EDUCATION

After winning awards in high school for her early dedication to music, she majored in music at Wellesley College. There, she became intrigued by European-style, "new" concert music and atonal compositional approaches. But it was her love of jazz that took root during that time. During her junior year as an exchange student at Wesleyan University, she studied jazz theory and composition with Dr. Bill Barron and expanded her rhythmic palate by studying the complex rhythms of the music of South India with acclaimed percussionist, T. Ranganathan. After distinguishing herself in European classical flute performance and composition at Wellesley and graduating with honors, she accepted the challenge of the Big Apple. She continued her studies in Western classical composition at Columbia University.

After completing an M.A. in composition, she switched to Columbia's Ph.D. program in ethnomusicology (the study of music and culture). Fascinated by the fact that improvisation occurred in hip-hop, she researched the vibrant underground hip-hop scene of New York City for her doctoral work. Her dissertation advisers included respected jazz scholars, Mark Tucker and Robert O'Meally. She was honored to receive a highly competitive dissertation writing fellowship, awarded by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Download Dawn's Curriculum Vitae
"Dr. Dawn" continues to be involved in the academic community, speaking on various panels and radio programs discussing topics from women in jazz journalism, to the significance of hairstyle as a cultural symbol in the Black community. She is a charter member of Columbia University's Jazz Study Group (a select group of scholars and musicians involved in jazz research), and has written numerous articles on African American culture. Dr. Norfleet was a Scholar in Residence at Grinnell College, and taught jazz history as Lecturer of Music at the University of California, San Diego. Having first-hand knowledge of the hip-hop and jazz scenes, she holds a unique perspective on the many commonalities between the two communities. She organized two forums on the subject in 1996 and in 2004, which included legends and notables: Donald Byrd, Lou Donaldson, Roy Hargrove, Russell Gunn and Christian McBride. The latter panel took place at the International Association for Jazz Education conference in New York City, drawing a standing room only crowd and heated but intelligent debate.
Dr. Norfleet is available for residencies, workshops and speaking engagements on a variety of intriguing topics for all age groups, including her favorite subjects: "Hip-hop and Jazz," "Vocal Improvisation" and "Music and Spirituality." Having been profoundly impacted from childhood by what were once strong arts programs in the public schools and local communities, she is an impassioned advocate of accessible, quality arts education and programs for all age groups, especially for communities of color.