Emilia Pierce

Emilia Claire Pierce (She/Her) is a Musicology Ph.D. student at the University of California, Davis. She holds a Master of Music in Composition and a Master of Arts in Musicology from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Her research explores the intersections of gender and sexuality in performance, as well as the cultural and social meanings embedded in Italian popular music. Building on both her scholarly and creative practice, Emilia examines how music reflects and shapes discourses of identity, intimacy, and power in contemporary contexts.

Emilia’s commitment to inclusive musical spaces informs her approach as a composer, researcher, and educator. Her master’s thesis and conference presentations examine gender, sexuality, and identity in musical performance and popular music, with an emphasis on amplifying marginalized voices within the field. Alongside her academic work, she remains active as a composer, drawing on her interdisciplinary perspective to create works that engage audiences critically and emotionally. Outside of academia, Emilia is currently the choir director for the Christian Church of Woodland.

Research Interests: American Popular Music; Italian Popular Music; Gender and Sexuality; Representations of Power, Desire, and Intimacy; Queer Vocal Pedagogy