Brianna Allen is bassoonist and PhD candidate in Musicology at the University of Memphis,
where her research focuses on the intersections of early modern music, visual culture, and
gender. Her work centers on secular music traditions of the Italian Renaissance and Baroque
periods, with particular attention to representations of women—as performers, muses, and
subjects—in both music and art. She is especially interested in how women navigated
cultural and artistic spaces in early modern Europe and how their contributions have been
historically marginalized or overlooked.
She holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Memphis and a Bachelor of
Music degree from Arkansas State University. Alongside her academic research, Ms. Allen
maintains an active performance career, appearing regularly with regional orchestras across
the Mid-South. Additionally, she sustains a private bassoon studio, working with students of
all levels to develop both technical proficiency and musical habits.
Blending scholarly inquiry with a strong foundation in performance, Ms. Allen is committed
to enriching both academic and musical communities through research, teaching, and
artistic collaboration.
