Joseph Salem

Acting Associate Dean at the University of Victoria

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

About

I'm active as a teacher, researcher, and administrator at the University of Victoria, with strong records of achievement in graduate advising, curriculum development, and research outcomes. I also serve on Senate and university-wide committees. My primary research is focused on twentieth-century art music, with an emphasis on European and American experimentalism and figures associated with Pierre Boulez. I am skilled as an archival researcher and data analyst, including considerable experience at the Paul Sacher Stiftung in Basel, Switzerland. In addition to core music history and theory courses, I regularly teach upper-level electives and graduate seminars in sound studies, opera, intertextuality in modern music, the history of music theory and aesthetics, critical methodologies for music research, and bibliography.

Experience

  • University of Victoria (11 yrs 1 mo)
    • Acting Associate Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Victoria
      Jul 2025 - Present · 1 yr 1 mo

    • Associate Professor, School of Music
      Jul 2015 - Present · 11 yrs 1 mo

      I am a tenured Associate Professor of Musicology teaching music history and theory. I teach music history from 1750 to present, music theory, and numerous topical courses. Research specializations include Pierre Boulez, intertextuality, modern idioms and methodologies, post-1945 art music, and some popular music idioms. I advise student projects at all undergraduate and graduate levels. I have considerable experience with graduate advising and curriculum development.

  • Full-Time Lecturer at Yale University
    Aug 2014 - May 2015 · 10 mos

    Taught and managed multiple sections of ear-training (full curriculum) and MUS 110 (introduction to music notation and theory for majors and non-majors).

  • Yale University (7 yrs 5 mos)
    • PTAI, TF/Teaching Assistant
      2009 - May 2014 · 5 yrs 5 mos

      With James Hepokoski, Sarah Weiss, and Craig Wright. Courses include World Music Survey, 1600-1800 Western Music Survey, Listening to Music (music appreciation for non-majors), and Notation and Theory for Non-Majors.

    • A/V Assistant, Consultant, Specialist; Research Assistant
      2007 - May 2014 · 7 yrs 5 mos

      Assist with A/V projects including conference set-up and execution, audio-visual examples and presentations (creation and editing), and online teaching. Additional experience includes research assistance for database creation, data collection, and library research.

  • Teaching Assistant at University of Wisconsin-Madison
    2005 - 2007 · 2 yrs

    With Leslie Blasius. Sophomore music theory with writing component (four semesters).

  • Library Assistant I, Assistant Librarian at The University of Texas at Austin
    2002 - 2005 · 3 yrs

    Specialized in A/V collection and equipment, including research toward product purchases and upgrades.