Ben Krakauer

Ben Krakauer is an Assistant Professor and Chair of the Music Department at Warren Wilson College. His research focuses on folk music revival in South Asia and North America, critical issues in popular music, and innovative compositions in acoustic music. He teaches courses such as Music Cultures of the World and Bluegrass Banjo.

Education: B.A. in Music (University of Virginia), M.A. in Music (Ethnomusicology, Tufts University), Ph.D. in Music (Ethnomusicology, University of Texas at Austin).

He leads the Music Crew and coordinates the Traditional Music Program. His creative work includes albums like Hidden Animals (2023) and Heart Lake (2019), blending bluegrass, jazz, and acoustic traditions. Krakauer collaborates with musicians like Duncan Wickel and Nick Falk, emphasizing improvisation and cross-genre experimentation.