Baylor Professor Lesley McAllister Named Fulbright U.S. Scholar
Internationally recognized pedagogy and musician wellness expert to teach, research and collaborate with Brazilian institutions
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Lesley McAllister, D.M.A., professor of piano in the Baylor University School of Music, who also serves as Faculty Regent, has been selected for the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar award to Brazil. McAllister is Baylor’s seventh faculty Fulbright recipient since 2022, as well as the second for the School of Music within two years.
The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program offers more than 400 awards in more than 135 countries for U.S. citizens to teach, conduct research and carry out professional projects around the world. As a Fulbright Scholar and an internationally recognized pedagogy and musician wellness expert, McAllister will be evaluating Brazilian piano method books to analyze differences between American and Brazilian pedagogical traditions. She also will lead a “Yoga for Musicians” workshop, teach piano masterclasses and perform in community music programs.
“Receiving a Fulbright grant is one of the greatest honors of my professional life, opening doors to the kind of cross-cultural connections that are transformative for both recruiting and research.” - Lesley McAllister, D.M.A.
“Receiving a Fulbright grant is one of the greatest honors of my professional life, opening doors to the kind of cross-cultural connections that are transformative for both recruiting and research,” McAllister said. “Immersing myself in Brazil's vibrant musical community will allow me to learn from exceptional musicians whose perspectives and practices will bring fresh ideas to my teaching and scholarship.”
Starting in April through May 2027, McAllister will teach musician wellness and piano pedagogy classes at Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC) in Florianópolis, Brazil. In addition, she will research children’s community exposure to Brazilian folk music and round dances in early childhood and the ways in which those experiences impact and are integrated into early piano study.
Her research will include observations of piano, theory and ear training classes in three community music programs: a piano education initiative at UDESC, the Instituto Federal deSanta Catarina (IFSC) and Camerata Florianópolis, which offers a project titled “Educating with Music” in partnership with the Government of the State of Santa Caterina.
“This opportunity aligns directly with the University’s Baylor in Deeds strategic plan, which highlights Latin America as a key area of focus for global impact and the cultivation of a vibrant, caring and global community,” McAllister said. “I am equally eager to carry those experiences back to Baylor, where the insights I gain will directly enrich the Health and Wellness program I founded and direct as well as our piano pedagogy program in the School of Music.”
FACULTY/STAFF FULBRIGHT OPPORTUNITIES
Baylor has a rich tradition of Fulbright scholars. Faculty members from a wide array of disciplines have received Fulbright awards for many years. The Center for Global Engagement welcomes current Baylor faculty and staff members to inform themselves about the Fulbright Scholar Program and consider applying.
ABOUT LESLEY MCALLISTER, D.M.A.
Lesley McAllister, D.M.A., is an internationally recognized expert in piano pedagogy and musician wellness whose work bridges traditional teaching with somatic awareness and wellness practices. She is a professor of piano and coordinator of piano pedagogy in the School of Music, as well as serving as a Faculty Regent for Baylor University. In addition to teaching piano pedagogy, she teaches courses on performer wellness and directs the Piano Laboratory Program for children in the community. Her research interests include imagery, mind-body relaxation techniques for performance anxiety, mental rehearsal and yoga for musicians. She is the author of two books on musician wellness, The Balanced Musician: Integrating Mind and Body for Peak Performance and Yoga in the Music Studio, both of which highlight her commitment to holistic music pedagogy. Her widely published articles appear in leading journals such as American Music Teacher, Piano Magazine, Piano Pedagogy Forum, and the MTNA E-Journal. Through her writing, research and workshops, McAllister advocates for approaches that not only support musical excellence but also student well-being and lifelong engagement with music.
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Learn more about Baylor University at www.baylor.edu.
ABOUT THE COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES AT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
The College of Arts & Sciences is Baylor University’s largest academic division, consisting of 25 academic departments in the sciences, humanities, fine arts and social sciences, as well as 11 academic centers and institutes. The more than 5,000 courses taught in the College span topics from art and theatre to religion, philosophy, sociology and the natural sciences. The College’s undergraduate Unified Core Curriculum, which routinely receives top grades in national assessments, emphasizes a liberal education characterized by critical thinking, communication, civic engagement and Christian commitment. Arts & Sciences faculty conduct research around the world, and research on the undergraduate and graduate level is prevalent throughout all disciplines. Visit the College of Arts & Sciences website.