Jason Finkelman

Jason Finkelman is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the School of Music at the University of Illinois, serving as Artistic Director of Global Arts Performance Initiatives at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. He specializes in music improvisation, cross-cultural collaboration, and composition for dance, advocating for inclusive musical practices that bridge academic, community, and professional spheres.

His work centers on programs like the Improvisers Exchange Ensemble, fostering student collaboration through 'omni-idiomatic' improvisation, and Global Arts Performance Initiatives, which highlight folkloric traditions, avant-garde jazz, and experimental music. Finkelman also leads Kuroshio, an ensemble exploring Asian diasporic identities through sound and imagery.

Recipient of the Bessie Award (2000), Advocate ACE Award (2019), and Best Promoter of the Decade (2019), he has contributed to initiatives such as the Robert E. Brown Center for World Music and curated series like Sudden Sound and AsiaLENS.

His career spans over two decades at the University of Illinois, integrating performance, education, and community engagement to promote interdisciplinary musical innovation.