esperanza spalding appointed to harvard’s music ...music.fas.harvard.edu/esperanza...
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Esperanza Spalding Appointed to Harvard’s Music Department Faculty
July24,2017:WearepleasedtoreportthatEsperanzaSpaldinghasjoinedthe
facultyoftheDepartmentofMusicatHarvardUniversityasProfessorofthePractice,
withanappointmentbeginningJuly2017.Spaldingwillteacharangeofcoursesin
songwriting,arranging,improvisationandperformance,whilealsobringingher
commitmenttomusicasavoiceforsocialjustice.
Four-timeGrammyaward-winner,jazzbassist,singer-songwriter,lyricist,
humanitarianactivist,andeducator,Spaldinghasfiveacclaimedsoloalbumsand
numerousmusicvideostohername.Sheisrecognizedinternationallyforher
virtuosicsingingandbassplaying,herimpassionedimprovisatoryperformances,
hersingularartisticvisiondrawingfromadazzlingstylisticrange,andherbrilliant
creativecapacitiesasbothacomposerandlyricist.Spalding’sartisticpractice
involvesauniquesynthesisofelementsandaestheticsfromjazz,fusion,rock,funk,
soul,R&B(rhythmandblues),andBrazilianmusicaltraditions,aswellastheatrical
elementsandlyricalstorytelling.Sheisacreativeartistandperformer
simultaneously,andshestandsapartfortheintelligenceanddeepsenseof
humanitythatinfuseshercreativeendeavors.Perhapshermosticonic
performancesarethoseforwhichshewasthelaureate-invitedsingerandbassistat
theNobelPeacePrizeCeremonyandsubsequentconcert,whenPresidentBarack
ObamawonthePeacePrizein2009—aninvitationthattestifiestoherstatusasa
nationaltreasurewithglobalresonance.
InadditiontoherGrammys,shehasbeentherecipientofsuchother
prestigiousawardsastheNAACPImageAwardforOutstandingJazzArtist,Boston
MusicAwardforJazzArtistoftheYear,SmithsonianAmericanIngenuityAwardfor
thePerformingArts,SoulTrainMusicAwardforBestContemporaryJazz
Artist/Group,FridaKahloAwardforInnovativeCreativity,andASCAPFoundation
JazzVanguardAward.Asapassionateeducator,shetaughtbassinprivatelessons,
ensemblesandclassesatBerkleeCollegeofMusicfrom2005–2008immediatelyon
theheelsofgraduatingfromtherewithaBachelorofMusic.Sincethen,shehasbeen
inhighdemandasanArtistinResidenceandMasterclassleader,includingteaching
attheBanffCentreforArtsandCreativityinCanada.
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