Music's Jeffrey Allen Murdock Named U of A's 2024-25 Cambridge Fellow

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Jeffrey Allen Murdock, professor in the Department of Music in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences and director of both the U of A's choral studies program and its Arkansas Center for Black Music, has been selected as the recipient of the Visiting Fellowship at Wolfson College, University of Cambridge, for the academic year 2024-25.

Murdock's appointment to this prestigious fellowship will enable him to immerse himself in the rich academic environment of the University of Cambridge, marking its 814th anniversary in 2024. During his tenure, Murdock will actively contribute to the institution through multiple teaching and research engagements.

A prominent figure in his field, Murdock is a Grammy Award-winning educator who also helped create the first Master of Music in Black Sacred Music degree in the United States, as well as the university's Arkansas Center for Black Music, which is supported by the Alice L. Walton Foundation.

"I am incredibly honored to have been selected for this opportunity," said Murdock, who arrived at Cambridge earlier this month. "To be able to study Black sacred music and to share this unique American genre with choirs and directors here in the United Kingdom is simply surreal."

"I've already made some significant connections here and am looking forward to what the year ahead has to offer, and I am even more excited to bring what I've learned back to the University of Arkansas," he added.

Murdock's scholarly pursuits encompass culturally relevant instruction, cultural influence in music education and the preservation of Black sacred music. His forthcoming projects include the development of a comprehensive text on the performance practice of Black sacred music, tailored for implementation in educational programs.

Additionally, he plans to finalize and submit his manuscript titled "When Black Voices are Silenced," shedding light on cultural hegemony within the American music landscape and the underrepresentation of Black and Brown voices in the field.

"Living, teaching and learning abroad helps our students and educators alike to understand our complex world a little better, to transcend cultural boundaries and to find new ways to become positive change-makers," said Brian E. Raines, dean of Fulbright College.

"Dr. Murdock is already an incredibly accomplished musician, educator and scholar, and this transformative fellowship will help propel him forward to achieve even more great things," he added.

During his fellowship, Murdock also aims to establish a robust network of Gospel musicians and scholars of Black sacred music, fostering future collaborations with the Arkansas Center for Black Music. This aligns well with his previous work with the National Baptist Convention, USA, and collaborations with prominent gospel artists like Donnie McClurkin, Richard Smallwood, Mary Mary, Marvin Winans, Marvin Sapp, Lisa Knowles and Kathy Taylor.

The Wolfson College Fellowship, which is open to full-time, tenured or tenure-track Fulbright College faculty members, is awarded competitively to scholars who are not permanent residents of Cambridge. This appointment underscores Murdock's dedication to advancing music education and promoting cultural inclusivity on an international platform.

This story also appeared in the Fulbright REVIEW publication.