Faith-Based News & Information Spiritual Music Scene

Upcoming January Community Activities

• by Dr. Joan Hillsman
• January 22, 2017

Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration sponsored by Syracuse University: Community Activity at Nottingham School, Syracuse, NY, Saturday, January 29, 2017. Beginning at 12 Noon and ending at 4PM, student performances, educational materials, exhibits, handouts and information.  The MLK celebration culminates: Sunday, January 29, 2017, Annual Celebration in the Carrier Dome This has been an outstanding, on-going event over the years.  Don’t miss this outstanding occasion. (Tickets available through Syracuse University. The World Interfaith Harmony Assembly will take place on Monday, February6 at University United Methodist Church 6:30 PM-9 PM.  All are invited.  Interfaith Works of Central New York through education, service and dialogue affirms the dignity of each person and every faith community and works to create relationships and understanding among us. Dr. Hillsman & Syracuse Chapter will lead the congregation in her original song, entitled “Harmony” (We Can Live In Harmony). For further information, contact Daryl Files, Volunteer & Donor Relations Coordinator at 315-449-3552.    

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Washington D.C.’s“A Day On- Not A Day Off” Ceremony, Inspires Tucker Missionary Baptist in Syracuse

• by Dr. Joan Hillsman
• January 22, 2017

For the 36th Year, Dr. Joan Hillsman has rendered outstanding services in the Washington, D.C. area, making sure that the community, especially Essential Workers (those who may not have the day off, such as firemen, nurses, and other) could come to celebrate the dream and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Departing on a 6 o’clock flight on Dr. King’s Holiday, arrived at the King monument for the Wreath Laying Ceremony, and then headed off to New Southern Rock Baptist Church (DC) for the noon Annual King Program and celebration. The program consisted of poetry, dance, spoken word, and music. This concept has inspired the Tucker Missionary Baptist Church, Syracuse, New York (Eric Dickson, Program Chair, and their newly appointed Pastor, DeCarto Draper),  to host a similar program simultaneously as Washington, D.C. “Let us all strive to keep the dream alive”, stated Dr. Hillsman who came to Howard University in 1960 and served the community diligently, receiving many honors for her work in the field of Music Education.

Faith-Based News & Information Spiritual Music Scene

Community “Prayer and Praise” Service

• by Dr. Joan Hillsman
• January 22, 2017

The Syracuse Chapter of the Gospel Called out for the community to come together in “Prayer and Praise”, on January 14, 2017.  The host church was God’s Way Church of Jesus, Pastor V. Curry. The community turned out at 4PM with enthusiastic and inspiring prayers for the youth, community leaders, World leaders, seniors and all. Many gave expressive prayers from their hearts, asking for God’s guidance and protection as we forge through difficult days and issues ahead. As we go into the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., prominent Civil Rights Leader, and the changing of administration, we must continue to pray without ceasing, stated one prayer warrior. Prayers and tributes went out for the outgoing President Barrack Obama.

Faith-Based News & Information Spiritual Music Scene

Recognizing the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

• by Urban CNY News
• January 4, 2017

A Salute to Music Educator and Artist Dr. Joan Rucker Hillsman “It’s a Day On – Not a Day Off”!  said Dr. Joan Rucker Hillsman to one of her music classes in the 70’s. Even before the bill was ever passed that the great Civil Rights Leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s day would become a national holiday, Joan, as many called her was “working on his dream”, said Danny Queen, renowned poet. Doc, as she is affectionately known, has inspired generations, helping them to live out and pursue their talents and dreams.  Her passion for helping others with her sometimes “laid back” persona, has the tendency of making others feeling comfortable around her. The “Day on-Not a Day Off concept” was embraced, as she walked into her classroom, and the students were literally jubilant, rejoicing and in high spirits.  When she inquired as to what was going on, one student said, “Dr. King’s day will be a holiday and we will have the DAY OFF”. That became a teaching point for her, as she is known for doing.  Her reply was, “It’s not a Day off-but should be a Day On”- a day to “Work on His” dream by embracing his principles and all that he stood for. “Well, today, my lesson plan has changed. Take out your journals and write why you think Dr. King should be honored for his works.”  This project became a school project expanded curricula and disciplines.  Essay contests, songs, paintings and signs going up in the building slogans saying, “We are Working on the Dream..Are you”? This year, 2017, marks the 36th year for Dr. Joan Hillsman, along with others at New Southern Rock Baptist Church, Washington, D. C., (Rev. Rudolph White, Senior Pastor) who has spearheaded the activity, “A Day On”. It started when she was Minister of Music in D.C., under her leadership, with approximately eight people who decided that on Dr. King’s holiday, with essential workers (nurses, firemen, and policemen, etc.) that they would have a lunch hour showing clips of Dr. King’s life on the screen as they stopped by around 12 Noon for the opportunity to celebrate the dreamer. The community suddenly embraced the idea and wanted to come as well. The rest is history! Ever since that time the celebration, has expanded to become an Annual Dr. King Day event on his Birthday. The event has now grown from an audience of 8 to-approximately 200 strong, which includes music, poetry, tributes, dance and a wide variety of community participants. All proceeds from the program were sent to The MLK Center for Social Change Atlanta, Georgia. Since the establishment of the King Memorial at the Monument, the proceeds from this program supports those efforts. Dr. Hillsman relocated to Syracuse, NY. She is the proud mother of the Head Women’s Basketball, Coach Quentin Hillsman. “She has not skipped a beat”, as far as supporting the community projects and the arts in Syracuse, as one of her supporters stated. She flies in to Washington, D. C. on a 6 AM flight, enroute to the King Monument on the Mall, and then to the Annual Ceremony. But wait, prior to the time of the King Celebration there, she goes to Atlanta, Georgia (Late Husband’s Home town) to pick up materials and mementos from the renowned Ebernezer Church, to be distributed to schools and community organizations.  This is to motivate them to “Work on their Dreams”. Dr. Hillsman volunteers for many organizations and partnerships in the Syracuse area, including the Annual Syracuse University’s Dr. King Celebration, Harriet Tubman, Community Folk Art Center, and The Gospel Music Workshop of America. Tucker Missionary Baptist Church, Syracuse, NY has now embraced-The Day On-Not a Day Off Ceremony.

