Ben Wheeler

Served as a resident and facilitator for multiple Mutant Radio projects spanning events, podcasts, conferences, and accompanying written content. Supported European-funded initiative-related content for projects including Slash Transition, Shape+ Platform, and Gravity Network.

Integrated radio programming into EastEast music features by commissioning linked articles and content. Curated a sole themed 24/7 hourly show stream focused on global traditions emphasizing tradition, experimentation, and collaboration, and coordinated with contributors to commission mixes.

Conducted ethnographic fieldwork across the South Caucasus, producing hundreds of field recordings of lesser-known musical traditions. Interviewed musicians, published related articles, released recordings in multiple formats (LP, CD, cassette), and produced public lectures and a documentary on the electric guitar’s history in Azerbaijan.

Edited all English-language materials published on the platform, and served as music and food features editor. Created articles and social media posts, conducted interviews with authors and contributors, and curated feature sections using mixed media including commissioned cooking videos, guest mixes, and podcast-style interviews.

Led all written content for a QA/writer/recruiter team of 30+, overseeing in-house production and online distribution of 500+ articles, blog posts, and publications. Built the company-wide written brand identity/style guide from scratch and advised on SEO strategy for content reach.

Owned grammar, technical writing, and tone across 100% of the organization’s output, including presentations, publications, products, speeches, social media, subtitles, and film scripts. Ensured mission-driven consistency with concise public messaging and served as primary copy editor plus author/interviewer for sections of The Majlis Book.

Edited and wrote materials for multiple farm departments (Creative Residency, Agriculture, Hospitality, Wellness, F&B, and others), serving as the final quality step for public-facing output. Produced guest-facing and outbound communications including presentations, menus, notices, correspondence, and website copy, and wrote all farm social media content.

Provided English copy editing for the first edition of the Uzbek publication Frontier magazine, ensuring accuracy and clarity across content. Supported article development by editing an interview with the featured author for inclusion in the upcoming first edition publication.

Worked with individual authors and institutions to edit academic texts, including books, proposals, articles, and master’s and doctoral theses. Edited and supported publication-ready outputs such as Digging Up Music (edited volume), a master’s thesis, and related academic articles.

Pursuing an M.A. in Musicology at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana from 2016 to 2026.

Served as an FLAS foreign exchange scholar in the Department of Anthropology at Tbilisi State University from 2016 to 2017.

Completed a short study program focused on Georgian Folk Music at Tbilisi State Conservatory from 2012 to 2013.

Completed a Bachelor of Arts in Music at the University of Oregon from 2004 to 2009.