Spirituals: The Root of American Music

In conjunction with Martin Luther King Day, the Pacifica Quartet and soprano Karen Slack join The Spirituals Project Choir and Montview Westminster Choir for an exploration of the Spiritual and the critical role it played in the origins of American Music.  The program will also provide an overview of the Reparations Royalty Pilot Program—a practice of valuing the musical contributions of persons of color.  This free event will be held on Tuesday, January 16, 7 – 8:30 PM at Montview Blvd. Presbyterian Church, 1980 Dahlia Street, Denver.   No tickets are required.  Reservations are appreciated.  Click here to RSVP.  Questions?  Call 303-388-9839.

Click here for a digital copy of the program.

M. Roger Holland, II is a Teaching Associate Professor in Music and Religion and Director of The Spirituals Project at the Lamont School of Music, University of Denver. A graduate of Union Theological Seminary in New York City where he received the Master of Divinity degree, Roger also served as Artist-in-Residence and director of the Union Gospel Choir for over 13 years. In 2015 Union awarded him the Trailblazers Distinguished Alumni Award, the first given to a graduate whose ministry is music, for his contributions to the legacy of African American music.

Adam Waite is the Minister of Music at Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church. In addition to overseeing Montview’s broad musical and artistic programming, Adam also conducts Montview’s Westminster Choir: an 80-voice mixed chorus that is the cornerstone of weekly worship.  Prior to joining Montview, Adam lived and worked in the New York City area, where he was Co-Artistic Director and Resident Conductor for Lyrica Chamber Music and the Director of Music at the Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township, NJ.