In this episode, I chat all about my past semester of continuing this year's touring season with Opera For The Young, giving my first lecture recital, and formally starting my dissertation research. I also give an update on the podcast release schedule this summer and contemplate the goals I have for the upcoming season. Consider joining the HMA book club for our next meeting in early July! Sign up for free on Substack to get all of the relevant book club information. Opera For The Young Podcast...
May 26, 2025•1 hr 43 min
In this episode, I chat with The Dolphins Quartet (violinists Luke Henderson and Issac Park, violist James Preucil, and cellist Ian Maloney) about their backgrounds in music, their time at The Juilliard School, and how they met and started working together. We also discuss their rehearsal process, how they choose repertoire to perform, how they compose music for themselves, and their collaborations with living composers. Finally, we talk about their experience performing in the Great Lakes Chamb...
May 19, 2025•36 min
In this episode, I chat with Dr. Cora Palfy (Washington and Jefferson College) about her musical upbringing as a singer, her time studying music theory and cognition at Northwestern, and her music theory pedagogy article on "the hidden curriculum." We also dive into her 2022 book Musical Agency and The Social Listener , which discusses music as an agent that acts upon the listener through narrative. Join us for our next HMA book club meeting in May! Sign up at hermusicacademia.com/book-club to g...
Apr 28, 2025•1 hr 23 min
In this episode, I chat with Lee Thomas Richardson about Beyoncé's eighth studio album, Cowboy Carter , including its reception by the Beyhive, our favorite (and least favorite) tracks, the nominations and awards the album received at the 2024 Grammys, and Beyoncé's new products that further expand her brand. Join us for our next book club meeting on Sunday, April 27th at 1:30 pm EST! Sign up for the Substack newsletter and join the HMA Discord for more information! My episode on Renaissance ...
Mar 31, 2025•1 hr 32 min
In this episode, I chat with Lee Thomas Richardson (Columbia University) about his musical upbringing as a saxophonist and a vocalist, his path to music theory, and the start of his research on Beyoncé and fandom. We also discuss Beyoncé's eighth studio album, Cowboy Carter . Stay tuned for part two of our conversation! Join us for our next book club meeting on Sunday, April 27th at 1:30 pm EST! Sign up for the Substack newsletter and join the HMA Discord for more information! My episode on Rena...
Mar 24, 2025•49 min
In this episode, I chat with Dr. Shannon Draucker (Siena College) about her musical upbringing as a clarinetist, her experience in an English PhD program at Boston University, and her current pedagogical practices at Siena. We also discuss her recent book Sounding Bodies: Acoustical Science and Musical Erotics in Victorian Literature , as well as her current research on orchestra culture and concert etiquette. The next HMA book club meeting takes place on Sunday, March 2 at 3:00 pm EST! Sign up ...
Feb 17, 2025•1 hr 15 min
In this episode, I chat with Dr. Kristin Franseen (Western University) about her musical upbringing as a bassist, her early interest in becoming an orchestral librarian, and her time at McGill University earning a PhD in musicology. We also chat about her first book, Imagining Musical Pasts, and her current research on the intersection of music and gossip, specifically within the supposed feud between Mozart and Salieri. The HMA book club meets this Sunday, January 26th at 3:00 pm EST! Sign up o...
Jan 20, 2025•1 hr 30 min
In this episode, I chat about landing my first lead role with a professional touring opera company (!!), singing in the Laffont Metropolitan Opera competition (!!!), my first publication in Music Theory Spectrum (!!!!), and completing my dissertation proposal (!!!!!!). I also discuss my yearly theme for 2024 and set a new theme for 2025. Join us in the new year for our next book club meeting on Sunday, January 26 at 3:00 pm EST! My article in Music Theory Spectrum Opera For The Young CGP Grey vi...
Dec 23, 2024•1 hr 53 min
In this episode, I chat with Dr. Stephen Rodgers (University of Oregon) about his musical upbringing as a pianist, his path to studying music theory at Yale, and his current pedagogical practices at Oregon. We also chat about his art song analysis podcast, Resounding Verse, as well as the field of music theory's response to the public music theory plenary session in November 2023. Our next book club meeting is scheduled for Sunday, December 1st at 3:00 pm Eastern Standard Time! Sign up for the b...
Nov 18, 2024•1 hr 22 min
In this episode, I discuss our first two official meetings of the HMA book club, HMA on Substack and Discord, and the agreed upon community guidelines for our gatherings. I also introduce the November book club pick, which is A Third University Is Possible by la paperson. Join us for our third synchronous meeting on Sunday, December 1 at 3:00 pm EST! A Third University Is Possible "Trust and Sincerity in Art" HMA on Substack Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com...
