Ms. Alexa Burnston graduated from Duke University in May 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts. Her self-designed (Program II) major was titled: “Understanding the Concept of Value Through the Lens of Classical Musical Traditions,” where she explored the meaning of classical music and its perceptions of value across the human experience. She is a trained opera singer who ventured into jazz and Carnatic singing during her time in college. In Spring 2022, she performed a senior distinction recital in all three music forms, completed an ethnomusicology honors thesis, and graduated Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, with a 4.0 GPA, and with distinction.
While at Duke, she participated in numerous related student groups, serving as President of Small Town Records -Duke’s premier on-campus record label, serving on the student programming board (DUU), and in roles at Duke’s arts umbrella organization (duARTS), Duke’s Arts and Entertainment Alumni network (DEMAN), and the Duke in New York Arts and Media program (DiNY).
She has received numerous accolades for her work in music, including a Benenson Award in the Arts from Duke University, where she was able to begin her Carnatic and jazz training, Duke University Union’s Event of the Year Award, and received recognition for her work as a member of the CMA EDU leadership program. She has also been awarded for her opera singing.
Ms. Burnston’s passions in music span beyond her singing, and she also has direct arts administration and industry experience. She has been working in arts administration roles since the age of 16 and has worked in roles at Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Palm Beach Opera. In the music industry, she maintains an interest in classical music as well as music policy and supervision, working in roles at notable classical label Naxos of America, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and global record label Sony Music. Her experiences have prepared her to connect her research to a future career in the music industry.
Ms. Burnston’s background provides a comparative perspective for Carnatic research and will glean India-specific insights to explore the different ways to help markets and musicians. She will study in Chennai, the hub of Carnatic music, work with music students at the University of Madras, and analyze the role of arts administration in Carnatic music by working with Sabhas (music venues) and local arts administrators. Her Fulbright-Nehru research project is centered around the December season, during which Chennai hosts the largest Carnatic music festival in the world. She also aims to pursue a personal project about digital music distribution and continue Carnatic voice lessons.