Composer, multi-instrumentalist, and arts director Melissa Littlepage has performed, taught, and managed a number of organizations throughout the United States. Presently, she is the Communications Director for Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker on the Council of the District of Columbia, and freelances as a performer, composer, transcriber, and cross-cultural consultant. You can find her creatively nourishing community at Jam & Bread. Her music work primarily focuses on the preservation of the African-American heritage in classical music, race and gender representations in the Western tradition, and intercultural competency within liturgical spaces of orthodox Christian communities.
Photo by Sami Kathryn Photography
Mrs. Littlepage earned her Master of Music degree from The University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) in Oboe Performance, studying with Merideth Hite Estevez and Jaren Atherholt. While there, she performed with the Asombro Reed Quintet. During the 2016-2017 academic year, she served as the Graduate Assistant for EngagingUNCSA, a collaborative effort between administration, faculty, and students to discover innovative avenues for engaging the world as citizen artists. In June 2017, she traveled to NYC for an Artist Fellowship (oboe) and as an Emerging Composer for the Imani Winds Chamber Music Festival with Imani Winds at The Mannes School. Her works have been performed in numerous venues across several cities, at times earning awards and scholarships. Commissions include Extendings for Wind Ensemble, for the Washington University in St. Louis Wind Ensemble. Her String Quartet No. 1, Three Perspectives for String Quartet, was recorded at the acclaimed OceanWay Studios in Nashville, TN.
As an organized and capable leader and manager, Melissa previously served as the Chief of Staff and Intercultural Consultant at the Grace DC Institute for Cross-Cultural Mission. She also held roles as a music librarian, office intern and radio host for St. Louis’ Radio Arts Foundation, Music Director of DaySpring School of the Arts, and Program Manager for Arts & Faith St. Louis, an exciting incentive to grow diverse audiences for arts organizations by connecting them to the faith community. She also served on the Board of Directors for the Freedom Arts & Education Center.
Melissa Littlepage earned a Bachelor of Music in Composition from Belmont University. She studied oboe privately with Leanna Booze, Marjorie Yankeelov, Ellen Menking, and Ron Sipes, and piano with Robert Marler. She studied composition with Mark Volker and William Pursell at Belmont University, and with Martin Kennedy at Washington University in St. Louis.
Melissa also enjoys playing tambourine, guitar, and singing. She now lives in Washington, D.C. with her also-musical husband, Joel Littlepage, and their three sons, Oscar, Thelonius (Theo), and Wynton.