Gospel Choir director named a Minerva Society Laureate

December 1, 2008

Leotha Stanley is more than just a music connoisseur.  His music stands for community, and he represents that philosophy through his community work with children.  For this, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater adjunct music instructor and Gospel Choir director was named the 2008 Minerva Society Laureate by the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters.

The Minerva Society embodies the Wisconsin Academy’s most generous annual supporters.  Minerva, a Roman goddess, symbolizes wisdom and the eternal foe of ignorance. Minerva Society Laureates represent the spirit of the goddess through their commitment to art and culture.

Besides being an adjunct music instructor at UW-Whitewater, he composes songs and provides musical entertainment for many campus and civic events.  His music contains positive messages about education, literacy and achievement. 

“My music encourages literacy, self-esteem, being proud of who you are and where you come from,” he said.  “I use the music that I have written to get this message across.”

Stanley introduces students to forms of African-American music rarely encountered.  His work can be best described as eclectic, a blend of all types of music ranging from blues, jazz, gospel, rap and spiritual to more classic Western European sounds.

“When I go to schools, I help the children understand the chronological history of African-American music,” Stanley said. “At the end of our time together, the kids put on a concert with the music that I have written for them. These kids will never forget this experience.”

 Stanley is the author of the books “Be a Friend: The History of African American Music Through Words, Pictures and Songs” and “Spread My Wings.”