
Kei Slaughter Named OneBeat 11 Fellow In addition to the fellowship, the music therapy faculty member recently conducted an original commissioned piece at the Pride Arts Showcase in Cincinnati.
By
Daniel Pesquera
April 14, 2023
Kei Slaughter
Kei Slaughter, an associate professor in Berklee's Music Therapy Department, has been named a OneBeat 11 Fellow, a distinction given to leading musical and social innovators. With the honor, Slaughter joins OneBeat 11, a group of 25 artists from 17 countries that includes musicians, instrument builders, sculptors, educators, and entrepreneurs.
Slaughters selection for the fellowship was a notable achievement, as the 25 artists were chosen from a pool of more than 1,200 applicants. The selection theme for 2023 is Buried Knowledge, a concept that examines music's role in unearthing, reviving, and celebrating hidden or suppressed histories, traditions, and cultures. Fellows will work with renowned musicians and cultural leaders such as Lonnie Holley, Carlton Tuner, and Matthew Evan Taylor to create original works that inspire deeper connection to diverse cultural heritage.
Created by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, OneBeat connects musicians from around the globe to collaboratively write, produce, and perform original music while developing strategies for arts-based civic and social engagement.
I look forward to working alongside a host of so many amazing musicians and creative collaborators from all over the world, and learning things that I can integrate into my teaching here at Berklee and into my clinical practice as a music therapist serving marginalized communities, said Slaughter. I also want to express my gratitude to my department chair, Dr. Joy Allen, and my music therapy colleagues here at Berklee, for their unwavering support.
Kei Slaughter conducts a flute choir through their original work, ban, at the Pride Arts Showcase.
Image by Vincenzo Volpe
In addition to the fellowship, Slaughter was recently commissioned to compose an original work for the Pride Arts Showcase on International Transgender Day of Visibility in Cincinnati, Ohio. Their piece, titled ban, was performed by queer and allied flutists from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) as part of a community celebration of art and expression. Slaughter conducted the flute choir through the performance, which served as a workshop for the piece before its official premiere this summer.
Fellow flutist Vincenzo Volpe, a D.M.A. candidate at CCM, tapped Slaughter to write a brand new piece for the Pride Arts Showcase, a cross-disciplinary event that aims to amplify the voices of transgender and nonbinary artists alongside the rest of the LGBTQ community. As a queer Black composer, Slaughter drew inspiration from the recent antitrans legislation they believe threatens their basic right to a safe space for authentic self-expression.
My work ban is an extension of my reflections, reactions, and relationship to the current sociopolitical climate and the blatant violence against and discarding of trans people, said Slaughter. As a nonbinary transmasculine person, writing this piece was very cathartic for me. The fact that it premiered on International Transgender Day of Visibility was even more special.
Kei Slaughter with Vincenzo Volpe at the Pride Arts Showcase
Our community has done very little to amplify the voices of Black and brown composers, and even less for our transgender and nonbinary siblings, said Volpe. Considering the political climate of today, it is important now more than ever to practice social justice through our work as artists and celebrate all identities.
While Slaughter has been a board-certified music therapist for over 12 years, their original dream was to become a pediatrician. However, with roots deeply embedded in classical flute and the spiritual songs of the New Orleans church, Slaughter could not abandon their passion for music. Music therapy proved to be a perfect match for Slaughter, who specializes in therapy for BIPOC youth, LGBTQIA2S individuals, and survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence. Additionally, Slaughter is the founder of S O U L F O L K Sounds, a music and wellness practice that focuses on elevating and sustaining Black queer and trans communities.
Slaughter will be present when ban officially premieres at the annual National Flute Association Convention, held in Phoenix, Arizona, on August 5. The piece will be performed by the National Flute Association LGBTQ Flute Choir.
Our team is incredibly proud to work with and learn alongside Professor Slaughter. We are beyond excited for them to receive this extremely well-deserved fellowship, said Dr. Joy Allen, chair of the Music Therapy Department. Professor Slaughter brings a wealth of experience as an educator, clinician, musician, and community leader. Furthermore, their authenticity and presence resonates with students, faculty, staff, and the greater community. Professor Slaughter has a deep understanding of music's vital ability to give a voice to those who have been silenced and marginalized and its ability to foster hope and build community. This is reflected in their empathetic approach to music therapy, and their dedicated efforts as an advocate for the LGBTQIA2S and BIPOC communities.
Related Categories
News
Most Popular
Erica Muhl is inaugurated as Berklees president at MGM Music Hall at Fenway on April 4.
Image by Michael D. Spencer
Berklee Celebrates the Inauguration of President Erica Muhl Muhl is the first woman and fourth president to lead Berklee.
Latest
Kei Slaughter
Kei Slaughter Named OneBeat 11 Fellow In addition to the fellowship, the music therapy faculty member recently conducted an original commissioned piece at the
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
05/06/2026
The university-wide initiative has pushed their creative content to a new level
Although collegiate athletics at a single institution can contain numerous spo...
