CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fourteenth Biennial Black Sacred Music Symposium Concert begins Sunday, March 10, at 5 p.m. in the Foellinger Great Hall at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana.
The concert is the culmination of a four-day-long conference dedicated to the study of black sacred music traditions. Begun in 1991 by Ollie Watts Davis, a professor of music at Illinois and the conductor of the University of Illinois Black Chorus, the symposium’s curricular offerings investigate the challenges of music selection, preparation and presentation. The conference focuses on strengthening musicianship and acquiring individual artistry by exploring the unique treatment of the elements of vocal music by black Americans in a choral setting.
The format structure includes plenary addresses, parallel seminars and paper sessions; evening rehearsals and interludes led by guest artists; and informal talks and testimonials from delegates engaged through scholarship, service and practice. Ample time is allowed for interactions with others seeking mature understanding of the service role of music.
The symposium and concert are hosted by the Black Chorus with the support of the School of Music at Illinois. General admission concert tickets are $10 and available for purchase at the Krannert Center Ticket Office, 217-333-6280.
