Black Sacred Music Symposium Remembers Summerville

A symposium on Black Sacred Music this weekend at the University has attracted participants from across Illinois and Michigan, plus guest musicians and the university’s own Black Chorus. But for the first time, local choral director Willie T. Summerville will not be attending.

Summerville died at his home in Champaign, at the age of 72.

U of I voice Professor Ollie Watts Davis says he was going to work with the Black Chorus on music they were preparing for a Sunday night Symposium concert. Instead, this year’s Symposium is dedicated to Summerville’s memory.

"I was going to introduce him to the spring semester of Black Chorus", said Davis. "On Wednesday evening, he was going to come and work with us. And so it’s only appropriate that this 13th Black Sacred Music Symposium is dedicated to his legacy and to his memory, because he played such an instrumental part in the conference."

Davis says Willie Summerville had been a part of the Black Sacred Music Symposium since its beginnings in 1991. Davis says that Summerville, a U of I alum who directed choirs and choruses at schools and churches in Champaign-Urbana, was "a tremendous Christian gentleman."

"He was gentle and positive and encouraging", said Davis. "And you know, when he would stand before the combined choir, there was just a great respect that everyone had for him."

The combined choir of the Sacred Music Symposium will perform Sunday night at 7:30 PM at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, at a public concert that culminates the event. (Tickets are $10 through the Krannert box office). Davis says she expects 235 singers to join together on stage, but Summerville will not be there --- except, she adds, in spirit.

Davis says when she announced at the Symposium opening plenary session on Thursday night that the event was being dedicated to Summerville, the participants stood for a standing ovation.

The university's Black Sacred Museum Symposium has been held every two years since 1991, except for one year, when Davis says the Black Chorus was tied up with a recording project. This year's Symposium is titled "Sanctuary." Its guest artists include gospel singer (and Black Chorus alum) Brian Courtney Wilson, songwriter/conductor V. Michael McKay and pianist/vocal coach Dr. Casey Robards.