Lüdemann is an Emeritus Professor of Musicology, former Chair of the Music Department and former Vice-Dean: Arts in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. He is a graduate of the University of the Free State and pursued further studies at the University of Hamburg. He served as chair of the Musicological Society of Southern Africa for three consecutive terms (1995 – 2004). In 2003 he was awarded a British Academy Visiting Professorship (Southampton and Cambridge). His research interests include German music between the two world wars, music aesthetics, South African music and music and evolution. He has presented research papers in South Africa, Germany, the UK, Italy and the Netherlands. Publications include numerous research articles in South African and German journals as well as the book Hugo Distler. Eine musikalische Biographie (Augsburg 2002). He was awarded honorary membership of the Musicological Society in 2005. Lüdemann is also active as a composer.