Concert Pianist and Lincoln University Professor Charles H. Pettaway Jr. Expands National Influence in Africana Music Scholarship

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA, May 29, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ — Charles H. Pettaway Jr., MMus, Full Professor and Chair of the Music Department at Lincoln University, continues to expand his national presence in 2026 through groundbreaking scholarship, media recognition, public discourse, and distinguished musical performances centered on Africana music and cultural history.

Pettaway was recently featured on Close Up Radio and highlighted by Canadian Music Today, further elevating his growing influence as a concert pianist, educator, and thought leader in Africana music studies.

In addition, AfriClassical recently spotlighted Pettaway’s performances of works by composers of African descent, including Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Howard Swanson, George Walker, and John D. Cooper — reinforcing his ongoing commitment to preserving and elevating historically significant Black composers within classical music traditions.

At the center of Pettaway’s current scholarship is a newly titled academic book chapter, The Myth of Absence: Black Presence in a Whitewashed World. The work challenges longstanding assumptions surrounding the perceived absence of Black contributions in global historical narratives and introduces a framework that repositions Africa as central, rather than peripheral, to the development of civilization.

His research examines the foundational role of Kemet, known as ancient Egypt, in shaping mathematics, philosophy, religion, astronomy, and architecture. It further traces how these contributions informed the intellectual trajectory of Western societies while questioning how and why these origins were later obscured or reassigned.

Rather than simply revisiting history, Pettaway examines how historical narratives were constructed, preserved, and, in some cases, deliberately reframed.

“My work is focused on confronting the idea of absence where there has always been presence,” Pettaway said. “When we take a closer look at history, we begin to see that many of the foundations of Western knowledge have deeper and more complex origins.”

In parallel with his scholarship, Pettaway is advancing a proposed Africana Studies Music degree at Lincoln University. The Bachelor of Science program is designed not only to examine the music of Africa and its global development, but also to position Africana music as a rigorous academic discipline that intersects with history, sociology, and cultural identity.

The proposed curriculum includes African American music, the music of Africa, jazz and cultural expression, the Black music industry, blues traditions, hip hop, Caribbean music, and Black gospel. It integrates Western music theory with the development of an individual artistic voice informed by cultural, historical, and social context.

“This proposal reflects the need to study Africana music as both cultural expression and a structured academic discipline with global significance,” Pettaway said.

Pettaway’s work continues to gain visibility through national media features, interviews, and public-facing conversations focused on Africana music, cultural identity, historical scholarship, and the evolution of Black artistic contributions within global culture.

Pettaway’s 2026 performance schedule included a live engagement in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, on May 23, with an upcoming appearance at Pinn Memorial Baptist Church on June 28.

He is also serving as a judge for the Debose National Piano Competition at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, reflecting his continued engagement with emerging pianists and the next generation of musical talent.

“Engaging with young artists at this level is always meaningful,” Pettaway said. “It is an opportunity to support the next generation while witnessing how each performer brings their own voice to the music.”

Through his combined work in scholarship, curriculum development, performance, and public dialogue, Pettaway is contributing to a more expansive and accurate understanding of Africana traditions and their enduring influence on global culture.

Pettaway’s work continues to gain national visibility through recent features and recognition from outlets including Close Up Radio, Canadian Music Today, and AfriClassical, where his performances of works by composers of African descent were highlighted as part of the ongoing conversation surrounding Black classical artistry and scholarship.

For more information about Charles H. Pettaway, Jr., click here.

About Charles H. Pettaway Jr.

Charles H. Pettaway Jr., MMus, is a concert pianist, scholar, and Full Professor and Chair of the Music Department at Lincoln University. His work explores Africana music, cultural identity, historical scholarship, and the contributions of composers of African descent within classical and global musical traditions.

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