The Sounding Spirit Singing School will be held on April 4 and 5, 2025, at the Pitts Theology Library at Emory University. A celebration of the Sounding Spirit Digital Library, the Singing School will feature volumes from this groundbreaking collection of over 1,250 volumes of southern sacred vernacular song published between 1850 and 1925. The convening takes inspiration from its namesake, the singing school. Since the eighteenth century, singing schools have served communities and congregations exploring music pedagogy and practice independent of mainstream educational contexts. Often taught by a visiting instructor, singing schools teach people how to sing together while also serving as important social events for wide-ranging communities. The Sounding Spirit Singing School embraces these historical legacies and invites singers, scholars, and practitioners to learn and sing sacred music together.
The following schedule for the Spring 2025 Sounding Spirit Singing School includes workshops, community singing sessions, scholarly roundtables, and food and fellowship in the spirit of the “dinner on the grounds” tradition. Local singers, worshippers, practitioners, and scholars are welcome at all singing school sessions and evening singings listed in the Public Events section below. Additional workshops and sessions are closed to the public and listed in the full schedule. We hope to see you at one of our public-facing events in April!
Public Events
Register to attend these free Sounding Spirit Singing School public events »
Four-Shape Singing School with David Ivey
4:00–5:30 pm, Friday, April 4, 2025, Wesley Teaching Chapel
Candler School of Theology
Rita Ann Rollins Building, Room 264, 1531 Dickey Dr., Atlanta GA 30322
Singing School Teacher: David Ivey (Sacred Harp Musical Heritage Association)
Shape-note music uses shaped note heads to convey pitch. During their heyday in the nineteenth century, several shape note systems were in competition across the US South. Largely eclipsed by 1900, four-shape notation remains in use at Sacred Harp singings across the country and globe. In this public session, learn how to sing four-shape music and experience historic four-shape repertoire with singing school teacher and President of the Sacred Harp Musical Heritage Association, David Ivey, of Huntsville, Alabama.
“New Book” Gospel Singing with Tom Powell and Tracey Phillips
7:30–9:00 pm, Friday, April 4, 2025, Performing Arts Studio
Department of Music
Burlington Road Building, 1804 N. Decatur Rd., Atlanta, GA 30322
Song Leader: Tom Powell (Alabama School of Gospel Music)
Pianist: Tracey Phillips
“New book” gospel conventions became popular in the early twentieth century as community events where seven-shape gospel publishers introduced their latest music books. In this public session, we’ll be singing from “old” “new books” featured in the Sounding Spirit Digital Library and contemporary seven-shape gospel publications. Tom Powell, Director of Instruction at the Alabama School of Gospel Music will be leading with renowned gospel pianist Tracey Phillips. Tracey has taught and accompanied for many years at Ben Speer’s Stamps Baxter School of Music and the Alabama School of Gospel Music.
Choral Arrangement Singing School with Derrick Fox
11:00 am–12:30 pm, Saturday, April 5, 2025, Cannon Chapel
Candler School of Theology
Cannon Chapel, 515 South Kilgo Cir. NE, Atlanta, GA 30322
Singing School Teacher: Derrick Fox (Michigan State University)
Choral arrangements of nineteenth- and twentieth-century southern sacred vernacular music have long exposed enthusiastic audiences to materials otherwise largely exclusive to worship settings. In this singing school, sample from “ethical arrangements” of music included in the Sounding Spirit Digital Library. Professor of Choral Music and Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Creative Endeavors at Michigan State University, Derrick Fox will lead this session.
Full Schedule: Friday, April 4, 2025
8:30–9:00 am
Morning Coffee (ECDS)
9:00–11:30 am
Metadata Workshop (ECDS)
Dialog partners: Lauren Klein (Emory University), Diana Folsom (Gilcrease Museum; member, Choctaw Nation), Rachel Hall (St. Joseph University), Jesse P. Karlsberg (Emory University), Em Nordling (Emory University), Lucy Wallitsch (Emory University), Erin Fulton (University of Kentucky), and Henry Gao (Emory University)
12:00–1:30 pm
Buffet Lunch and Fellowship (Pitts)
Words of welcome from Valeda Dent (Emory University), Bo Adams (Emory University), and the Sounding Spirit Collaborative
2:00–3:30 pm
Prelude Conversation (Pitts Conference Room)
Respondent: Monique Ingalls (Baylor University)
Participants: Chase Castle (University of Delaware), Donté Ford (Wheaton College), Erin Fulton (University of Kentucky), Esther Morgan-Ellis (University of North Georgia).
3:30–4:00 pm
Afternoon Coffee (Pitts Conference Room)
4:00–5:30 pm
Four-Shape Singing School (Wesley Teaching Chapel)
Singing School Teacher: David Ivey (Sacred Harp Musical Heritage Association)
5:30–7:30 pm
Dinner on your own (Atlanta)
7:30–9:00 pm
“New Book” Singing (Performing Arts Studio)
Song Leader: Tom Powell (Alabama School of Gospel Music)
Pianist: Tracey Phillips
Full Schedule: Saturday, April 5, 2025
8:00–8:30 am
Morning Coffee (ECDS)
8:30–10:30 am
Technical Workshop (ECDS)
Dialog partners: Kay-Michael Würzner (State and University Library Dresden) and Sara Palmer (Emory University), and Jesse P. Karlsberg (Emory University)
or
Exhibition Tour (Pitts Theology Library Gallery)
11:00 am–12:30 pm
Choral Singing School (Cannon Chapel)
Singing School Teacher: Derrick Fox (Michigan State University)
12:30–2:00 pm
Buffet Lunch and Fellowship (Pitts)
Keynote Address: Derrick Fox
2:00–3:30 pm
Prelude Conversation (Pitts Conference Room)
Respondent: Doug Harrison (New York University)
Participants: Hannah Denecke (independent scholar), Jesse P. Karlsberg (Emory University), Joanna Smolko (University of Georgia), Jon Snyder (Baylor University)
3:30–5:00 pm
Afternoon Coffee and Closing Reception (Pitts Conference Room)
6:00–8:00 pm
Dinner and Social (More details to follow)
