Gavin Steingo

Gavin Steingo is a Professor of Music at Princeton University, directing graduate studies in Musicology. Affiliated with Media and Modernity, African Studies, and Jazz Studies programs, his research explores sound/music’s role in global modernity, focusing on African music, acoustic ecology, and interspecies communication. He holds a B.M. from the New England Conservatory and a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania.

His work bridges scholarship and creative practice, including collaborations like the Animal Song Collective and performances with ecologist David Rothenberg. Steingo’s publications, such as Kwaito’s Promise (2016) and the forthcoming Interspecies Communication, address themes of cultural identity, technology, and ethics. He has received prestigious awards including the Alan P. Merriam Prize and Humboldt Fellowship.

Teaching includes seminars on musicology, African performance, and German media theory. His interdisciplinary approach integrates music cognition, philosophy, and sound art, reflecting a commitment to both empirical research and creative exploration.