Celebration of Black Music

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Westminster Choir College’s annual Celebration of Black Music festival is a vibrant celebration of African American choral traditions, featuring powerful concerts, enlightening lectures, and captivating recitals. Guests immerse themselves in a rich tapestry of music and culture as we honor the legacy and future of black choral artistry.

Westminster Choir College will host the third annual Celebration of Black Music on March 2 through 9, 2025. The celebration will feature lectures, workshops, and a concert featuring the Westminster Jubilee Singers, Westminster Symphonic Choir, and more!

Learn More about the 2025 Schedule of Events

2025 Guest Artists

“A life-changing experience!”

Thula Sizwe sings; the audience is breathless.
Thula Sizwe dances; onlookers come alive.

With songs that hail from a time when South Africa was on the world stage and peace and freedom hung in the balance, this ten-man group from Soshanguve offers American audiences an authentic snapshot of traditional Zulu culture… and a reason to hope for the future of our world.

Thula Sizwe’s Story

“Be still — listen to what the world is saying.”

Thula Sizwe was born from a love of music, a pride in culture, and a need for expression. Conceived in 1984, the group unofficially formed when Paul Ramafalo recruited Shadrack Mgiba, Alfred Letsoalo, Jonathan Mabuya, and Nicholas Lenkwati in efforts to assemble a singing group. Amid the oppressive policies of Apartheid, a state of emergency declared by the White minority government prohibited Black South Africans from gathering; singing in public was strictly prohibited. Police and soldiers were placed in schools to enforce the law. However, Paul and his friends appealed to the school principal, and together they convinced the police and military to allow them to sing for no more than 30 minutes after school each day.

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When Apartheid ended and Nelson Mandela became president in 1994, Thula Sizwe was called upon by the government to be cultural ambassadors for the “new” South Africa — the “Rainbow Nation,” as Desmund Tutu called it. The group has traveled to many countries around the world sharing Zulu culture and promoting goodwill and peace. While performers have come and gone over the years, several of the founding members continue to sing with the group today, and Abel still serves as the group’s leader.

Performance History Highlights

• 1992: Ceremony to welcome home Nelson Mandela, following his release from prison
• 1992: Worked with Paul Simon during his Graceland tour in Johannesburg
• 1993: Requiem at the funeral of Chris Hani, a South African freedom fighter
• 1994: Concert in Libreville, Gabon at the invitation of the South African Embassy
• 1994: Inauguration of President Nelson Mandela
• 1997: Concert for L’Association Dionysienne de Promotion Economique, France
• 2001: South Africa Television programs, Noot vir Noot and Draadloos
• 2001: South Africa Airlines tourism video, “No Place Like Home!”
• 2007: Zebra! A Brief Musical History of South Africa – concert with the Mixed Flock
• 2008: World AIDS Day commemoration by Johnson & Johnson, USA

Concert Tours

• USA (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012)
• Australia (2006)
• Ghana (1994, 1996)
• Belgium (2003)
• Central African Republic (1996)
• China (1998)
• Congo (1996)
• Germany (2005)
• Great Britain (2002, 2003)
• Hungary (2000)
• Israel (1997)
• Jordan & Palestine (1997)
• The Netherlands (1998, 2003)
• New Zealand (2000)
• Russia (1998)
• Thailand (1998)
• Turkey (1998)

Performance Excerpts

“The power of the choral art is its ability to communicate relevant, transformative, and meaningful texts while cultivating a diverse musical community. Particularly significant is the exploration of various cultures and musical genres through the performance process. As a choral music educator, ensuring that students embrace a philosophy of diversity, equity, and access is essential. I strive to foster an environment of creativity that will empower students to become master conductor-teachers, skilled in choral pedagogy, and effective as instructors with any level of vocal ensemble."

Previous to her appointment at Yale, Dr. Barber served as associate professor of music and director of choral activities at Westfield State University (WSU) in Westfield, MA, where she conducted the University Chorus, Chamber Chorale, and Gospel Choir; as well as taught courses in conducting and choral methods. In addition to her position at WSU, Dr. Barber also served as choral lecturer for the summer master’s program at Gordon College for five years.  There she taught courses in choral conducting and choral music education for the MME degree.

Dr. Barber, whose research interests include effective teaching strategies, fostering classroom diversity and incorporating equity and justice initiatives in choral curricula, and the linguistic performance practice of African American spirituals, has contributed to such periodicals as the American Choral Directors Association’s Choral Journal and is the author of A New Perspective for the Use of Dialect in African American Spirituals: History, Context, and Linguistics (Rowman & Littlefield, 2021). 

