Max Katz

Max Katz is a faculty member at the Department of Music, College of William & Mary, specializing in Ethnomusicology and North Indian music. His academic work bridges disciplines such as Anthropology, American Studies, and Africana Studies, teaching courses like Music of India, History of Jazz, and Race and Music.

Education:

• MA in Ethnomusicology (Spring 2005)
• PhD in Ethnomusicology (Fall 2010)

Katz’s research focuses on critical re-readings of North Indian music history, endangered classical instrumental repertoires, and the socio-cultural dimensions of musical instrument manufacturing. His work integrates Marxist and postcolonial theories with ethnographic and archival methodologies.

His publications explore topics such as the Purab Baj corpus of ragas, institutional communalism in classical music, and cultural memory in Lucknow’s sitar workshops. Research has been supported by prestigious grants including Fulbright-Nehru and the American Musicological Society.

Scientific Awards:

• Fulbright-Nehru
• Fulbright-Hays
• American Institute of Indian Studies
• American Musicological Society

Katz’s teaching spans genres and theories, including jazz, colonialism, and popular culture. He also leads the Music of India Ensemble, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to music education.