Nicholas Stoia

Nicholas Stoia is an Associate Professor of Music and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Music at Duke University's Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. He holds a D.Phil. from the City University of New York (2008). His research focuses on music theory, blues studies, and the intersections of African American music with broader cultural movements. Key areas include the evolution of blues into rhythm and blues during the mid-20th century, lyrical formulas in country and rock music, and Schenkerian analysis of classical composers like Haydn and Mozart.

His work bridges historical musicology and cultural studies, examining topics such as the Great Migration's impact on musical forms and the role of rap lyrics in legal contexts. He has published extensively in journals like Journal of Music Theory and Music Theory Online, with a notable book Sweet Thing: The History and Musical Structure of a Shared American Vernacular Form (2021). His research often highlights cross-genre influences and the social dimensions of music.