The Spirituals Project at the University of Denver

09/06/2026

Sing in community! Join The Spirituals Project Choir! Audition date is Friday, September 11 from 6-8pm. Email the director to schedule a time at [email protected]

08/25/2026

Basses and Tenors to the front of the line! Do you enjoy singing in community? Do you believe in the mission of The Spirituals Project? (Preserving the music and history of Spirituals)
Then now is your time to join this awesome 70-voice choir! Auditions for the 2026-27 season are coming up on Sept. 4 and Sept. 11. See below for more information or contact our director, Dr. M. Roger Holland, at [email protected] to schedule an audition.

08/01/2026

Dr. M. Roger Holland is director of The Spirituals Project at the University of Denver.

Dr. M. Roger Holland II has been named a Pastoral Musician of the Year by the National Association of Pastoral Musicians, becoming the fourth African American to receive the honor.

The Denver professor's Mass settings and hymns are used in Black Catholic parishes across the U.S.

06/04/2026

From our founder, Dr. Arthur C. Jones: “Another giant falls! Jacqui Hairston was a cousin of the late Jester Hairston, who was known as the “grand old man of the spirituals.” Jacqui played a major role in the success of The Spirituals Project’s inaugural national conference in 2013.”

https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/jacqui-butler-hairston-influential-bay-area-teacher-composer-and-arranger-of-spirituals-dies/ar-AA24kgkj?cvid=6a19e627696d4a16b066f0e4deae8100&ei=66&ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&fbclid=IwZnRzaASOwExleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeF1Nq9FLNFm2Gh14l_6GhO-3y_p-yBhCIeASLSAbrCgiYES6XOJbCv7ZrsGs_aem_X3JnwgyDHVn-1ncvi5g9sQ

A Juilliard-trained musician, Hairston devoted her life to preserving spirituals and teaching and mentoring Bay Area singers.

05/21/2026

We are grateful to CPR Classical for their continued support of our work and ongoing mission, “to preserve and revitalize the music and teachings of the sacred songs called Spirituals.”

05/21/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out to our concert on Saturday or logged in to the live stream. Your presence and support mean a great deal to us. ❤️

Special thanks to the Lone Tree Symphony Orchestra and the Evergreen Chorale for joining us to make this event as special as it was.
For the ancestors...

05/14/2026

Our concert this Saturday is sold out, again, because of you!
You can still be a part of the experience by joining the live stream (see link below). Be part of the magic, either in person or online.

https://liberalarts.du.edu/lamont/news-events/calendar/sould-out-cpr-classical-presents-spirituals-project-choir

05/14/2026

Our keynote speaker, Rev. Dr. Lee H. Butler, president of Iliff School of Theology. Friday, May 15, 2026, beginning at 9:00 AM. For more information and to register, use this link: https://liberalarts.du.edu/lamont/news-events/all-articles/spirituals-project-national-conference

05/14/2026

Our plenary speaker, Dr. Kim R. Harris. Friday, May 15, 2026, beginning at 9:00 AM. For more information and to register, use this link: https://liberalarts.du.edu/lamont/news-events/all-articles/spirituals-project-national-conference

05/13/2026

Friday, May 15, 2026, beginning at 9:00 AM. For more information and to register, use this link: https://liberalarts.du.edu/lamont/news-events/all-articles/spirituals-project-national-conference