Singing the African American Spirituals with Integrity
A workshop for clergy, musicians, and congregants
Sat. Nov. 22, 2025 from 2 to 5 pm at St. David's Episcopal Church
763 South Valley Forge Rd, Wayne, PA 19087
Open to all
Tickets: $20. Scholarships are available. Email [email protected].
Clinicians:
Ruth Naomi Floyd
Dr. Jay Fluellen
Carrie Lessene
Dr. Thomas Lloyd
Guest Choir:
Intermezzo Choir Ministry, Carrie Lessene, Director
This workshop is offered for church musicians, clergy, and lay people who seek to learn more about how to introduce the repertoire of the African American Spirituals to their choirs and congregations. During the first part of the workshop, the four clinicians will take turns modeling how they teach the Spirituals to their adult, youth, and children’s choirs, as well as to their congregations.
Music for these selections will be provided to attendees as part of the workshop. Special attention will be given to the historical context of the music, and the ways in which those who are not direct descendants of the enslaved people who originated the Spirituals can develop their own authentic connection to the music with respect and integrity. The afternoon will conclude with a short service of singing, prayer, and a homily.
Singing the African American Spirituals with Integrity 2024
On Sat. Oct. 5, 2024 at St. Peter’s Glenside, more than 70 attendees experienced the power of the African American Spirituals and learned how to introduce them to their choir or congregation.
Featured clinicians Dr. Jay Fluellen, Organist/Choir Director, African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, Carrie Lessene, Artistic Director, Intermezzo Choir Ministry, Jarrett Roseborough, Director, Pine Forge Academy Choir, and Dr. Thomas Lloyd, Canon for Music and the Arts, Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral, took turns modeling how they teach the Spirituals to their choirs and congregations.
Closing worship was led by The Rev. Barbara Ballenger, Rector of St. Peter’s Glenside and Co-chair of the Anti-Racism Commission, with homilist The Rev. Toneh Smyth, Canon for Mission, and featured solo performances from Soprano Jillian Patricia Pirtle, Bass Brenton Mattox, and Bass Marcus Simmons from the The Marian Anderson Historical Society Chorus.
Watch videos of the workshop:
Workshop part 1
Workshop part 2
Worship service
(Courtesy of Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral)
Recommended resources about African American Spirituals and their historical context:
The Spirituals and the Blues by James H. Cone
The Souls of Black Folk by W. E. B. Du Bois
Deep River and the Negro Spiritual Speaks of Life and Death by Howard Thurman
Photo: Clinician Jarrett Roseborough, Director, Pine Forge Academy Choir, encouraged participants to embody the music and meaning of a song by imagining working from sunup to sundown in a rock quarry as they sang the Spiritual "True Religion" arranged by Roland Carter.