05/06/2026
In-venue and creative video staffers at the professional and collegiate level ha...
05/06/2026
Synamedia has announced that Lumine Group has agreed to acquire its Video Network business. The company is positioning the transition as the start of a new phas...
05/06/2026
Ateme, Broadcasting Center Europe (BCE), and Scaleway have announced a strategic partnership to deliver a cloud-based media supply chain covering ingest through...
05/06/2026
Audinate has announced three new additions to its Dante AVIO Install adapter series: a 4-Channel Analog Input, a 4-Channel Analog Output, and a 2-Ch In/2-Ch Out...
05/06/2026
Sportradar Group AG has announced a multi-year extension of its exclusive global...
05/06/2026
The M6 Group will broadcast FIFA World Cup 2026 matches live and in Ultra High D...
05/06/2026
The Athletic has announced that PGA TOUR highlights will be integrated into its golf coverage beginning with the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday. PGA T...
05/06/2026
When the FIFA World Cup arrives in North America in 2026, it will bring more tha...
05/06/2026
FIFA and DAZN have announced the launch of FIFA exclusively on DAZN, consolidating FIFA's content portfolio within DAZN's sports platform. The move fol...
05/06/2026
Telemundo's exclusive Spanish-language coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 G...
05/06/2026
Dolby Laboratories and NBCUniversal have announced that Peacock will stream Tele...
05/06/2026
Formula 1 has announced a 10-year extension to keep the Las Vegas Grand Prix on the F1 calendar through 2037. Las Vegas Grand Prix, Inc., Clark County, and the ...
05/06/2026
The broadcast-engineering team overcomes wind, speed, and salt water - and dista...
05/06/2026
Deploying both onsite and remote crews, the company is providing calibrated-came...
05/06/2026
With Inter&Co Stadium unavailable, ESPN's UFL team rebuilt its broadcast pla...
05/06/2026
One of the most exciting and informative events on the SVG annual event calendar is the Regional Sports Production Summit, an annual gathering of industry profe...
05/06/2026
For the race's third year at the historic racetrack, the broadcaster has added cameras and will incorporate multiple drones
The 158th edition of the Belmon...
05/06/2026
Ratings Roundup is a rundown of recent rating news and is derived from press rel...
05/06/2026
Built from the same recordings as flagship library
Sonuscore's LUX Orchestral Strings has been met with widespread praise since its launch in late 2025,...
05/06/2026
High-end converter, interface & headphone amp upgraded
Said to represent the next evolution of RME's all-in-one reference converter concept, the all-new...
05/06/2026
Win a Soundgas Type 636P & Type G preamps
Soundgas, one of the UK's leading vintage and boutique audio equipment specialists have just announced the lau...
05/06/2026
New leadership of Technology Systems Division at Rohde & Schwarz On July 1, 2026, Hansj rg Herrbold and Andreas H gele will take over as Executive Vice Presid...
05/06/2026
Hitachi and Intel announced a strategic collaboration to explore opportunities t...
05/06/2026
MRI-Simmons and S&P Global Mobility are expanding advanced audience capabilities...
05/06/2026
New Nielsen data shows insurance ad spend grew 11%, while consumers remain highl...
05/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/06/2026
ASG Promotes Joe Marchitto to Western Regional CTO
Brie Clayton June 5, 2026
0 Comments
Appointment to Support Engineering Alignment and Client Experi...
05/06/2026
Stargate Studios Colombia Uses DaVinci Resolve Studio for Vertical Microdramas
Brie Clayton June 5, 2026
0 Comments
End to end post in one platform al...
05/06/2026
People Need to Come First When We Use AI
Andy Marken June 5, 2026
0 Comments
It's just surviving. Life's very existence requires destruction....
05/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
05/06/2026
Frequency, the engine powering many of the world's leading streaming television channels, today announced the launch of In-Scene Advertising, a new monetiza...
05/06/2026
Berklee Study Reveals Video Has Become Essential to Music Careers Survey findings show social platforms have become the primary source of music for video cont...
05/06/2026
05 Jun 2026
VEON's Kyivstar to Expand Digital Mobility Ecosystem with Acqui...
05/06/2026
RT Radio 1 Folk Awards to take place on Tuesday 10th November 2026, Vicar Street, Dublin
Moya Brennan, D nal Lunny, Mary Black and Christy Moore among previou...
04/06/2026
Sony Electronics is introducing the SRG-AS10, a 4K 60p-compatible PTZ auto-frami...
04/06/2026
This recent grad from Spring, TX, led creative-video output for the Aggies' men's basketball team last season and has been producing video and creating ...
04/06/2026
For the first time at a women's golf major, every player in the field will r...
04/06/2026
Three Panasonic PT-RQ45 40,000-lumen 3-Chip DLP projectors made their first live...