I am extremely pleased to announce that my first PhD candidate, Mark Summers, has successfully defended his PhD thesis at The University of Sheffield. His thesis (titled: Augmenting an Improvised Practice on the Viola da Gamba) combined performance, composition, technology and philosophy, and was examined by external Prof. Jonathan Impett, from the Orpheus Institute in Belgium, and Professor Adrian Moore. Mark gave a wonderful performance as part of his viva, and enjoyed a lively debate about his two CDs of music and extended thesis. Well done Dr Summers!!!!!!!