Renata Yazzie

Renata Yazzie, Tó’aheedlíinii born for Kinyaa’áanii, is a Diné (Navajo) pianist, musicologist and composer residing between Albuquerque, New Mexico and New York City. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and a master’s degree in Music with dual concentrations in Musicology and Piano Performance from the University of New Mexico. Her research currently focuses on the intersections of Diné song and music with language, religion, theory, pedagogy, and popular culture. 

Renata’s academic-facing work has been published in MUSICultures, The Journal of Linguistic Anthropology, American Music, Open Access Musicology and she has several chapters forthcoming in various edited volumes representing Native American Studies, Indigenous Musicology Studies, and Music Theory. Together with Diné pianist and composer Connor Chee, she co-edited the groundbreaking anthology Weaving Sounds: Elementary Piano Pieces by Native and Indigenous Composers published by Piano Inspires. 

An award-winning journalist, her public-facing work has been published in Spin Magazine, First American Art Magazine, Native Max Magazine, SourceNM, GRAMMY.com and more. She is the host, writer, and producer of the nation’s first classical radio show entirely dedicated to showcasing classical works by Native and Indigenous composers, American Classical Voices, which airs on Classical 95.5 KHFM Albuquerque/Santa Fe. She has served in various consulting capacities for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Recording Academy, the Society for Ethnomusicology, the Native American and Indigenous Center of New York, Disney Junior and more. 

Yazzie is the founder of the American Indian Musicians’ Scholarship which seeks to provide all-encompassing support to American Indian students pursuing a post-secondary degree in Music. You can read more about their mission and donate here.