Kevin C. Karnes

Kevin C. Karnes is the Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Music at Emory University, holding roles as Divisional Dean of Arts and Senior Associate Dean of Faculty. His research explores identity, sound studies, and Eastern European cultural history, particularly the 1970s Soviet underground and techno culture's role in East-West integration. He has authored influential books like Sounds Beyond: Arvo Pärt and the 1970s Soviet Underground and edited volumes on Baltic music and Jewish folk songs. His work bridges disciplines such as anthropology, philosophy, and art history.

Education: PhD from Brandeis University (2001), MMus from the University of Washington (1996), BS from MIT (1995). Research has been supported by ACLS, NEH, and the Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies. Recent publications include analyses of Soviet disco culture, techno’s political dimensions, and the legacy of composer Arvo Pärt.

He leads Emory Arts and the Arts & Social Justice program, focusing on social justice through artistic collaboration. Grants from NEA, Arison Arts Foundation, and lululemon Centre for Social Impact support these initiatives. Karnes teaches at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music as a Visiting Professor and has served as editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American Musicological Society.