Willard Memorial Chapel, Auburn, NY — On February 12, 2012, the Syracuse Chapter of the Gospel Music Workshop of America (SGMWA), under the direction of Dr. Joan R. Hillsman, will present an afternoon concert of inspired African music and negro spirituals to honor and celebrate the Life of Harriet Tubman. This concert will take place from 3 PM to 4 PM at the historic Willard Memorial Chapel in Auburn, NY, with admission of $10 per person. The concert will result in a DVD and CD, produced by TV America and Joe Debottis.
Co-sponsored by the Harriet Tubman Boosters Club of Auburn, NY, this event will feature music composed and directed by Dr. Hillsman, and performed by members of the Syracuse Chapter of the Gospel Music Workshop of America. Their presentation will follow a narrative timeline of Harriet Tubmanʼs life from slavery in the south to freedom in the north.
“It is an honor to have been chosen to spearhead such an event. I had the invitation and full tour of the Harriet Tubman’s home in Auburn, visited historical sites, spending most of the day walking where she walked, and getting a visual concept of the legacy that she left for humankind. It will also afford a great opportunity to those participants in the choir as they sing spirituals, some arranged and composed, telling the story of such a great lady that we all have read about throughout history,” says Hillsman, who is also an African American Historian.
Join SGMWA in observing Black History Month with a rich collaboration of voices brought together in song to celebrate the life, struggles, and glorious triumph of American hero Harriet Tubman.
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Dr. Joan R. Hillsman and Syracuse Chapter of the Gospel Workshop of America are dedicated to reaching out to the Upstate New York Community and enhancing the quality of life via the arts.
Dr. Hillsman has over 45 years of experience as a music educator holding a Bachelor and Master of Music Education and a Ph.D. in Musicology. Her association with the Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA), and her travels have allowed her to establish an international gospel connection that includes Africa, the Bahamas, Japan and Sweden, to name a few.
The Harriet Tubman Boosters Club of Auburn, NY, has existed for nearly 60 years with a mission to keep the life’s work of American hero Harriet Tubman alive.
