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Dr. Ralph Anthony Russell
Assistant Professor of Music
Ph.D., Music Composition, University of California, Santa Barbara
M.A., Music Theory and Composition, Governors State University
B.S., Music Education (voice), University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff
Further studies: the University of Iowa and Roosevelt University
Dr. Russell is an Assistant Professor of Music at The College of New Jersey where he teaches:
Prior to his appointment at TCNJ, he taught at Grinnell College, Northern Kentucky University, Occidental College, University of California Santa Barbara and St. Cloud State University. He has taught jazz history, jazz theory, jazz arranging and composition, music theory, African American music and popular music and directed the Young, Gifted and Black Gospel Choir of Grinnell College.
Dr. Russell received his doctorate in composition from the University of California, Santa Barbara where he studied with Emma Lou Diemer and Peter Racine Fricker. His works include Essay for Orchestra, Jazz Sketches for Piano, Two Pieces for Solo Flute, Spiritual Journey (flute and piano) and For Steppers Only (jazz ensemble). Deeply influenced by jazz, classical music and various forms of world music, Russell uses the works of several composers from John Coltrane to Toru Takemitsu as models to compose compositions that integrate a variety of musical elements. Russell’s compositions have been performed by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and at the College Music Society Composers Concert, The Iowa Composers Forum Concert and Northern Kentucky University.
In addition to composing, Russell has done research on classical composers William Levi Dawson and William Grant Still and has given lectures on African American Music at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Workshop (Cincinnati), University of Nebraska and National Council of Black Studies Conference. Dr. Russell is also an accomplished vocalist and has performed jazz, rhythm and blues, classical music and sacred music at Grinnell College, the African American Museum of Iowa, Borderlands Underground Railroad Conference and University of California Santa Barbara.
