AJ Drexel Picture Gallery

3rd floor of the Main Building

3141 Chestnut Street

Dr. Starks is an ethnomusicologist with a specialty in New World Musics of African origin, he holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in music from North Carolina, A&T State University and the University of Illinois, respectively, and the a Ph.D.in ethnomusicology from Wesleyan University. Dr. Starks was director of the highly acclaimed Drexel University Jazz Orchestra, JazzTet, and SaxTet. For 20 years, he produced the Jazz Orchestra's celebrated Jazz Extravaganza, an annual event that drew capacity crowds to Drexel's Mandell Theater. An esteemed lecturer, "Doc," as he was fondly called by his students, taught a variety of courses including World Musics, African American Music, Jazz History, Jazz Improvisation, Topics in Jazz, and Introduction to Music. As an accomplished alto saxophonist, he was recognized in the Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition Category of the Down Beat International Jazz Critics Poll. He has performed with musicians ranging from Ghanaian master drummer Kobena Adzenyah, to avant-garde trumpeter Clifford Thornton, to vocalist Roy Hamilton, to the Charlottesville Symphony Orchestra. After 35 years at Drexel, Dr. Starks retired in Spring 2020.

This event is free and open to the public.

Masks are required in all Drexel buildings, regardless of vaccination status.

Drexel ID holders must show ID prior to event entrance.

All other visitors on campus must complete a Visitor Health Checker Pass prior to coming on campus.

 

For questions, please contact performingarts@drexel.edu.