Additional projects include serving as curator and editor for the “Felicia Barber Choral Series,” a choral series with Hinshaw Music Publications to promote and amplify music of new BIPOC composers and arrangers. In addition, Dr. Barber’s poetry has recently been featured in a for a new choral project entitled Dedication (music composed by Dr. Zanaida Robles). Dr. Barber also served as the conductor for the SATB premiere at American Choral Director’s (ACDA) Eastern Division SATB High School Honor Choir; the SSAA version will be premiered March of 2025 in Dallas as part of ACDA’s National Conference with the SSAA National High School Honor Choir.

An active member of American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), she has presented her research at state, divisional, and national conferences. Dr. Barber has also served the organization on the National Diversity Committee, the Eastern Division 2020 Conference committee, and is the current president of the Massachusetts ACDA board. In addition, she is regularly engaged as a guest conductor for youth and community festivals around the country; including several All-State ensembles including Vermont, Oklahoma, California, Louisiana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Rhode Island; and she conducted the ACDA Eastern Division Conference in 2024. 

Dr. Barber earned a B.M. in vocal performance from Oral Roberts University, in Tulsa, OK, a M.M. in Choral Music Education from Mansfield University, in Mansfield, PA, and a Ph.D. in music education and choral conducting from The Florida State University.

She held positions as Adjunct Associate Professor of Voice at Westminster Choir College of Rider University and Lecturer of Voice at Princeton University. She has sung extensively in the U.S.A. and internationally in both concert and opera. She made her New York City Opera debut in Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, and her Carnegie Hall debut in Bach’s Cantata 140, under the baton of the late Joseph Flummerfelt.

Active in community outreach in music, Dr. Ellis teaches in the summer Westminster Conservatory High School Vocal Institute and in the Solo Vocal Artist Camp. Dr. Ellis has served as Teaching Artist for The Princeton Festival Guild and has served as Music Director and Solo/Small Ensemble Director for the Trenton Children’s Chorus.

The St. Louis native received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Voice from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. She received her Master of Music Education degree from Westminster Choir College of Rider University and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music.

Performance Highlights

• New York City Opera – Porgy and Bess “Serena”
• Rutgers Opera Theatre – Falstaff “Alice Ford”
• National Opera of China – Verdi Requiem
• Carnegie Hall debut – Schubert Mass in GHouston Symphony – Beethoven Symphony No. 9

Recognition and Rewards

• Former Governor of the New Jersey District, National Association of Teachers of Singing [NATS]
• Currently member of the Board of Directors for the New York Singing Teachers Association [NYSTA]
• Teaching Artist for The Princeton Festival Guild opera outreach program
• Vocal Consultant and Acting Conductor of the high school touring choir, Chorale, with Trenton Children’s Chorus

The New York Times described Nathaniel’s playing in their review of his recording with bass-baritone Dashon Burton, as “mature, lyrical, accurate and energetic,” and that his performance was presented “deftly and with feeling.”

Dr. Gumbs currently serves as Director of Chapel Music at Yale University where he works with students, faculty, and guests to coordinate music for three worshiping communities: the University Church in Battell Chapel, and at Yale Divinity School in both Marquand Chapel and at Berkeley Divinity School. He earned his undergraduate degree from Shenandoah Conservatory in Virginia, his Master of Music degree from Yale University, and his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Eastman School of Music. Nathaniel’s principal teachers include Steven Cooksey, David Higgs, and Martin Jean.

Prior to his position at Yale, Dr. Gumbs served as Director of Music and Arts and Church Organist at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC, where he led several hundred volunteer musicians and staff in four choirs and other ensembles. Nathaniel currently serves as the Interim Minister of Music and Fine Arts at the historic Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, NY.

She has an impressive catalogue of works published by some of the nation’s leading publishers, including the Hal Leonard Corporation, the Fred Bock Music Companies, Gentry Publications, Oxford University Press, Alliance Music Publications, and Shawnee Press.

Dr. Powell’s works have been conducted and premiered by nationally and internationally renowned conductors and have been premiered at distinguished halls around the country, including Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center, and Spivey Hall, to name a few. Dr. Powell’s works have been commissioned by professional choral ensembles, including Cantus and the Grammy award-winning men’s vocal ensemble Chanticleer.  Dr. Powell is commissioned yearly to compose for university choruses, professional, community and church choirs, as well as secondary school choruses. Her work has been auctioned by Chorus America and her compositions are in great demand at choral festivals around the country, frequently appearing on the regional and national conventions of the American Choral Directors Association, as well as Honor Choir festivals. Dr. Powell’s compositions include sacred and secular works for mixed chorus, women’s chorus, men’s chorus, and children’s voices.

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This program is made possible, in part, by the Mercer County Cultural and Heritage Commission through funding from the Mercer County Board of Commissioners, and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment of the Arts.

Support has been provided by the David D. Dubois Endowment for Organ Scholars, The Christian Leadership Endowment, The Emerson C. and M. May Frey Endowment, The Elsie Hilliard Hillman Endowed Fellowship and Lectureship Fund, and the Hope Publishing Company Church Music Lectureship Fund.