Nolan Vallier

Nolan Vallier is a Lecturer in Musicology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His research focuses on musical communities in the Midwest and their interaction with Prairie Style and Organic architectural spaces, particularly examining how music sacralizes architectural environments. He employs interdisciplinary methods from concert history, urban studies, and sound studies.

Education:

• B.A. in Music Education (summa cum laude), Iowa State University
• M.M. and Ph.D. in Musicology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

His research explores topics such as the Taliesin Fellowship, Ravinia Festival Association, and the naturalization of sound in architectural contexts. He has presented work at conferences like the Society for American Music and the American Musicological Society. Since 2013, he has co-curated exhibits at the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music, focusing on topics like Harry Partch and Hawaiian Slide Guitars. Prior to UIUC, he taught at Ball State University and Roosevelt University.