The Georgia State University School of Music is pleased to announce the appointment of Benjamin DuPriest as Assistant Professor in Music History with a specialization in Popular and World Music.
Dr. DuPriest is a musicologist whose research, writing, and teaching focus on music and aural cultures in the United States, particularly in the American South, and the intersection of cultural heritage and race. As both an ethnographer and a historian, he examines the histories of popular music, jazz, and folklore in the deep South and beyond. His current project is a study of the history of blues folklore and tourism in North Mississippi, which focuses on the musics of the North Mississippi hill country. Dr. DuPriest also researches the circulation of music between West Africa, the Caribbean, and the U.S., as well as the technological histories of musical production, reproduction, and consumption.
Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. DuPriest earned his Ph.D in ethnomusicology with a graduate certificate in Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He previously earned both his MA in historical musicology and his BA in music at the University of Georgia. Dr. DuPriest's work has been published in the Journal for the Society for Ethnomusicology and the Mississippi Folklife journal, among others. His research has been funded by The Universities of Pennsylvania and Georgia, and the Mississippi Arts Commission.
In addition to his academic achievements, Dr. DuPriest is also a drummer with professional experience across rock, jazz, and hip-hop scenes in Atlanta and Athens. He is excited to bring his expertise and experiences back to his hometown and engage with the vibrant Atlanta music community.
"I am thrilled to be joining the faculty at GSU," said Dr. DuPriest. "Joining the faculty at GSU means my family and I get to come home to Atlanta. I couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity to work closely with students and colleagues in my hometown and I look forward to performing, teaching, and engaging with the vibrant Atlanta music community that I grew up in."
Dr. DuPriest's appointment at GSU is a significant addition to the university's music program, and his research and teaching expertise will benefit students and faculty alike.