Experts will address "The Universality of African-American Vocal Music"
Released: September 25, 2006
Two leading experts in the pedagogy of African-American vocal music will come to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater spring 2007 for the project "The Universality of African-American Vocal Music," coordinated by UW-Whitewater Assistant Music Professor Julie Cross.
The purpose of this project is to help dispel the myth that people of other races should not perform African-American songs. "This is an important topic, as classical music by African-American composers tend to get pigeon-holed into a specialty segment," Cross said. "African-American students are expected to sing this repertoire regularly, while students of other races often feel that they shouldn't sing the selections, or that it is specialized."
Because of their extensive studies of the universality of African-American vocal music, Cross invited Caroline Helton from the University of Michigan and Emery Stephens from Eastern Michigan University to present a lecture recital and offer a master class at UW-Whitewater. This master class is designed for students to perform music, and Helton and Stephens will critique their performances.
"Professor Stephens has been holding a nationwide survey to address teachers' and students' approaches to this repertoire," Cross said. "Professor Helton has been working on a focus group to address this repertoire as well."
"These guests will help UW-Whitewater students to address cultural exchange and diversity in a unique and interesting way, and will help this repertoire to become more widely accepted and appreciated," Cross said.
For more information about "The Universality of African-American Vocal Music," contact Julie Cross at (262) 472-5623 or crossj@uww.edu.
- Abby Clark,clarkae12@uww.edu
