Brittney Bryanna Burgess is an arts administrator, educator, and lyric soprano from Queens, New York, committed to expanding access to music education and creating meaningful opportunities for collegiate musicians. She serves as the Events Coordinator for the University of Tennessee and is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Black Collegiate Musicians (BCM), a national nonprofit organization that supports Black collegiate musicians through mentorship, professional development, networking, and community building.
Brittney holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Vocal Performance from Nazareth College and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music, where she studied with Katherine Ciesinski.
Before joining the University of Tennessee, Brittney served as Program Manager for Partnerships and Access at The Juilliard School, where she cultivated strategic partnerships and led initiatives that increased access to arts education. She also served as Operations Director for Buffalo String Works, expanding its El Sistema-inspired music program throughout Buffalo, New York. During her time at Eastman, she helped establish the school's first Office for Equity and Inclusion and served as Graduate Advisor for the Black Students' Union.
As a performer, Brittney has appeared at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, made her contemporary opera debut as Mrs. Johannes "Ma" Zenger in Missy Mazzoli's Proving Up, performed as an orchestral soloist with the Genesee Symphony Orchestra, and toured as a backing vocalist for Josh Groban.
Under Brittney's leadership, BCM has grown into a national organization serving students across the country through partnerships with colleges and universities, career development programming, and a growing network of emerging artists. In 2025, BCM received its first major national grant through the Sphinx MPower Artist Grant, supporting the organization's expansion and strengthening its ability to serve Black collegiate musicians nationwide.
Brittney is a member of SphinxLEAD Cohort 5 and the recipient of the Eastman School of Music's 2022 Diversity Award and the Willard J. Hines "We Can Make a World of Difference" Voice Scholarship. She is passionate about building sustainable pathways for the next generation of musicians and arts leaders.