The Road to Bent But Not Broken presents:
The Sound of What's Next: Building the Future of Black Music

What do we need to build around emerging talent for the next generation of Black musicians to truly thrive?

We’ll explore questions surrounding education, mentorship, access, Black musical aesthetics, institutional responsibility, leadership, career pathways, and what today's emerging musicians need from those of us already working within the field.

Free Registration

Monday, October 19th

7:00 PM ET

Presenters: Dr. Loneka Wilkinson Battiste, Jasmine Fripp, Dr. Arreon Harley-Emerson

Dr. Loneka Wilkinson Battiste is an international scholar with over 20 years of experience teaching music in school and community settings. She is Associate Professor of Music Education at the University of Houston and serves as Director of Music and Arts at First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston. Dr. Battiste frequently presents nationally and internationally on various topics in music education. Her work has been published in the Choral Journal; Journal of Historical Research in Music Education; Journal of General Music Education; General Music; Dimensions of Practice; Action, Theory, and Criticism, and Theory for Music Education; and Toward Equity in Music Teacher Education: Ideas for Practice in Music Teacher Education, with several other publications forthcoming. A former member of the Moses Hogan Chorale and the Moses Hogan Singers, her scholarly interests include culturally responsive teaching and the Black musical aesthetic.

Jasmine Fripp is a Grammy-nominated music educator and the Director of Choral Activities at Tennessee State University, where she leads the University Choir, the Meistersingers, and the newly reinstated TSU Showstoppers Showchoir. She is also the founder of The Passionate Black Educator, a platform that empowers music educators and advocates for holistic, culturally responsive education for Black and Brown students. With nearly a decade of experience in public and charter schools, Fripp has developed award-winning choral programs known for excellence and cultural relevance. Her students have performed at Bridgestone Arena, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Nashville Schermerhorn Symphony Center, and have shared the stage with The Clark Sisters, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, and Tiera Kennedy. Fripp and her students have also provided background vocals for country artist Levi Hummon. A sought-after clinician and speaker, Fripp is celebrated for blending choral music, Hip Hop, and innovative pedagogy. She is a recording artist, songwriter, and member of The W. Crimm Singers, and holds degrees from Winthrop and Belmont Universities.

A conductor, composer, nonprofit strategist, and equity coach, Dr. Arreon A. Harley-Emerson is an Assistant Teaching Professor of Choral Music at the Pennsylvania State University, where he serves as director of Essence of Joy, an ensemble committed to music of the Black Diaspora and teaches courses in conducting, choral music, and music education. He also serves as the Artistic Director of Elevate Vocal Arts and President and CEO of Equity Sings, a consultancy that supports performing arts organizations with their inclusion. Harley-Emerson's work includes longitudinal studies, strategic planning, board governance, resource and asset development, and board diversification. Dr. Harley-Emerson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance (Voice) and Music Theory and Composition from Goucher College, a Master of Music in Choral Conducting and Vocal Performance from the University of Delaware School of Music, and a Ph.D. in Music Education with a cognate in Choral Conducting from the Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University, where he also completed a graduate certificate in Diversity in Higher Education.

Free Registration

Monday, November 9th

7:00 PM ET

Please note that no recording of this webinar will be made public in order to protect the intellectual property of our presenters. Those wishing to join us must attend synchronously.