MLK Event: Break Outs
Rev. David St. Clair leads a break out group at the 2011 MLK event.
Various Locations Monday, January 16, 11:30am
Following the keynote address from Derrick Ashong, several small breakout discussions will take place. The theme for this year’s breakout sessions is "On A Different Note," and presenters for each group will discuss the specific role different genres of music have played on black history. These one-hour conversations will begin at 11:30 a.m. at various locations around campus.
This year's groups include:
“Soon ah Will Be Done” - Hope and Freedom in The Midst of Oppression and Slavery - Byars Hall 121; hosted by Steve Jennings
African Roots of the Banjo and Fiddle in Virginia and Beyond -BOV, Van Dyke Hall;hosted by CeCe Conway and James Leva
Same Tune, Different Beat - Byars Choir Room (108), hosted by Jerry Jones
"Preach it, brother!" -- the Melody and Rhythm in African American Preaching Styles - Calliopean Room, Byars Hall; hosted by Dwayne Mabry.
“Soon ah Will Be Done” - Hope and Freedom in The Midst of Oppression and Slavery - Byars Hall 121; hosted by Steve Jennings
Dr. Jennings will present the history of Negro Spirituals. He will also discuss and demonstrate authentic interpretive performance practice of this genre of music that became popular in the late 1800’s an expression of Christian hope among the slaves.
Dr. Jennings was born in Newport News, Virginia, where he attended the area public schools, graduating from Menchville High School in 1975. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education 1980, his Master of Music Education in 1987, and his DMA in Music Education in 2004, with a special focus on Negro Spirituals. He did post-graduate work in Special Education at George Mason University and taught special education in the Winchester/Frederick County area, in both private and public schools for ten years. Dr. Jennings is a member of the Virginia Music Educators Association and for the last four years has been one of the registrars for the VMEA conference in November. He is also a member of the Music Educators National Conference and the American Choral Director’s Association. Dr. Jennings is married to his college sweetheart and has two daughters, ages 22 and 12. His daughter, AhnnaLise Jennings, is a Senior at Emory & Henry. This is Dr. Jennings' third year with us at our MLK Day celebration.
African Roots of the Banjo and Fiddle in Virginia and Beyond -BOV, Van Dyke Hall;hosted by CeCe Conway and James Leva
The banjo is heard around the world from Emory, VA to Japan. But few listeners know the gourd banjo arrived in Virginia in 1740 from West Africa. Images, sound and video will document this history and live music will bring it to life.
James Leva is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter whose music is deeply rooted in Appalachian tradition. He learned much of his fiddle, banjo and vocal repertoire from great traditional masters such as Tommy Jarrell and Doug Wallin. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s he performed with seminal traditionally focused groups that were exploring the boundaries of Appalachian music. He is currently playing with Purgatory Mountain and has taught at several music camps throughout the U.S.
In 1995 James won a grant from National Endowment for the Humanities for the production of his original play “Visitations” which was performed at Lime Kiln Arts in Lexington, Virginia.
Cece Conway is a professor of folklore at Appalachian State University. She is the author of "African Banjo Echoes in Appalachia" and received her PhD. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has been a fellow at the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and a fellow in residence at the International Center for Jefferson Studies, Monticello. Most recently she has served as the Project Director for the National Endowment for the Arts grant supporting the Black Banjo Gathering Reunion in Boone, North Carolina, which most notably spawned the formation of the Grammy-winning group, The Carolina Chocolate Drops. She is also co-maker of the Smithsonian Folkways: Black Banjo Songsters of NC & VA CD, funded by NEA and VFH. She is currently working on the African Roots of Old Time Music Video, funded by NEA and others.
Same Tune, Different Beat - Byars Choir Room (018), hosted by Jerry Jones
Dr. Jones will share his musical gifts and personal history as a Gospel soul in a Methodist setting by demonstrating how Gospel flavor has been – and still is today – added to traditional hymns to create a unique musical setting in which to worship. This interactive presentation will invite participants to use their voices and sense of adventure to experience first hand changes in Gospel in the African American music through the years.
Dr. Jones grew up in Glade Spring in the 1950s, in the home of his grandfather, who was a freed slave. He was a student at the all black Douglass High School in Bristol, VA, and attended summer school Emory & Henry as a high-school student in 1964. Jones finished his education in 1969 at Virginia State University, an historically black college in Petersburg, VA. Jones holds a BS in Business Education, an MEd in Business Education, and an EdD in Vocational-Technical Education. In 2001, he came to Emory & Henry where he was one of only two black persons on faculty. He continues to teach Computer Literacy at Emory & Henry and a freshman transitions class as a non-tenured, full-time professor at Emory & Henry. Dr. Jones is thrilled about his latest book published in September 2011 about growing up in segregated, southwest VA in the 50’s 60’s. It is titled “Go and Come Again.”
Dr. Jones has been providing music to area churches since age 10. He has no formal training, but plays by ear. Hum a melody and he can elaborate on the tune for the next hour. He heard music at church and replicated it using the few keys his toy piano. When Jerry was 10 years old, his mother was able to purchase a used piano, on which Jones taught himself using a mail order piano lesson kit. He used this method to play for their junior choir and they sang together until they graduated high school, traveling as far as Norton, Wythe county and Tennessee. Jones is grateful to the elders in his church who, despite being somewhat conservative, allowed the group to explore its gospel soul.
"Preach it, brother!" -- The Melody and Rhythm in African American Preaching Styles - Calliopean Room, Byars Hall; hosted by Dwayne Mabry
Rev. Mabry will discuss the development of preaching in the black church tradition and how its cadence and passion continue to help people’s hearts and minds be more open to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit during worship services.
Dwayne Mabry grew up in Lebanon, Virginia. He holds a BA degree in Business Administration from Berea College and a Master of Divinity from Lexington Theological Seminary. He has been preaching for over twenty years. Currently, he is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Chilhowie, Virginia.
Complete Schedule of MLK Day Related Events:
Saturday, Jan. 14
» Day of Service – Second Annual Souper Bowl Food Drive benefiting Feeding America Southwest Virginia. Food bins will be placed in the Van Dyke Center, Martin-Brock Student Center, King Center, Wiley Hall, McGlothlin-Street Hall, Kelly Library and the Memorial Chapel.
Sunday, Jan. 15
» Concert: One Song, Many Voices - 7:30 p.m., Memorial Chapel.
Monday, Jan. 16
» Keynote Address: "The voices and Dreams of a New Generation " Derick N. Ashong - 10 a.m. Memorial Chapel
» MLK Morning Breakout Events - 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., various locations.
» Celebration Lunch - 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m., Van Dyke Hall
» MLK Event Breakout Session with Derrick Ashong - 2 p.m. - 3 p.m., M-S Hall 102
» MLK Day Celebration Dinner* - 5 p.m. - 7 p.m., Van Dyke Hall
»Slam Poetry Performance – The Mayhem Poets - 7:30 p.m., Wiley Auditorium
Download schedule
For more information about events included in the 2012 Martin Luther King Day Celebration please contact Mary K. Briggs at 276-944-6836 or at mkbriggs@ehc.edu.
*An additional cost will occur for community members who wish to attend.
