About Me

Cordara Harper, baritone, is a native of Cove City, North Carolina. Harper is an acclaimed versatile musician who is active as a music educator, instructional leader, choral conductor, vocalist, pianist, and strategic coach. A passionate educator, researcher, and conductor, Harper is currently completing a Ph.D. in Music Education with a cognate in Choral Conducting. His research interests include culturally-sustaining leadership practices, choral conducting, music teacher evaluation, vocal pedagogy, arts entrepreneurship, music psychology, and equity in music education. At the University of Memphis, Harper has served as an instructor, teaching assistant, research assistant, and choral graduate assistant. Harper’s conducting experiences include serving as one of the featured conductors for the University Singers Fall 2021 concert at the University of Memphis and conducting ensembles at West Craven High School in North Carolina. While at the University of Memphis, he performed with the University Singers, Voices of Inspiration, and the Tenor & Bass Choir. He completed the Master of Music degree and post-Masters Certificate in School Administration at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Master of Science degree at Amberton University, the Bachelor of Music degree (magna cum laude) at North Carolina Central University, and the Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Fayetteville State University. Harper is a member of Phi Mu Alpha and served as the secretary and treasurer of the Theta Rho Chapter at The University of Memphis.

An active researcher, Cordara Harper, is a sought-after leader and has presented at the American Musicological South-East Chapter Fall 2020 meeting, Society for American Music 2021 Conference, the February 2021 Texas Music Educators Association Clinic, and the February 2021 CMS- Southern Chapter Regional Conference. In addition, he served as an inaugural facilitator and panel guest at The 2021 Sankofa Songs Summer Institute. Harper was featured in the National Association for Music Education's Teaching Music publication in January 2022.

Harper holds North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi public school licensure in school administration, K-12 music teaching, psychology, and business. Harper is an experienced educator, served as a K-8 general music teacher at Global Scholars Academy, and served as a high school choral director at West Craven High School and Cleveland High School in North Carolina.

Harper's choirs have earned superb ratings, and he was rated a distinguished teacher in every category while teaching at Cleveland High School. Harper has served as an instructional leader and mentor teacher. Additionally, he received the JCPS/Wells Fargo Foundation Certified Employee Award in April 2021. Also at Cleveland High School, he served as the Tri-M Music Honor Society and the Sophomore Student Council co-faculty advisor. He was awarded grants for the choral music program and frequently partnered with teachers, community members, and stakeholders. Harper is the founder of Cordara Harper Music Solutions, LLC and has served as a coach, teaching private and group voice and piano lessons. 
 
Harper has completed level 2 Kodály training at the Indiana University Summer Kodály Institute and level 1 Orff training at the University of Memphis Orff Summer Institute. Professional memberships include: National Association for Music Education, American Choral Directors Association, College Music Society, American Musicological Society-South East, Society of American Music, Society for Arts Entrepreneurship Education, Organization of American Kodaly Educators, International Society for Music Education, National Association of Negro Musicians, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. In addition to his academic background, Harper is a performer and currently serves as the music director at Burdette United Methodist Church in Memphis, TN. In addition, he has established himself as a clinician skilled in choral music, gospel music and music of the African diaspora.