The 2024 Harry T. Burleigh Spirituals Festival
Facing the Rising Sun: Amplifying Black Music and Institutions for Generations to Come
SOON
About the Burleigh Festival
Since November 2016, the Tennessee State University Department of Music and the Big Blue Opera Initiatives has hosted the Harry T. Burleigh Spirituals Festival. Beginning as a commemoration of the 150th birthday of the pioneering African American composer and musician and celebration of the legacy of the American Negro Spiritual, the Burleigh Festival focuses on a different area of the Spiritual and African American music under various themes annually.
The Burleigh Festival features panel discussions and lecture presentations led by prominent scholars and musicians, choral clinics for attendees in varying stations in study, a vocal masterclass focused in performance practice and style of African American music, and a scholarship benefit concert in support of the Harry T. Burleigh Fund for Vocal Studies at Tennessee State University. Each year, the Burleigh Festival grows exponentially in attendance, partnerships, and support, adding new innovations and programming such as the 2019 world premiere of the Tupac Shakur Art Song Project. The National Museum of African American Music has been a core partner since its inception with the Burleigh Legacy Alliance of Erie, PA and the 105 Voice of History following shortly after. Other partners and supporters have included ALIAS Chamber Ensemble, the Harry T. Burleigh Society, 91Classical Radio, Early Music City, Weirdo Workshop, Hoskins and Co., Classically Black Podcast, and Intersection Contemporary Music Ensemble. We are delighted to welcome the Nashville Gospel and Sacred Music Coalition and the Nashville Symphony as partners for this year.
April 5
Tennessee State University Performing Arts Center
Eddie T. Goins Recital Hall
10:30AM - 11:45 AM- Opening Plenary
Dr. Mark Hugh Malone, author of William Levi Dawson: American Music Educator with performances
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livestream available for registered participants only
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM - Lunch
Floyd/Payne Campus Center
1:15 PM - 2:50 PM - Choral Clinic I
Colin Lett, Burleigh Festival Choral Clincian and Composer-in-Residence
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livestream available for registered participants only
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM - Performance Lecture
Dr. Iris Fordjour-Hankins, soprano and professor of voice, Oakwood University and Evelyn Simpson-Currenton, composer and collaborative pianist
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livestream available for registered participants only
4:15 PM - 6:15 PM- Vocal Masterclass
Dr. Iris Fordjour-Hankins
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livestream available for registered participants only
6:30 PM - Dinner on your own (General Attendees)
7:00 PM - Phenomenal Women...Phenomenally: Opera Tigre Celebrates the Artistry of Black Women
Featuring
Members of the Nashville Opera-HBCU Fellows and the 105 Voices of History
April 6
National Museum of African American Music
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM - Choral Clinic II
11:00 PM- 2:45 PM- Free Time (General Attendees)
* Lunch-and-Learn for Burleigh Legacy Alliance, 105, and Nashville Opera-HBCU Fellows with NMAAM Visit to follow. Option of attending a rehearsal of the Nashville Symphony
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livestream available for Lunch and Learn for registered participants only
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM - Concert Tech
6:00 PM - 6:30 PM - Pre-Concert Talk
Dr. Mark Hugh Malone, presenter
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livestream available for all
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM-
Burleigh Festival Scholarship Concert
Featuring
The 105 Voices of History Young Artists
The W. Crimm Singers
-Patrick Dailey, countertenor and director
The Tennessee State University Meistersingers
-Dr. Angelica Dunsavage, director
Dr. Patrick Bradley. collaborative pianist
Trevor Thornton, collaborative pianist
The Southwind High School Chamber Singers
-Dre Pinson, director
The Athena Treble Choir of Stewarts Creek High School
-Dr. Susan Kelly, director
Dr. Iris Fordjour-Hankins, soprano
Burleigh Festival Gala Artist
Burleigh Festival Chorus
Colin Lett, director
Burleigh Festival Composer-in-Residence and Choral Clinician
Burleigh Festival Honors
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Burleigh Civic Champion Award- Professor Edward L. Graves
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Burleigh Arts Trailblazer Award- Diana K. Poe
Co-Presented by the Big Blue Opera Initiatives and National Museum of African American Music
Suggested Donation Ticket- $25
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livestream available for all
Registration, Donation, and Concert Ticket
For More Information, Contact
Patrick Dailey, M.M. (he/him/his)
Founder and Director, Big Blue Opera Initiatives
Tennessee State University
Department of Music