Lauren Eldridge Stewart’s research interests include the cultural uses of classical music, folklore, and material culture across the African diaspora. She is currently writing a book, tentatively titled “Recital: Classical Music and Narrative Power in Haiti,” about the influence of global aid on the contemporary practice of classical music throughout that country. In the hands and voices of Haitians, classical music becomes a critical narrative force that shapes and describes local and global social worlds. Additional work traces the practice of sampling across genres with roots in the African American experience, including hip hop and gospel music. She has published in the journals Women and Music, Music and Politics, and the Journal of Haitian Studies.