Nov 04, 2024•34 min
In this episode, I chat with D.C. based violinist Melanie Bates about her musical upbringing and her experience getting back into performance as an adult. We also discuss Black Music Academy, Melanie's grant funded project to educate D.C. students about the history, impact, and repertoire of Black classical musicians. This month, the HMA Book Club is meeting synchronously on Sunday, October 27th at 3:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. Sign up for free on Substack to get the book details and Zoom link!...
Oct 21, 2024•37 min
In this episode, I chat with Guilherme Andreas about his musical upbringing in Brazil, his experiences as a flautist and an arranger, and his 2022 debut album Beyond Bossa Nova . We dive into his search for Brazilian classical music for the album, his recording process, and his upcoming projects. Stream Beyond Bossa Nova wherever you get your music! Sign up for our first HMA book club meeting at hermusicacademia.com/book-club ! Beyond Bossa Nova Guilherme's website Akropolis Reed Quintet Sphinx ...
Sep 23, 2024•1 hr 9 min
In this episode, I officially launch the HMA Book Club! I discuss my own relationship to reading, why I think communities of reading are important, and my hopes for how this project might unfold. Our first online book club meeting (relax, just to chat about this episode!) is Sunday, September 29th at 4:00 pm EST. Sign up at hermusicacademia.com/book-club to get the Zoom link and lookout for Her Music Academia on Substack ! For Harriet on YouTube Kim's video on Black Women in Luxury Kim's video o...
Sep 09, 2024•57 min
In this solo episode, I chat about all of my musical endeavors over the summer, including singing in two opera productions, presenting at the music theory pedagogy conference, and grading exams at the College Board AP music theory grading session. I also discuss reading The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, starting my dissertation proposal (eek!), and I take a listen to my own recorded arias for the Metropolitan Opera competition (double eek!). Finally, I present the new fall podcasting schedule a...
Aug 27, 2024•1 hr 33 min
In our last summer bonus episode, I chat with Audrey Slote (University of Chicago) about her musical upbringing as a cellist, her path to studying music theory, and her current dissertation project about stylistic and thematic shifts in 2010's pop music. More specifically, we explore Solange's A Seat at the Table and Bon Iver's 22, A Million for evidence of these shifts in style before and after 2016. Audrey's Nicole Mitchell podcast forthcoming in SMT-Pod Audrey's article on Janelle Monáe Get i...
Aug 19, 2024•55 min
In this bonus episode, I chat with Dr. Brad Osborn (University of Kansas) about his musical upbringing, his experience in grad school at Florida State and the University of Washington, and how he got into popular music research. We also discuss his latest work on MTV Buzz Clips from the 90's and the music of his metal band, D'Archipelago. Brad's podcast about music and mental health Brad's article in Music and Science Brad on the Dissect Podcast Everything In Its Right Place: Analyzing Radiohead...
Jul 29, 2024•58 min
In this special bonus episode, I chat with Jair Gallardo, the official editor for Her Music Academia! We discuss his musical upbringing inspired by video game music, how we met in community college, and his experiences as a multi-instrumentalist and teacher. We also chat about how he got into audio editing and engineering, his creative process, and some of his current creative projects. Connect with Jair if you need some audio/video engineering services! Jair's Linktree Cubase Cakewalk Bandlab P...
Jul 22, 2024•1 hr 2 min
In this solo episode, I chat all about my last semester of classes, my final papers, and my experience teaching aural skills at the sophomore level. I also discuss embarking on my first archival trips and balancing my research with my various singing endeavors. Finally, I contemplate my yearly theme of imagination and give an update on the podcast's new release schedule. "The Captive Maternal" by Joy James bell hooks lecture "When Malindy Sings" by Farah Jasmine Griffin Get in touch with me at: ...
May 30, 2024•1 hr 47 min
In our last episode for Women's History Month, I chat with Dr. Rachel Lumsden (Florida State University) about her experiences as a flautist, her time in grad school at CUNY, and the music theory curriculum at FSU. We also discuss how she got into music theory and feminist studies, as well as her award winning MTO article "Music Theory for the 'Weaker Sex': Oliveria Prescott’s Columns for The Girl’s Own Paper. " Thank you for tuning in this season! Stay tuned for the semester in review episode i...
Mar 25, 2024•1 hr 12 min
Our third episode for Women's History Month, in which I chat with Dr. Candace Bailey (North Carolina Central University) about her musical upbringing as a pianist, her path to historical musicology, and her time in graduate school at Duke. We also discuss her current music history curriculum at NCCU and her 2021 book Unbinding Gentility: Women Making Music in the 19th Century South . Unbinding Gentility Candace's new article Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com...
