By: Patrick Hall
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark (UATV)-The University of Arkansas is now the only place in the United States with a Black Sacred Music Degree option.
The Arkansas Center for Black Music was a gift from the Alice L. Walton Foundation that is helping the school assemble and employ the best teachers for this new center. This includes Grammy Award-winning educator Jeffrey Allen Murdock. Murdock currently holds the positions of director of choral activities and an associate professor of music here at the U of A.
Murdock says, “I’m thrilled and appreciative of the Alice L. Walton Foundation for helping us amplify this and to celebrate the study of this musical tradition through the new degree and ensure its future through the activities of the new center.” The gift from the Walton Foundation included more than an $848,000 promise for startup costs for the center.
The center is slated to host multiple different events including the annual Black Music Symposium, UARK Jazz Festival, the Jazz Signature Series, and performances from the Inspirational Chorale at the U of A.
Jake Hertzog, the assistant professor of music says, “The Arkansas Center for Black Music will tremendously elevate our department’s profile, especially for our jazz program.
To go along with the Center for Black Music, the university will offer a three-year Master of Music in Black Sacred Music. This will be the only institution in the SEC that offers this Master program and will only be offered in the summer. The degree program will offer scholarships for students as they work towards a multitude of different careers in the field.