The Change She Wants to See in the World

This past March, Dr. April Lynn James enthralled the MMUF Coordinators' Conference delegates with performances of selections by Handel, Mozart, and others.  We would like to take this opportunity to introduce her to the larger MMUF community in our new feature, The MMUF Ph.D. of the Month. 

Dr. James has cultivated a unique array of talents and accomplishments.  She has founded and overseen her own music company and has honed an expertise in baroque music and trouser roles (male character perfomed by a woman).   Dr. James has fashioned her pursuits from extraordinary and seemingly distinct fields to share with others a bit of herself and to make her music loving audience aware of the contributions that women and people of color have made to classical music.

"I have always done music," she says.   "My earliest memories are of me singing on the swing set in our yard."   At the age of seven, Dr. James inherited her grandmother's piano and used it to teach herself how to read music.

After abandoning a "practical decision" to study and work in the field of communications, Dr. James found herself at Queens College bent on studying music.   Because her previous experience included little formal music instruction, it was necessary for her to attend as a non-matriculated student for one year. 

Her sojourn at Queens College immersed her in the field of music from an academic perspective.  "I did nothing but music, and it was fantastic," says Dr. James.   "But without a mentor it took me a while to find my way to what I love."   As a result of her immersion experience, Dr. James decided that she would pursue a Ph.D. in the field.  

During her first year at Queens College, Dr. James received straight A's.   Realizing her potential, a professor told her about MMUF.   Although Dr. James went on to earn her doctorate from Harvard University, she almost didn't apply.   It was the encouragement of Professor Straus, her faculty advisor, that led her to do so.   Remarkably, of the eight schools she applied to, seven accepted her application. 

While at Harvard, Dr. James studied the works of Maria Antonia, a woman baroque composer.   She also studied baroque dance with Nancy Armstrong, a renowned expert, in order to, as she put it, "understand the dance to understand the music." 

Three years ago, Dr. James founded the Maria Antonia Project, now known as the Heroic Mezzo Productions.  She decided that instead of complaining about the dearth of African-American women specializing in baroque music, or music by women, she would, as Ghandi famously suggested, be the change I wish to see in the world.  Heroic Mezzo Productions also came about because she yearned to see her passion, 18th century music, honored and made accessible. "So many directors interpret the work ironically; I wanted it to be taken seriously," says Dr. James.  She has performed at such notable events as the inaugural Faith and Feminism Dialogues at Union Theological Seminary, the 25th Anniversary of the Marion Thompson Wirght Lecture Series at Rutgers University, and the Carnegie Library Centennial celebration of the Queens Borough Public Library. 

Pursing one's dreams and being true to yourself is daring. Sharing your passion and yourself with an audience is not for the faint of heart and for this reason Dr. James and her company exemplify heroic.