects. 

You have extensive experience leading artistic research. Your research is internationally published and you have experience in applying for external research funding.

You demonstrate the ability to connect artistic practice, research, and higher arts education. 

You preferably have experience teaching in higher music education.

You are interested in contributing to the development and expansion of artistic research within Music Performance. 

You have an open and inquisitive artistic attitude and engage critically with performance traditions and practices. 

You thrive in a collaborative and interdisciplinary artistic and academic environment. 

You demonstrate initiative in developing artistic collaborations and research projects. 

You have an artistic and academic network relevant to the development of the field. 

Your artistic and theoretical practice critically reflects on dominant Western frameworks while drawing on diverse cultural, epistemological, and artistic traditions.

You have social and educational skills, you are collegial and communicative, and motivated to continuously develop your expertise. 

You act respectfully and with integrity, in line with LUCA’s code of conduct. You contribute to an inclusive work and study environment, you are open to different opinions, and value diversity between individuals and groups as an asset.

You are able to teach in Dutch (C1) or English (B1). If necessary, you are willing to further develop your skills in both languages. Those who do not yet speak Dutch commit to achieving level B2 within five years. LUCA offers the necessary training opportunities for this.

You are loyal and endorse LUCA’s mission, vision and policy.

Offer

This vacancy is for a statutory appointment of indefinite duration for 100% vacant position with the rank of “docent (OP3)” at LUCA School of Arts. A tenured position can be applied for in due course. In addition, you will acquire the status of special guest lecturer in the arts within KU Leuven for a first term of five years.

The remuneration is paid in salary scale 528. Commuting by public transport or by bicycle is reimbursed, you get a teacher's card, discounts through joint purchase, and the option to take out hospitalization insurance at a favorable rate.

You will find yourself in an environment where respect and integrity define our basic attitude, where we see sustainability and diversity as an asset, and where quality is our driving force.

LUCA wants all talents to develop to the fullest, regardless of gender, age, cultural origin, nationality or disability. We therefore welcome all talented people who recognize the added value of diversity and want to help shape an inclusive organization.

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Interested?

More information about this vacancy can be obtained from João Carlos Victor, teamcoordinator music, joao.victoralves@luca-arts.be.  

You can apply via the online application application of KU Leuven (in case of problems with the tool: solliciteren@kuleuven.be) by clicking on the 'Apply' button above.

Your application consists of: (1) a motivation letter, (2) a curriculum vitae, (3) a portfolio, (4) a dossier containing your five most important publications, (5) a certificate of diploma (or declaration of equivalence), (6) a bio-sketch.

You do not need to upload any other documents requested by the tool. Please upload your portfolio and diploma certificate under the category ‘Other’.

This bio-sketch is a free text of no more than two pages in which you briefly outline your past career and your future plans in three parts: (a) the crucial elements of your past career (with attention to their importance and impact), (b) the main points of your future activities (with an emphasis on the first five years), (c) your added value and opportunities for collaboration within LUCA and KU Leuven.

Only complete applications are eligible.

Interviews with candidates, and any interactive workshops, will follow after pre-selection based on the file.

Short-listed candidates may be asked to provide references.

If you would experience certain barriers when applying, you can contact HR.diversiteit@luca-arts.be.

After the interview, all successful candidates are ranked. The candidate with the highest score receives the first job offer. Other successful candidates are placed in our recruitment pool for one year (with the option of a one-year extension). More information can be found here.

You can apply for this job no later than January 04, 2027 via the 'Apply' button above. 

KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.

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