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Gospel Heritage Month Celebration at Community Folk Art Center Applauded September 22nd

• by Dr. Joan Hillsman
• October 1, 2016

The Community Folk Art Center (CFAC) in Syracuse filled the house with jubilation on Thursday night, September 22nd.  Gospel Music Heritage Month was spearheaded by Alvin Williams in 2007. Gospel Music Heritage Month (GMHM) in the United States was established in June 2008, by dual legislation passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate designated September as Gospel Music Heritage Month.  The mission is to educate and celebrate the art form and rich heritage of all genres of gospel music through word and song.  Dr. Joan Hillsman, noted historian and music educator, expounded on the importance of spreading the word of this great accomplishment, honoring this genre of music along with others in our culture. Tamara Smithers, Director of Education, CFAC, organized this event. This is the second year it has kicked- off CFAC’s  the series, “Journey Through Music of the African Diaspora”. For a schedule of future events please visit WWW.communityfolkartcenter.org. The participants were Dr. Joan Hillsman and the Syracuse Chapter of The Gospel Music Workshop of America (SGMWA), Jamel Jett, Soloist Tamara Smithers, The Black Celestial Ensemble of Syracuse University, and Syracuse community musicians, accompany the celebration .  This is slated to be an on-going event.  Therefore, spread the word for participants to be involved in the coming year.  

Faith-Based News & Information Spiritual Music Scene

Dr. Hillsman’s Book, “Gospel Music: An African American Art Form”

• by Dr. Joan Hillsman
• August 21, 2016

This book is designed for the general reader of gospel music, as well as those who incorporate gospel into their lesson plans on the academic level. “Gospel Music: An African American Art Form” provides music information on the heritage of gospel from its African roots, Negro spirituals, traditional and contemporary gospel music trends. The mission and purpose of this book is to provide a framework of study of gospel music, which is in the mainstream of other music genres. There are 8 detailed sections, appendices and resources on gospel music which include African Roots and Characteristics and history, Negro Spirituals, Black Congregational Singing, Gospel history and Movement, Gripping effects: Cross Over Artists, Youth in Gospel, and Gospel Music in the Academic Curriculum with lesson plans. There is a wealth of knowledge on the cultural heritage of “Gospel Music As An Art Form.” Joan Rucker-Hillsman, a native of Anderson, South Carolina, received a Bachelor of Music Education and Masters of Music Education degrees from Howard University, matriculated at Catholic University of America in the Doctor of Music Arts program, and received a Ph.D in Musicology from The Union Institute & University, Cincinnati, Ohio. Her Doctoral Dissertation was on “Sequential Instructions for Administering Gospel Music in an Academic Setting”. Dr. Hillsman is a lecturer, performer, composer and a well-known Church Music Consultant with international recognition. She is also an author of several books, including the second edition of this revised compilation, “Gospel Music: An African American Art Form”, McGraw Hill Publisher. She is on the National Board of Directors of the James Cleveland Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA), served in the Academic Division as S Scholarship Chairperson, and currently chairs the National Collegiate Night: “Gospel Goes to College”, a program which was proposed and established by her. She has worked on the college/university level serving on Doctoral committees for several institutions of higher education. She worked on a project, “African American Music Concepts” at Harvard University with the late renowned professor, Eileen Southern. Dr. Hillsman retired as Supervising Director of Music for all of the D. C. Public Schools (1996), and was appointed Professor of Music and Director of the Bowie State University Gospel Choir. She has served in several capacities of Music Ministry, as a consultant and Minister of Music. Her travels have taken her to London, Paris, Spain, Alex Haley’s Village (Jufuru in Senegar-The Gambia), Sweden and many other places. Her community services are too numerous to mention. However, she holds the “Key to the City of Detroit”, Michigan (presented by the late Mayor Coleman Young), listed in several Marquis Directories, “Who’s Who in Education, Who’s Who in the World”, to name a few of its entries. In Washington, D.C. she received a “Neighborhood Grant”, which resulted in Joan Hillsman’s Day in the Nation’s Capital, awarded by former Mayor Marion Barry, and received accolades for forming the “D.C.’s First Gospel Homeless Choir”. She is a member of Phi Delta Kappa, Gamma Sigma Sigma, Sigma Alpha Iota, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She served as co-chair for the First National Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Conductor’s Summit at the John F. Kennedy Center in 2008 under Toni Roy, Project Director. Dr. Hillsman is a member of MENC, Music Education National Conference, currently renamed National Association for Music Education (NAFME), headquartered in Reston, Virginia. Dr. Hillsman relocated to Syracuse, New York in 2010 and continued her advocacy for the arts and community volunteering. She worked on the “Say Yes to Education” program served as clinician for its Summer Institute, serves on the Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Program, Hendricks Chapel Annual Concerts, works on Harriet Tubman Projects, served on Mayor Stephanie Miner’s Arts Transitional Team, and her Women’s Commission. She is currently the CEO of Joan Hillsman’s Music Network, Inc. (JHMN). She has one son, Quentin Hillsman, Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Syracuse University. Contributors Author Dr. Joan Rucker-Hillsman Foreword Dr. James Boyer for the late Dr. Horace Boyer Editor Dominique Lloyd