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Aurelianus Varro University

Musicology & Ethnomusicology

Exploring musical traditions in their full breadth — from historic Western manuscripts to the diverse sound worlds of cultures across the globe.

The Musicology Department at Aurelianus Varro University is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive centers for the scholarly study of music in the fictional academic world. Combining historical research, critical inquiry, cultural analysis, and interdisciplinary exploration, our programs cultivate thinkers who shape the global discourse on music’s evolving role in society.

Our faculty come from distinguished universities and conservatories across the world and are active researchers, writers, and lecturers. Whether examining medieval manuscripts, exploring digital game soundscapes, or documenting musical traditions across continents, our scholars inspire students to understand music not only as sound, but as a complex human phenomenon worthy of deep and rigorous study.

ID 421-001

Dr. Aurelia Korolenko

Title: Professor of Historical Musicology

Email: akorolenko@avu.edu

Office: Mendelssohn Hall, Room 214

Education:
B.M. — Dol Guldur Conservatory of Music
M.M. — Gotham National School of the Arts
Ph.D. — University of Highwind

A renowned scholar specializing in medieval and early modern musical manuscripts, Dr. Korolenko’s work bridges philology, theology, and historical performance practice. Her publications have reshaped the academic understanding of early choral traditions, and she currently serves as senior contributing editor for the Gotham National Journal for Musicology, where her articles have become essential reading for researchers across the continent.

ID 421-002

Dr. Lorian Vetran

Title: Associate Professor of Musicology

Email: lvetran@avu.edu

Office: Mendelssohn Hall, Room 309

Education:
B.M. — Royal Conservatory of Eldoria
M.M. — Minas Tirith State University
Ph.D. — University of Aerilon

Dr. Vetran is known for his work on symphonic traditions of the 19th and early 20th centuries, specializing in the intersections between political movements and musical nationalism. His research has been featured in international conferences, and his lectures are praised for their clarity, depth, and persuasive historical insight.

ID 421-003

Dr. Sylara Hart

Title: Assistant Professor of Ludomusicology

Email: shart@avu.edu

Office: Mendelssohn Hall, Room 121

Education:
B.M. — Conservatory of Avelon
M.M. — Novigrad University of Arts
Ph.D. — Akademia Harmonia

Dr. Hart specializes in music for interactive media, with an emphasis on dynamic scoring systems and player-responsive compositional techniques. Her work with major game studios has earned international recognition, and her courses at AVU are among the most sought-after in the department.

ID 421-004

Dr. Cassian Merrow

Title: Lecturer in Game Sound and Narrative Music

Email: cmerrow@avu.edu

Office: Mendelssohn Hall, Room 122

Education:
B.M. — Erebor Institute of Music
M.M. — University of Galadrin
Ph.D. — Conservatory of Northwind

With a background spanning orchestral composition and digital music design, Dr. Merrow’s research delves into narrative cohesion in fantasy and sci-fi sound worlds. His analyses of musical semiotics in popular game franchises have been widely circulated among scholars and developers alike.

ID 421-005

Dr. Anika Volshen

Title: Professor of Ethnomusicology

Email: avolshen@avu.edu

Office: Mendelssohn Hall, Room 401

Education:
B.M. — Lyonesse College of Music
M.M. — University of Sokovia
Ph.D. — Caranthir School of Global Arts

A specialist in the musical traditions of remote mountain cultures, Dr. Volshen has conducted extensive fieldwork across the continents of Thalmar and Veyr. Her ethnographic recordings and analyses have been used in both academic and cultural preservation efforts worldwide.

ID 421-006

Dr. Rian Ostrek

Title: Assistant Professor of Comparative Music Cultures

Email: rosterk@avu.edu

Office: Mendelssohn Hall, Room 402

Education:
B.M. — Conservatory of Valoria
M.M. — University of Kalmarin
Ph.D. — High Tower Institute of Ethnographic Studies

Dr. Ostrek focuses on cross-cultural rhythmic systems and diasporic musical identities. His work illuminates how migration, memory, and ritual shape the soundscapes of communities around the globe.