Pronunciation IPA: /fʌlɪsə/; or Phonetic: [falissa]
Dr. Felicia Barber is the associate professor, adjunct, of choral conducting at Yale University, and conductor of the Yale Camerata. In addition to teaching graduate-level choral conductors and aspiring undergraduate conductors, Dr. Barber is developing a new initiative designed to prepare Yale students to work with young musicians on choral music in school and church settings.
Previous to her appointment at Yale, Dr. Barber served as associate professor of music and director of choral activities at Westfield State University (WSU) in Westfield, MA, where she conducted the University Chorus, Chamber Chorale, and Gospel Choir; as well as taught courses in conducting and choral methods. In addition to her position at WSU, Dr. Barber also served as choral lecturer for the summer master’s program at Gordon College for five years. There she taught courses in choral conducting and choral music education for the MME degree.
Dr. Barber, whose research interests include effective teaching strategies, fostering classroom diversity and incorporating equity and justice initiatives in choral curricula, and the linguistic performance practice of African American spirituals, has contributed to such periodicals as the American Choral Directors Association’s Choral Journal and is the author of A New Perspective for the Use of Dialect in African American Spirituals: History, Context, and Linguistics (Rowman & Littlefield, 2021).
Additional projects include serving as curator and editor for the “Felicia Barber Choral Series,” a choral series with Hinshaw Music Publications to promote and amplify music of new BIPOC composers and arrangers. In addition, Dr. Barber’s poetry has recently been featured in a for a new choral project entitled Dedication (music composed by Dr. Zanaida Robles). Dr. Barber also served as the conductor for the SATB premiere at American Choral Director’s (ACDA) Eastern Division SATB High School Honor Choir; the SSAA version will be premiered March of 2025 in Dallas as part of ACDA’s National Conference with the SSAA National High School Honor Choir.
An active member of American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), she has presented her research at state, divisional, and national conferences. Dr. Barber has also served the organization on the National Diversity Committee, the Eastern Division 2020 Conference committee, and is the current president of the Massachusetts ACDA board. In addition, she is regularly engaged as a guest conductor for youth and community festivals around the country; including several All-State ensembles including Vermont, Oklahoma, California, Louisiana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Rhode Island; and she conducted the ACDA Eastern Division Conference in 2024.
Dr. Barber earned a B.M. in vocal performance from Oral Roberts University, in Tulsa, OK, a M.M. in Choral Music Education from Mansfield University, in Mansfield, PA, and a Ph.D. in music education and choral conducting from The Florida State University.