Iantheia Calhoun
Assistant Professor in Instrumental Music Education
Conductor, Symphonic Wind Ensemble
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Dr. Calhoun is an Assistant Professor of Music Education at Queens College, CUNY, achieving a historic milestone as the first woman of color in this role at the esteemed Aaron Copland School of Music (ACSM). At ACSM, Dr. Calhoun teaches courses such as Conducting I and II, Brass and Woodwind Methods, Jazz Pedagogy, and more. She also directs the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and co-led the African American Latin Jazz Ensemble. Prior to her tenure at ACSM, Dr. Calhoun, had a successful career teaching K-12 music in Chicago and New York. She taught general music, music technology, and led choirs and bands. Additionally she founded Jazz Elite, a program for middle and high school students, offering mentorship, clinics, and concerts with industry professionals.
Dr. Calhoun is a renowned guest conductor and clinician, acclaimed for her contributions to middle and high school ensembles like the Youth Wind Ensemble of Westchester. She has conducted orchestras at Medomak, the New Conductor’s Orchestra, and numerous collegiate groups. Her extensive performance history includes prestigious events like the HBCU Coca Cola Bowl and Orange Bowl in Tokyo, Japan, as well as performances at the Santa Fe and Monterey Jazz Festivals, and with the Kennedy Center’s Mary Lou Williams Resurgence Big Band. These experiences have significantly influenced her teaching methods and pedagogical approach.
Dr. Calhoun holds a PhD in music education from Indiana University, focusing on "Jazz and African American Soul Studies." She also has a master's degree in jazz studies and degrees in School Building Administration, Music Technology, and Music Education. Her research focuses on jazz education and innovative approaches to teaching music from the African Diaspora. She has published in ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, Contributions to Music Education and Psychomusicology, and she's currently working on a Resource Guide for the latest edition of "Teaching Music through Performance in Jazz."