Brittney Elizabeth Boykin,[3] known professionally as B.E. Boykin,[7] is a contemporary African American[8] composer, conductor, and classically trained pianist.[6]
B.E. Boykin | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Brittany Elizabeth Boykin[3] |
| Born | Alexandria, Virginia, USA[2][4][5] |
| Instrument | Piano[6] |
| Website | https://beboykin.com/ |
Early life and education
editBoykin is from Alexandria, Virginia.[2][4][5] She grew up in a musical family,[5][7][9] and was inspired by Maya Angelou's poems at a young age.[4] She began learning piano at age seven,[5][7][9] and won the NAACP's Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics three consecutive years in a row.[7][5][9] She won the Washington Post 'Music and Dance Award' in 2007.[7][5][9] She pursued music as a career, studying classical piano at Spelman College, from which she graduated with a B.A. in 2011.[6][5][1] She started composing after enrolling in a composition course there,[5][9] and her compositions quickly became popular within the college's music department.[9] While at Spelman College, Boykin also won first place at the 2009 James A. Hefner HBCU Piano Competition, held at Tennessee State University,[5][7] and travelled to Italy in Summer 2010 in order to perform in the Grumo Music Festival in Grumo.[3][9]
After graduating, she continued her studies at Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton, New Jersey.[7][1][2] She continued to compose music during her time there,[6][5][9] and was awarded the R & R Young Composition Prize just a few months before graduating.[1][2][6] She graduated from in May 2013 with a M.Mus in Sacred Music, concentrating in choral studies.[6][1][2]
Boykin obtained her PhD from Georgia State University, concentrating in music education.[1][2]
Career
editBoykin founded her own publishing company, Klavia Press,[6][9] and later joined Graphite Publishing.[2][when?] In 2014, she was commissioned by Spelman College to write a choral piece, “We Sing as One,” for their 133rd Anniversary, celebrated at the Founders Day Convocation that year.[9][7][1] She was also included in The Oxford Book of Choral Music by Black Composers, published in February 2023 by Oxford University Press.[10] Boykin is Assistant Professor of Music at the Georgia Institute of Technology,[1][2][9] as well as the assistant director of the Spelman College glee club,[9] director of the treble choir at the Georgia Institute of Technology,[9] interim director of choral activities at Agnes Scott College,[9] and a teaching artist at The Atlanta Opera.[11]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h "B.E. Boykin - American Choral Directors Association". acda.org. 2022-08-23. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Welcome to Graphite: B.E. Boykin!". choralnet.org. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
- ^ a b c "Brittney Boykin | School of Music". music.gatech.edu. Retrieved 2024-04-09.[non-primary source needed]
- ^ a b c Bell, Robert. "Finger Lakes Opera to present world premier of 'Moments of Sonder' in Rochester". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. "B. E. Boykin | Atlanta Symphony Orchestra". www.aso.org. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
- ^ a b c d e f g Studio, Familiar. "B.E. Boykin". Atlanta Contemporary. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Boykin". Song of America. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
- ^ Raymond, David (2024-03-01). "Concert to showcase Black classical musicians in Rochester". Rochester Beacon. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Brittney Boykin | Kennedy Center". The Kennedy Center. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
- ^ "Garrett publishes choral music anthology by Black composers". news.unl.edu. 2023-03-13. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
- ^ Rebecca (2021-03-31). "Artist Spotlight: B.E. Boykin". The Atlanta Opera. Retrieved 2024-04-09.[non-primary source needed]