Professor Dr. Darren Hamilton

Biography

Darren Hamilton is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto, where he has taught full-time secondary music for 15 years. He has served as part-time contract faculty at Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Toronto. He teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in music education, and is the founding director of the University of Toronto Faculty of Music Gospel Choir. Hamilton is also the assistant director of the JUNO Award-winning Toronto Mass Choir and has guest conducted performances with various choirs. His research interests include formal gospel music pedagogy, popular music pedagogy, hip hop music education, and addressing anti-Black racism within music education for equity, diversity, and social justice. He has published works in Canadian music education journals and co-authored national resources. He received the 2024 Connaught New Researcher Award and has been featured in CBC Radio documentaries. Hamilton is a frequent guest lecturer and workshop presenter at various educational conferences and institutions, and was awarded the 2022 JUNO Award for MusiCounts Teacher of the Year, recognizing his commitment to equity and diversity in music education.

Research Interests

Awards