Dr. René Rusch

Biography

René Rusch is an associate professor of music theory at the University of Michigan's Department of Music Theory. He joined the faculty in 2015, having previously taught at the Schulich School of Music at McGill University from 2007 to 2015. His research interests predominantly focus on the music of Franz Schubert and encompass topics such as late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century harmony and form, as well as jazz theory. Rusch's scholarly work reflects an interdisciplinary approach, integrating perspectives from literary theory, philosophy, and historiography. His articles have been published in notable journals, including the Journal of Music Theory, Music Analysis, and Music Theory Online, and he is currently completing a monograph entitled 'Schubert’s Instrumental Music: Poetics and Interpretation,' scheduled for publication by Indiana University Press in Fall 2023. Rusch has presented his research at various refereed conferences, including those organized by the Society for Music Theory and other prominent gatherings. In addition, he has been invited to share his work at institutions such as City University of New York, Duke University, and Michigan State University. He received the Arthur J. Komar Award for his Midwest paper presentation in 2006 and a research grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada in 2011. Rusch has also earned prestigious teaching awards and has served on several editorial boards and committees related to music theory and pedagogy.

Research Interests