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Ollie Watts Davis, Ph.D, a longtime professor of music at the University of Illinois, already had a lot on her proverbial plate when a colleague made the suggestion in 2017 that she start a chorus camp at the University’s Illinois Summer Youth Music program. Davis, who is the founder of the Black Chorus and a leader at the School of Music, liked the idea, but she wanted to make sure that kids could get broad exposure to the music of Black Americans in all its forms. This wouldn’t be just a gospel camp.
Since the first camp debuted, high school aged students from Illinois have come every summer for an intense week-long experience. One of the major goals is to recruit students from the local area.
Read the entire article about ISYM’s Black Chorus on Illinois Public Media. The Prairie episode along with a synopsis episode can be found on Prairie Fire’s website. The Prairie Fire episode is produced by WILL and Illinois Public Media; it can also be viewed on YouTube.