Holly J Hubbs
Dr. Holly Hubbs is the William F. Heefner Professor of Music at Ursinus College. She teaches courses in Western art music, vernacular music history, and coaches chamber music. As a saxophonist, Hubbs has performed in venues in both the United States and Europe and is currently a recitalist in the Philadelphia area. Also an active scholar, Hubbs recently contributed a chapter to the edited volume The Legacy of Elise Hall (Leuven University Press, 2024). Hubbs is currently engaged in two book projects with her Belgian research collaborator, Dr. Kurt Bertels, both which focus on illuminating the accomplishments of historically-significant Black women saxophonists. A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Hubbs holds wind conducting degrees from Quincy University and Western Illinois University, and received her Doctor of Arts degree in saxophone performance from Ball State University. In 2015, Hubbs was the recipient of Ursinus’ Laughlin Award for Distinguished Teaching, in 2018 she received the Laughlin Award for Outstanding Professional Achievement, and in 2019 she received Ursinus’ Award for Outstanding First-Year Advising.
Department
Degrees
- B.S. Quincy University (Music Education/Wind Conducting)
- M.A. Western Illinois University (Music Education/Wind Conducting)
- D.A. Ball State University (Saxophone Performance/Musicology)
Teaching
Music History and Culture, History of Jazz, Women in Music, History of American Music, Global Musics, Chamber Music, Saxophone
Website
Professional Experience
Dr. Hubbs began playing saxophone at age 11 and after 40 years remains active on the instrument. She has performed with jazz ensembles at the Montreux, Vienne, and North Sea Jazz Festivals, and currently performs on tenor saxophone with the Junction Saxophone Quartet. More recently, Hubbs has ventured into early music, studying recorder in Belgium and performing in early music concerts in both Belgium and the United States.
Research Interests
Dr. Hubbs most recent publication, a chapter in the 2024 edited volume The Legacy of Elise Hall (Leuven University Press, 2024), reintroduced the life and works of LA-based 1920’s saxophonist/composer/teacher Kathryne E. Thompson. Hubbs’ research group (comprising Hubbs, Dr. Kurt Bertels, Royal Brussels Conservatory; Dr. Adrianne Honnold, Lewis University and Dr. Kendra Wheeler, Louisiana State University) is currently at work on a book manuscript celebrating the contributions of Women of Color within saxophone history, and Hubbs and Bertels are co-writing a monograph book project on the life of Harlem-based saxophonist and music educator Isabele Taliaferro Spiller.
Recent Work
The Legacy of Elise Hall (Leuven University Press, 2024)
2014 CD Release “Crossing the Break: The Saxophone Plays Clarinet Transcriptions”
Paper entitled “Whose Rhythm Is It Anyway?: Creation and Appropriation
1950’s Rock ‘n’ Roll” presented at American Culture Association National Conference (Chicago, IL, April 2014)
Lecture recital on music of 1920’s composer/saxophonist Kathryne E. Thompson presented at 2014 Biennial Conference of the North American Saxophone Alliance (Univ of Illinois, March 2014)
Years of Service to Ursinus
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