Indigenous Artist

Breana Halimé McCullough is a Karuk violist whose work bridges Baroque and Modern Classical music with a profound commitment to cultural advocacy and Indigenous empowerment. Originally from Bozeman, Montana, they have performed with renowned ensembles such as the Carpe Diem String Quartet, Sound Salon, Sinfonia Spirituosa, the Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado, and the I-90 Collective.

Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Musicology at McGill University, McCullough’s research focuses on Indigenous representation in Early Music and the reMatriation of Karuk ancestors and cultural materials, including songs, from archives across the United States. Their work aims to develop protocols within academia and beyond that uphold Tribal, family, and data sovereignty in the United States and Canada.

She has taught and guest lectured at institutions including the University of California, Los Angeles; Bucknell University; the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and the University of Southern California. In addition to her teaching, she has worked as a research assistant on projects such as Mukurtu, a digital archival platform grounded in Indigenous knowledge systems and community-defined protocols for cultural stewardship and transmission.

In addition to their scholarly contributions, McCullough recently published a chapter in Teaching Difficult Topics: Reflections from the Undergraduate Music Classroom. In this chapter, she reflects on the challenges and opportunities of integrating Indigenous perspectives in music pedagogy, particularly addressing the ethical implications of historically informed performance. A dedicated advocate for diversity and inclusion, McCullough served as co-chair of the IDEA Taskforce for Early Music America and was previously the student representative of the Society of Ethnomusicology Indigenous Music section. She subsequently resigned from affiliations with the Society of Ethnomusicology and disengaged from the organization and the broader field in response to concerns regarding the treatment of graduate students and the society’s lack of positions standing against genocide, extraction, and racism towards Indigenous peoples and scholars.

She is also a teaching artist with the Heartbeat Music Project, where she brings music education to youth on the Diné (Navajo) Reservation, empowering Indigenous youth through cultural and musical expression. McCullough is passionate about mentoring young people and fostering a deeper connection to their cultural identity through music and cultural advocacy.

McCullough currently resides in Tiohtià:ke-Mooniyang-Montréal, Québec.

INDIGENOUS ANCESTRY

First Nations

SELF-IDENTIFICATION

Karuk Tribe of Northern California