Innovators of the music
Initiated by electronic music pioneer Jon Appleton, then a junior faculty member, 1970 saw the Music Department begin to bring in teaching artists with expertise in Black creative music as artists-in-residence and visiting faculty for the first time.
In addition to the featured artists below, the pianist Dwike Mitchell and French hornist/bassist Wille Ruff also spent a term as guest artists in 1971 and made a memorable recording with Dizzy Gillespie in his first visit to the campus. In the 1973-74 academic year, the legendary bebop saxophonist Lucky Thompson joined the faculty, but sadly his time at the school only lasted one year, following which Thompson disappeared from the music scene entirely for the final thirty years of his life, struggling with homelessness and mental health issues. Bill Cole brought his mentor Fela Sowande to teach for a summer quarter as well. Other significant faculty and staff members include longtime jazz professor, Fred Haas ‘73; J.C. White, who directed the Dartmouth Gospel Choir for 10 years from 1979-1989; Professor Hafiz Shabazz, who led the World Music Percussion Ensemble until 2018; and Walt Cunningham Jr., who arrived in 2003 and reinvigorated the Gospel Choir, in addition to launching the hugely popular Dartmouth Idol singing competition, before his departure in 2022. Today, the mantle is carried forward by faculty and staff including Michael Zsoldos (saxophones), Jason Ennis (guitar), Tim Sessions (trombone), Knoelle Higgins (gospel choir), Nick Browne (bass), and Amy Garapic (percussion).
