معرفی
Dr. Birgitta J. Johnson is an Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology, African American Studies, and Music History at the University of South Carolina’s School of Music, where she also serves as Associate Dean of Inclusive Excellence. She holds a joint appointment with the African American Studies Program, marking the school’s first such interdisciplinary faculty role. Dr. Johnson’s expertise includes African American and African music, gospel music, hip-hop, and sacred music in the African diaspora. She earned her BA from Agnes Scott College, and her MA and PhD in Ethnomusicology from UCLA.
- Education:
- B.A., Music, Agnes Scott College
- M.A., Ethnomusicology, UCLA
- Ph.D., Ethnomusicology, UCLA
- Teaching: Courses include World Music Survey, African American Music History, and Lemonade and Beyond: Black Women’s Agency.
Her research focuses on music in African American megachurches, gospel archiving, and the intersection of music with race, gender, and identity. Dr. Johnson has published extensively on topics such as praise and worship practices, Black sacred music traditions, and community-based archiving initiatives. She co-authored the Emmy-winning documentary Carolina Stories: Charlie’s Place (2018) and hosts the Columbia Museum of Art’s More Than Rhythm podcast series.
Awards: Emmy Award (2018), Routledge Press publication in The Lemonade Reader (2019), and featured contributions to NPR’s American Anthem Series.
Dr. Johnson is a multi-instrumentalist and performer with notable collaborations in gospel, symphonic, and Afro-Cuban ensembles. She actively participates in professional organizations such as the Society for Ethnomusicology and the Gospel Music Workshop of America.
