Black Gospel Symposia

Baylor University is proudly presents the 2022 Pruit Memorial Symposium Go Tell It on the Mountain: Perspectives on Black Preaching, Theology, and Gospel Music featuring virtual presentations by The Rev. Dr. Lisa Weaver, The Rev. Dr. Carol Tomlin, and Dr. Dulcie Dixon McKenzie.

The 2020 Pruit Memorial Symposium featured Grammy Award winner and professor of music at Middle Tennessee State University, Dr. Cedric Dent. On February 4, Dent offered a public presentation and headlined a gospel sing on theme "Gospel Music in Word and Song."

The 2019 Pruit Symposium, “Lord Make Me An Instrument: Black Sacred Music at the Intersection of Gospel and Jazz,” was held on February 7 and celebrated the heritage of Black Sacred Music with an inspiring keynote presentation and gospel sing featuring Dr. Melvin Butler, associate professor of musicology at the University of Miami.

In 2018, Dr. Tammy Kernodle presented "She Sang Freedom" on February 8. Kernodle offered a one-of-a-kind performance that traced the history of equality and social justice through the stories and music of Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Mavis Staples and Roberta Flack.

The 2017 Pruit Symposium, "Singing the Sermon: When the Message and the Music Matter," was held October 5-6 and celebrated the heritage of Black Gospel Music with two inspiring keynote presentations by music and religion specialist Melvin Butler, associate professor of musicology at the University of Miami, and accomplished composer and worship leader, Stephen Newby, associate professor of music at Seattle Pacific University.

In September 2016, the Baylor School of Music, the Pruit Memorial Symposium, and the Baylor University Libraries welcomed Dr. Guthrie P. Ramsey, Jr., as scholar-in-residence on September 26-27 for two public presentations.

The 2015-2016 Pruit Symposium held February 25-16, 2016, featured “Lift Every Voice and Sing” with two inspiring public programs by The Rev. Dr. Emmett G. Price III, a leading expert on African American music, culture and worship.

The 2014 "Marching to Zion" symposium features Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, Civil Rights Movement leader; Dr. James Abbington, renowned composer, conductor and professor of church music; Dr. Dwandalyn Reese, Curator of Music and Performing Arts at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture; and other experts on black sacred music and culture.

Black sacred music lives at the intersection of theology, worship and social practice. This year's symposium offers a brief program inspired by the Black Gospel Music Restoration Project at Baylor University and the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. This first installment of "Marching to Zion" anticipates a larger, nationally focused conference to be held in 2014.