Celebrating the Music, the Methods, and the Message of Black Sacred Music

CHAMPAIGN, IL – The University of Illinois Black Chorus, under the artistic direction of Dr. Ollie Watts Davis, is proud to present Black Sacred Music Symposium XVIII: PILLAR, taking place February 20-23, 2025, on the Urbana campus. Established in 1991 by Dr. Davis, the Black Sacred Music Symposium is a biennial, four-day conference dedicated to the study and performance of Black sacred music traditions. The symposium will conclude with a grand community choral concert on Sunday, February 23, 2025, at 3:00 PM in the Foellinger Great Hall at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts (500 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL).

This highly anticipated concert, open to both symposium attendees and the public, will showcase a dynamic program featuring performances by the Symposium Mass Choir, instrumentalists, soloists, and distinguished guest artists. The program will also highlight contributions from the University of Illinois Black Chorus, School of Music faculty and students, and dancers from the Department of Dance.

For more than three decades, the Black Sacred Music Symposium has been a cornerstone event at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, uniting artists, educators, scholars, and community members in a shared celebration of Black sacred music. In 2024, the symposium expanded its reach beyond Illinois, partnering with the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) and the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts to host its first regional conference in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Dr. Davis, Suzanne and William Allen Distinguished Professor of Music and Associate Dean for Academic Programs in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, shared her vision for this year’s theme:

“Each symposium is centered around a theme that reflects the transformative power of Black sacred music. This year, we embrace ‘PILLAR’—a recognition of the enduring strength of this music as a source of support, resilience, and faith through difficult times. In an era of global uncertainty, we come together to find solace, joy, and unity through song.”

Symposium XVIII provides an enriching opportunity for choral directors, music educators, students, and community members to deepen their understanding of Black sacred music traditions. Participants will engage in hands-on instruction, rehearsals, and plenary sessions led by a distinguished faculty of Grammy-nominated artists, scholars, and esteemed educators, including:

• Berris Bolton

• Rev. Dr. K. Edward Copeland

• Maestra D’Walla Simmons-Burke

• Kimberly Fullerton-Smith

• Walter Owens, Jr.

• Dr. H. Steven Sims

• Legacy Artist: V. Michael McKay

Sessions will cover a wide range of topics, including the historical development of Black sacred music, choral conducting techniques, vocal and instrumental instruction, and the evolution of gospel and spiritual traditions.

Don’t miss this extraordinary musical experience! The Black Sacred Music Symposium XVIII Concert is more than a performance—it is a powerful celebration of faith, resilience, and the rich legacy of Black sacred music. Whether you are a longtime lover of gospel and spirituals or experiencing this music for the first time, this concert promises to uplift and inspire. Join us on Sunday, February 23, 2025, at 3:00 PM in the Foellinger Great Hall at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts for an afternoon of soul-stirring music and joyous community.