Christy Thomas Adams

Christy Thomas Adams is an accomplished musicologist and the Executive Editor of The Opera Journal, a publication of the National Opera Association. She has been in this role since January 2022 and aims to reach a wide audience of opera scholars and practitioners, promoting scholarship that connects performance and musicology.134

Academic Background

Dr. Adams joined the faculty at the University of Alabama School of Music in 2019, after holding positions at prestigious institutions such as the Yale School of Music, Bowdoin College, and Bates College. She earned her PhD in Music History from Yale University, graduating with distinction. Her academic interests encompass a variety of topics including the history and theory of opera, reception studies, cultural history, and the impact of media technologies on performance.123

Research Focus

Her current book project, titled Operatic Encounters with New Media: Sound Recording and Silent Cinema, is under contract with Oxford University Press. This work investigates how new media technologies influenced Italian operatic repertoire during the early 20th century. Dr. Adams has published articles in several reputable journals and has presented her research at numerous national and international conferences.14

Teaching Philosophy

As an educator, Dr. Adams emphasizes inclusive education, aiming to equip students with critical thinking and communication skills through the study of Western art music. She teaches a diverse range of courses in music history, appreciation, and theory.1

Performance Experience

In addition to her academic endeavors, Dr. Adams is a classically trained singer who has performed as both a soprano soloist and a choral member in various venues, including collaborations with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra Chorus and other notable organizations.13