The U of A Department of Music hosted part of its highly anticipated 10th annual Black Music Symposium in early February, but several events had to be postponed because of inclement weather.

Now, the symposium continues March 14-16 with the full remaining slate of planned events dedicated to educating and exploring the musical contributions of Black Americans.

“This year's theme, ‘Lest Our Feet Stray,’ aims to invoke a spirit of remembrance of Black music genres that were integral to the survival of Black Americans during slavery, the Jim Crow South and the Civil Rights Movement,” said Grammy Award-winning educator Jeffrey Allen Murdock, who is the symposium's organizer.

Murdock is also director of the U of A’s new Arkansas Center for Black Music, which helps produce the symposium, and the newly launched first and only Master of Music in Black Sacred Music degree in the United States.

“Throughout the symposium we will feature lectures that support the theme by exploring the ways in which gospel music and Black Art Song are related to the experiences of Black musicians, as well as social movements,” said Murdock, who additionally is the U of A's director of choral activities, an associate professor of music and conductor of the university's renowned Inspirational Chorale.

“We're so excited to share this series of events with the community and to welcome all to experience this amazing celebration of Black music, history, culture and contributions,” he added. 

Evening concerts will include an organ recital by world-renowned organist Nathaniel Gumbs, director of Chapel Music at Yale University. The week will also feature performances by tenor Albert R. Lee of Yale University, mezzo-soprano Alexis Davis-Hazell from the University of Alabama, U of A jazz faculty and students, and local artists.

All events are open to the public, and tickets are $20 for full admission to all events.  

SYMPOSIUM EVENTS

Tuesday, March 14

• 6:30 p.m. – Free public opening concert at Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville with Nathaniel Gumbs, director of chapel music at Yale University
• 8:30 p.m. – Free open mic night with Emorja Roberson at the Arkansas Union Theatre

Wednesday, March 15

• 9:40-10:30 a.m. – Lecture “Pearls on Silk: Julia Perry and Irene Britton Smith, a Study of Elegance” given by Alexis Davis-Hazell in the Faulkner Performing Arts Center (FPAC)
• 10:45-11:40 a.m. – Lecture “Ultrasonic Tastemakers: A Critical Gastromusicology” given by Alisha Lola Jones at the FPAC
• 11:50 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. – Lecture “Organ Music of Black Composers” given by Nathaniel Gumbs at the FPAC
• 7:30 p.m. – Recital “Music of Black Composers” with Albert R. Lee, Alexis Davis-Hazell and collaborative pianist Rosalyn Wright Floyd at the FPAC

Thursday, March 16

• 9:30-10:45 a.m. – Lecture “From Simple to Complex: The Vocal Accompaniments of Selected African-American Female Composers” given by Rosalyn Wright Floyd at the FPAC
• 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Lecture “Donald Lawrence: The Concert State, The Theatrical” given by Emorja Roberson at the FPAC
• 3:30-4:50 p.m. – Performance class with Albert Lee and Alexis Davis-Hazell with U of A voice students at the FPAC
• 7:30 p.m. – Collage concert featuring U of A students and faculty

For more information, please contact Murdock at jeffreym@uark.edu or the Department of Music at 479-575-4701.