University of Illinois Black Chorus Records, ca. 1917-2023 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Organized in four series:

Series 1) Black Sacred Music Symposium, ca. 1991-2019 is arranged chronologically.

Series 2) Music, ca. 1917-2011 is arranged chronologically.

Series 3) Administrative Records, ca. 1981-2014 is arranged chronologically.

Series 4) Black Chorus Performances, ca. 1984-2023 is arranged chronologically.

Founded in 1968, the Black Chorus is a mixed chorus at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Originally organized by four students and later sponsored by the African-American Cultural program and School of Music Choral Division, the mission of the Black Chorus is to promote African-American musical expression. To fulfill this mission, they maintain an active performance schedule, both on and off campus. They also host the Black Sacred Music Symposium biennially at UIUC, a conference dedicated to the study and performance of Black sacred music traditions. 

In addition to performing at various colleges and universities throughout the country, the Black Chorus has performed at the National Black Gospel College Choir Workshop in Atlanta, Georgia; they have performed with the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra and as special guests at an Orchestra Hall concert in Chicago. They perform the music of Black Americans, including Negro spirituals, anthems, formal music, traditional and contemporary gospel, jazz, and rhythm and blues. Dr. Ollie Watts Davis has been the conductor of the Black Chorus since 1981.