Kenneth S. Habib
Associate Professor, Ethnomusicology, Music Theory, Music History
Davidson Music Center Room 218C | 805-756-2741 | khabib@calpoly.edu | Cal Poly Arab Music Ensemble Web page
Dr. Habib received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) in Ethnomusicology, with specializations in the Middle East and American popular music. His research has concentrated on the music of the Eastern Mediterranean, particularly the collaboration of the Lebanese superstar singer, Fairouz, and the Rahbani composers. Foci of his work include musical and textual analysis, use of musical arts in the creation of personal and social meaning, and experience of music culture in diaspora. He earned his Certificate in College and University Teaching and his M.A. in Music Composition at UCSB, and his B.A. in Communications Studies at UCLA. In addition to teaching in the Music Department at Cal Poly, he is the Assistant Director of the Middlebury College Arabic School and teaches Arabic at Cuesta College. Previously he was Visiting Assistant Professor of Ethnomusicology at Pomona College, taught Arabic at Santa Barbara City College, and taught Music at UCSB. Dr. Habib also is a composer and performer, and his responsibilities at Cal Poly include directing the Arab Music Ensemble. His recent articles appear in the Journal of Popular Music Studies and in the Encyclopedia of Islam, and recent recordings include his album of original Eastern Arab art music, Salam.