NCID-0952
Louise Toppin
Professor of Music (Voice)
University of Michigan
Education/Degree:
1 "The Concert Music of Black Americans" "The Concert Music of Black Americans" (University of Michigan)
About
Louise Toppin is an acclaim singer/teacher/researcher who has performed throughout the world in major venues. She was formerly the Chair of the Music Department at UNC Chapel Hill and since 2017 has been on the University of Michigan faculty. She is the co-PI on several grants including a Humanities Collaboratory grant to investigate Black Song. and she teaches a course on African American Art Song for undergraduate and graduate music students.
Current Work
Although the field of music has long recognized the contributions of African Americans in jazz, popular genres, gospel, and hip hop, the narratives found in the classical compositions have remained conspicuously absent from our concert halls, universities and opera houses. Dr. Toppin's multi-pronged work with publishers, arts administrators, educators, performers, law makers and citizens seeks to engage and enlighten this neglected history. Her research tool, publications, radio broadcasts and seminars she leads allow her work to engage audiences throughout the country.
Research Area Keyword(s)
African American song, Protest in the concert hall, African Diaspora research