Gretchen Carlson

Gretchen Carlson, Ph.D., is a Lecturer of Music History and Culture at Towson University's Department of Music (College of Fine Arts). She specializes in jazz, American popular music, and film music, focusing on intersections with media, culture, and sociology. Her research explores agency, creativity, and musical meaning in collaborative contexts. She teaches courses on jazz history, film music, and music research, including original seminars on Duke Ellington and John Williams.

Education

• Ph.D., Critical and Comparative Studies in Music, University of Virginia (2016)
• M.A., Jazz History and Research, Rutgers University (2011)
• B.A., Music and Psychology, Gettysburg College (2009, summa cum laude)

Research Interests
Dr. Carlson examines jazz’s intersections with media, activism, and performance practice. Her book Improvising the Score (2022) investigates jazz-film collaborations, while recent work includes jazz in social activism and historically informed performance. She has presented at conferences like the Society for American Music and American Musicological Society.

Media Engagement

• Discussed her book on Publisher’s Weekly’s podcast Lights, Camera, Swing! (June 2022)
• Panelist on Jazz Journalists Association’s The Buzz (2023) discussing ‘free jazz in film’

She maintains an active piano career through solo performances and a private studio.