Henry Dorn Selected for Future of Music Faculty Fellowship
CLEVELAND (June 21, 2021) – Today, the Cleveland Institute of Music announced the fellows for the 2021 Future of Music Faculty Fellowship Program, a critical step forward in creating a culture of diversity within the music academy and beyond. Powered by a grant awarded in the inaugural cycle of the Sphinx Venture Fund, this first-of-its-kind career development initiative will engage 35 Black and Latinx music professionals who are pursuing or considering academic careers, preparing them with the skills, insights and networks to flourish professionally and influence generations of musicians.
“The Future of Music Faculty Fellowship set out with bold ambitions to catalyze change within the ranks of academia now and for years to come,” said CIM President & CEO Paul W. Hogle. “The quality of applications alone was remarkable, and the 35 fellows who will engage with the program over the coming year have impressive credentials and career objectives. Our program faculty – led by esteemed colleagues including Dr. José Bowen, Dr. Ronald Crutcher, Dr. Aaron Flagg, Dr. Eileen Hayes, Dr. Eduardo Herrera, Dr. Alisha Lola Jones and Dr. Tammy L. Kernodle – have traversed this pathway already, and are eager to share what they’ve learned with the next generation of Black and Latinx music scholars and teaching artists. I look forward to seeing the impact these fellows will have on tomorrow’s music students.”
Fellowship faculty member Dr. José Bowen described his goals for the program: “In every academic position I held, I was ‘the first.’ Other people could help and guide me, but there was never anyone who looked like me to get real with. This is an opportunity to be surrounded by people who ‘get it’ and to help each other be our best authentic selves as we break barriers.”
“I am looking forward to connecting with and learning from brilliant and inspiring mentors and participants who not only bring their expertise to our field but also their diverse backgrounds and experiences,” added new fellow Dr. Maria Romero Ramos, who is a faculty member at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music. “I am also excited to have mentors who look like me and who have chosen to devote their time and efforts to supporting the next generation of artists from underrepresented backgrounds.”
Through a competitive process with more than 160 applicants from 30 states and seven countries, a panel of esteemed college and university faculty members selected 35 fellows based on the strength of their music background, education and application materials, as well as their dedication, skill and drive to succeed within the complex world of academia.
Within the class, 19 hold a terminal degree, with an additional eight in doctoral programs currently; their areas of study include instrumental, jazz and vocal performance; music education; composition; conducting; and ethnomusicology, musicology and music theory. They hail from 20 states across the country and range in age from 24 to 47.