Dr. Leah Claiborne

Dr. Leah Claiborne is an Assistant Professor of Music in the Division of Arts and Humanities in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of the District of Columbia. Pianist, scholar, and educator, Dr. Claiborne promotes diversity in the arts by championing piano music by black composers in her performances, research, and teaching. In 2017, Dr. Claiborne was the first pianist to be awarded the Rackham Predoc Fellowship at the University of Michigan, which allowed her to further her research in compiling, editing, and recording piano music by black composers.

Dr. Claiborne has performed across the United States, as well as in Germany, Italy, and the Czech Republic. Most recently, she performed at Hiroshima University in Japan with the Asia/American New Music Institute. Dr. Claiborne received her undergraduate degree from the Manhattan School of Music, where she received the Josephine C. Whitford graduation award. She received her Master’s of Music and Doctorate of Musical Arts degrees from the University of Michigan. In the fall of 2018, Dr. Claiborne will teach Piano and Music of the African Diaspora at the University of the District of Columbia.