Kari Adams

Kari Adams is an Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education and conductor of the Concert Chorale at the University of Missouri. She holds a PhD in Music Education from the University of North Texas, alongside degrees from the University of Central Missouri and Freed-Hardeman University. Prior to her position at Mizzou, she served as Assistant Professor and director of Levana at Florida State University, where she won the 2023 Outstanding Teaching in the Major (Undergraduate) award. Her career spans middle school music teaching, including a Teacher of the Year award in 2015, and extensive guest conducting and adjudicating roles across multiple states.

Dr. Adams’s research focuses on music teacher education, identity construction, aesthetic responses to performance, and implicit theories of musical ability. Her work has been published in leading journals such as Journal of Research in Music Education and Choral Journal. She actively presents at national and international conferences, including ACDA and NAfME, and has contributed articles to practitioner-oriented publications like Music Educators Journal.

Her professional engagements include conducting All-State and regional honor choirs in states like Florida, Kansas, and Missouri, alongside clinician roles at practitioner conferences. She also explores innovative teaching methods for online learning environments and has developed strategies to enhance community-building in virtual educational settings.

Adams’s research emphasizes practical applications for music educators, bridging theoretical insights with classroom and rehearsal techniques. Her contributions to music education span K-12 through higher education, reflecting a commitment to advancing pedagogical practices across all levels.