I obtained a BA in Piano Instrumental Study and a MA in Music Education at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz, and Spanish Philology at the Karl-Franzens-University of Graz; my master’s thesis was entitled Somnis irracionals: A composition to paintings of Salvador DalĂ. I received my PhD in musicology, field of jazz and popular music research from the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz; my dissertation The style of Gonzalo Rubalcaba: Between the Cuban tradition and jazz examines the music of Cuban jazz pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba, exploring his compositional techniques and his methods of combining traditional Cuban and jazz elements in his own music.
Since 2008 I have worked as a researcher at the Institute for Jazz Research of the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz. In addition to my work for Rhythm Changes and my research on European jazz cultures, my research interests include transcriptions and musical analyses from a range of jazz and popular music styles (e.g. lectures and publications on Anthony Braxton, John Coltrane, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Cuban music and latin jazz).