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Writer's pictureJasper Dommett

A New Chapter: PhD Research at the Royal College of Music

As I take my first steps into PhD research at the Royal College of Music, I find myself entering a space of deep creative inquiry and boundary-pushing. This next stage of my work will allow me to delve even further into questions I’ve long been passionate about—particularly how music, identity, and social justice intersect.

So, what exactly will I be researching? My PhD, titled "Queering Opera: Exploring an Intersection of Microtonality, Queer Studies, and Contemporary Opera," delves into the intersection of microtonality and queer theory within the operatic form. In recent years, opera has begun to embrace more diverse representations of gender and sexuality, and I believe there’s so much more room for exploration. By using microtonality, a musical tool that exists outside the traditional norms of Western classical music, I hope to reflect the complex and vibrant experiences of queer individuals—both on stage and beyond.


 

My key research questions focus on:


  • How microtonality shapes the harmonic structures in my work.

  • How queer theory influences gender and sexuality representation in my operas.

  • How the cultivation of microtonal spaces can serve as a means of queer resistance.

 

I’m particularly excited to explore how these musical spaces—often perceived as 'outside' or 'other'—can parallel the experiences of queer individuals navigating a world of binaries and boundaries. The ultimate goal is to create new operatic works that not only reflect these ideas but also bring joy, defiance, and visibility to queer identities within the art form.


Here is a link to my original PhD proposal:




I’m looking forward to what the next few years will bring and can’t wait to share the fruits of this research with you all!

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