11/11/2025
Alicia Waller (M.A., ’17), is a genre-expanding vocalist, composer, and bandleader recognized for the contemporary fusion ensemble Alicia Waller & The Excursion. With the release of her EP, Some Hidden Treasure, (released in 2020 on innova Recordings, the label of the American Composers Forum), she emerged into original work at the intersection of jazz, soul, and vernacular sound. Trained as an operatic soprano, Waller is known for the luminous warmth of her voice and captivating approach, creating a rich, expressive tapestry that has been praised as a synthesis of splendor, creativity, and depth. She is a recipient of numerous awards, including acknowledgements from Chamber Music America, the NYC Women’s Fund, NYSCA, American Composers Forum, and New Music USA.
She will join the International Relations Program at New York University for a talk on International Relations & Music Diplomacy. In the discussion, Waller will share the inspiration behind her deep commitment to cultural diplomacy as a performing musician, and how it led her to design her own M.A. program at NYU’s Gallatin School for Individualized Study. Drawing from coursework in the IR Program, Waller chose an uncommon path, combining performance with diplomacy scholarship and focusing on the intersection of music and international relations. Waller will additionally detail the methodology she has developed for music diplomacy in her professional practice since graduating, as well as her vision for inspiring a new wave of diplomatically engaged advocates in music.
