Vocal Community workshop in Cape May NJ

Experience an array of African and African American musical traditions and explore the power of music to bring communities together. Join us for this unforgettable event, masterfully led by Dr. Ysaÿe Barnwell, former long-time member of the renowned musical group Sweet Honey in the Rock.

Visit the Facebook event page for links and additional information.

Chicago Oct 25-27 UU church of Evenston

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/building-a-vocal-community-dr-ysaye-m-barnwell-singing-in-the-african-american-tradition-tickets-68730277109?aff=ebdshpsearchautocomplete

One of the most energetic and beloved workshop leaders ever to come to Rowe, Ysaye will envelop you in the joy of community through the music of the African-American vocal tradition, including calls and chants, spirituals, ring shouts, hymns, gospels, songs of the Civil Rights Movement, and songs of contemporary struggle. Mostly you’ll sing, but she also will bring her deep knowledge of the African-American tradition to discussions about the songs’ historical, social, and political contexts. She will introduce you to the values embedded in the music, the role of cultural and spiritual traditions and rituals, ways in which leadership emerges and can be shared, and the nature of cultural response to political struggle.

 On Saturday and Sunday evenings, we’ll have films, discussions, impromptu performances, or sing-a-longs led by some of our guests.

  No prior musical experience is necessary; the only requirements are a willingness to sing as fully as you can and to embrace joy. 

This weekend workshop lasts an extra day and costs an additional $150. It has been added to the program cost below.

https://rowecenter.org/wp/events/ysaye-barnwell-building-a-vocal-community/

The planning committee for the Central East Region Summer Institute (formerly the OMD Summer Institute) is very pleased to announce that Dr. Ysaye Barnwell will be the theme speaker for Summer Institute 2019, July 7-13 at Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH.

The topic of her theme speaker will be Building a Vocal Community, which is an award winning workshop she has presented around the world. There is an awesome power in the human voice and when uncommon voices are blended for the common good, they become a ‘vocal community’ at its best. Masterfully led by Dr. Ysaÿe M. Barnwell, singers and non-singers alike will share the common experience of learning in the oral tradition and singing rhythms, chants, traditional songs from Africa and the Diaspora, and a variety of songs from African American culture including spirituals, ring shouts, hymns, gospels, and songs from the Civil Rights Movement. The historical, social and political context will provided as an introduction to the songs. Through out this experience, the group will explore from an African American world view, the values imbedded in the music, the role of cultural and spiritual traditions and rituals, ways in which leadership emerges and can be shared by and among community members, the nature of cultural responses to and influences on political and social struggle, and finally the significance of a shared communal experience in ones’ personal life. All that is required is a willingness to sing.

Dr. Ysaye M. Barnwell a native New Yorker now living in Washington, DC is the only child and perfect blend of her mother, a registered nurse and her father, a classical violinist. Dr. Barnwell studied violin for 15 years beginning at age 2 ½, and majored in music through high school. With this background, she went on to earn the Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Speech Pathology (SUNY, Geneseo, 1967, 1968), Doctor of Philosophy in Speech Pathology (University of Pittsburgh, 1975), and the Master of Science in Public Health (Howard University, 1981). In 1998, Dr. Barnwell was awarded the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree by her alma mater, SUNY Geneseo. She recently received the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the Meadville Lombard Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL (2009) and the Virginia Theological Seminary (2011); and in 2012, all members of Sweet Honey In the Rock, were awarded the Honorary Doctor of Letters Degree from Chicago Theological Seminary (2012).

Dr. Barnwell appears as a vocalist and/or instrumentalist on more than thirty recordings with Sweet Honey In The Rock as well as other artists. She has, for the past thirty years spent much of her time off stage working as a master teacher and choral clinician in African American cultural performance. Her workshop “Building a Vocal Community®: Singing in the African American Tradition” has during the past twenty-eight years, been conducted on three continents, making her work in the field a significant source of inspiration for both singers and non-singers, a model of pedagogy for educators, and cultural activists and historians. Dr. Barnwell has been a commissioned composer on numerous choral, film, video, dance and theatrical projects including Sesame Street, Dance Alloy of Pittsburgh, David Rousseve’s Reality Dance Company, The New Spirituals Project, GALA Festival Choruses, MUSE: Cincinnati’s Women’s Chorus, The Steel Festival: Art of an Industry (Bethlehem, PA), The King’s Singers in England.

Four axioms have proven significant in Barnwell’s life. To whom much is given, much is required. As one door closes, another door opens. Everything matters. Say Yes!

Event Website: http://www.cerguua.org/bettertogether/2018/11/05/ysaye-barnwell-2019-summer-institute-theme-speaker/

More info to be announced in April 2019.

Festival Website here: WEBSITE: https://www.denmarkfestivalofvoice.com.au/

Ysaye Barnwell narrating Benjamin Britten Noye's Fludde.

Berklee College of Music Artist Residence Mon, Apr 22, 23, 24, 25th 

Not open to the public. 

Vocal Community workshop in Williamsburg on January 25-26, 2019

Experience an array of African and African American musical traditions and explore the power of music to bring communities together. Join us for this unforgettable event, masterfully led by Dr. Ysaÿe Barnwell, former long-time member of the renowned musical group Sweet Honey in the Rock and Class of 1939 Maurine Stuart Dulin Artist-in-Residence at William & Mary. All are welcome! No musical experience needed; just a willingness to raise your voice and learn. This is a fun and deeply engaging event that you won’t want to miss!

William and Mary, Virginia
W&M School of Education’s Matoaka Woods Room

Registration is now open at https://tinyurl.com/vocalcommunity2019 $30 general admission; $10 for students
Visit the Facebook event page for links and additional information or email wmsbgvocalcommunity@gmail.com

Event Website: https://events.wm.edu/event/view/100yearsofwomen/107678