Mar 18, 2024•50 min
In our second episode for Women's History Month, I chat with Dr. Jan Miyake (Oberlin Conservatory) about her musical upbringing, her path to music theory, and her current tenure as the president of the Society for Music Theory. We also discuss her course "Questioning Genius," which challenges students to analyze a wide range of music and introduces "ungrading" into the classroom. Finally, we finish with a conversation about mentorship. Running To The Noise podcast Get in touch with me at: hermus...
Mar 11, 2024•1 hr 19 min
Our first episode for Women's History Month! I chat with Dr. Louise Toppin (University of Michigan) about her musical upbringing, her experience studying piano and voice, and her time as a graduate student at Michigan. We also discuss her current book project with the Humanities Collaboratory and her African American art song class. Humanities Collaboratory Our Florence Price radio episode Get in touch with me at: hermusicacademia@gmail.com...
Mar 04, 2024•55 min
For our last episode of Black History Month, I chat with Willard Jenkins about his early interest in record collecting, how he began writing reviews of jazz, and his time in festival management, specifically with the DC Jazz Festival. We also discuss his book project Ain't But A Few Of Us , which features several Black writers, critics, and music academics who write about Black music. Ain't But A Few Of Us: Black Music Writers Tell Their Story Open Sky Jazz DC Jazz Festival Get in touch with me ...
Feb 26, 2024•52 min
On our third episode for Black History Month, I chat with musician, entrepreneur, poet, and spoken word artist Aaron Dworkin (University of Michigan) all about his musical upbringing, his work in arts leadership, and his experience founding the Sphinx Organization. We also chat about his 2023 spoken word album The Poetjournalist , and explore the various intersections of art, storytelling, and Black history. Stream The Poetjournalist Aaron's website Arts Engines Get in touch with me at: hermusic...
Feb 19, 2024•45 min
In this episode, I chat with Jerome Bell (Eastman School of Music) about his musical upbringing in the church, his experiences in performance and composition, and how he ended up in a music theory PhD program. We also chat about his recent paper that he presented at the Society for Music Theory annual meeting in November 2023, titled "Modal Fluidity in Millennial Gospel," about shifting harmony in the music of Tye Tribbett and Richard Smallwood. Jerome's website Jerome's paper Get in touch with ...
Feb 12, 2024•50 min
Welcome back to a new season of the show! On our first episode of Black History Month, I chat with pop music critic and commentator Henny all about their musical upbringing, when they began thinking critically about music, and how they got into content creation. We also discuss the use of different scales, modes, and instrumentation in pop music to elicit a sense of promiscuity, danger, or rebellion. Check out Henny's work on all the platforms! Henny's YouTube channel Henny's Substack Henny's In...
Feb 05, 2024•1 hr 18 min
A special bonus episode, in which I chat with composer, pianist, conductor, and coach Raphael Fusco. We talk about his musical upbringing, how he fashioned such a multifaceted career in music, and his time on the faculty at Opera Lucca, an Italian summer young artist program for singers, pianists, and composers (which I got to attend!). We also discuss and listen to his composition La Contesa Canora and dive into his compositional process. Raphael's website Opera Lucca Raphael's YouTube Channel ...
Jan 22, 2024•1 hr 3 min
HMA's last episode of the year, in which I review my fall semester! I chat about the classes I took, give an update on my teaching, discuss my big preliminary exam, and contemplate the conversation surrounding the public music theory plenary session at SMT's annual meeting. I also look back at my theme for 2023 and pick a new theme for 2024. Stay tuned for our new season of HMA beginning February 5! Happy holidays to you and yours! Sphinx Connect Music Journalism Insider with Todd L. Burns CGP G...
Dec 30, 2023•1 hr 12 min
Our last episode in the HMA fall season! I chat with Megan Ihnen, a New Orleans based mezzo soprano who collaborates with living composers to commission new works. We discuss her musical upbringing, her work in coaching and entrepreneurship, and her touring duo with alto saxophonist Alan Theisen. We also dive into her workshops on creative placemaking and the role that music making plays in communities. Megan's website Megan's Instagram Megan Ihnen and Alan Theisen presents... Live Music Project...
Nov 27, 2023•1 hr 11 min
Episode seven of our fall season, in which I chat with San Fransisco based soprano Chelsea Hollow about her musical upbringing, our shared experiences in community college, and how she's built her current singing career. We also discuss her 2023 debut album Cycles of Resistance , for which she commissioned twenty-two songs about resistance in eight different languages. Finally, we dive into the intersection of opera, art song, and activism to explore the role of music and artistry in resistance ...
Nov 20, 2023•1 hr 2 min
