Randall Everett Allsup

Randall Everett Allsup is an Associate Professor of Music and Music Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, with a dual appointment as Professor of Music at Xiamen University, China. He holds degrees from Northwestern University and Columbia University, including an Ed.D. for his dissertation "Crossing Over: Mutual Learning and Democratic Action in Instrumental Music Education," which won the Outstanding Dissertation of the Year award. His research focuses on social justice, democratic education, and the role of music in fostering equity. Allsup has been recognized with a Fulbright Grant (2009), the Ford Prize for Teaching and Research, and Teachers College’s Outstanding Teaching Award.

His scholarly interests include instrumental music education, teacher training, and the philosophies of arts education. He has authored over 50 publications and a seminal book "Remixing the Classroom: Toward an Open Philosophy of Music Education" (2016). Allsup serves on editorial boards for leading journals in music education and has mentored 23 doctoral students. His teaching spans institutions like the Sibelius Academy (Finland), Shanghai Conservatory, and Hartwick College.

Allsup advocates for music education as a transformative force, emphasizing creativity, democratic participation, and social justice. His work integrates theories of John Dewey and Paulo Freire, addressing urban education challenges and the intersection of music with broader societal issues.