Jackson State University Department of Music

The 4th Annual Mississippi HBCU Music Research Symposium was an incredible success!

A heartfelt THANK YOU to our distinguished keynote speaker, Dr. Mark Phillips from Virginia State University, for delivering such an inspiring and impactful address.

We also extend our sincere appreciation to Dr. Darry E. Harris, Sr. and Mr. Orel Lee of our music faculty for their meaningful participation and continued commitment to excellence in music education.

Special thanks to Dr. Renardo Murray from Alcorn State University for sharing his expertise and providing valuable insight that enriched our symposium experience.

And to our outstanding graduate students, I am beyond proud of each of you! Your hard work, professionalism, and dedication truly shined throughout this event. The future of music education is in great hands!

The Annual PRISM Concert is back!

Experience an unforgettable evening of music featuring ALL ensembles from the JSU Department of Music!

📅 Friday, March 6, 2026
⏰ 6:00 PM
📍 Rose McCoy Auditorium

From powerful performances to stunning collaborations, PRISM brings every corner of the department together for one incredible night. You won’t want to miss it!

🔗 Learn more: https://www.jsums.edu/music/6th-annual-prism-concert/

We are proud to present our Annual Jazz on the Plaza featuring our Jazz Ensemble I, Jazz Ensemble II, Vocal Jazz, Jazz Combo, the Mississippi School for the Blind, Local HS Jazz Groups and the Music Alive Ensemble of New Orleans, LA on Saturday, March 7th; 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM JSU University Lawn. Bring your lawn chairs to enjoy a wonderful afternoon of Jazz.

Big news! Internationally acclaimed soprano Angela Brown joins Jackson State University February 19–23, 2026, for an unforgettable residency experience!

From mentorship and collaborative performance to a transformative masterclass, Ms. Brown will uplift the next generation of artists—affirming that their voices matter and their dreams are absolutely within reach.

Excellence is what we are all about, and we can’t wait! Join us!

Join us for an exciting Vocal Masterclass & Career Talk with Grammy Winner Kenneth Overton, Baritone on Friday, January 23, 2026 at 12:00 PM in the F.D. Hall Music Center Dr. Jimmie James Jr. Recital Hall. Admission is free to all.

Kenneth Overton will also be performing with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, January 24, 2026.

Hope to see you soon.

Excited to partner with Save the Music Foundation, Jackson Public Schools and the MS Orff #100 Chapter to host a Music Education workshop for Music Educators and Pre-Service Teachers on Friday, February 13th 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM. The workshop presenter is Dr. IJ Routen of Little Rock, AR featuring the work of Stefanie Foster Brown. Register today via:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSet9XBTNpldlYXY1tPwqcPBFgp5OJLojFvFBg3Q_eK1DOXAWQ/viewform?fbclid=PAdGRleAPUaChleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAadxor9Y8KZwx1EIdr33mSxxrPUgrC-UcjO_NyWqfo9zRuhS-M5NJr-mMfljZg_aem_2wyaG3Ud7_n0CyqgkEgxYg&utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio

CEUs are available.

Auditions are open for the 2026 JSU Honor Band Festival. This opportunity is open to middle school and high school student musicians. Visit the link below to audition today!

https://www.jsums.edu/music/honors-music-festival/

Tune in to view the 29th Orff-Schulwerk Summer Music Institute Levels Share Session. Very proud of the hard work that the students put in to make this a success. All for their continued educational growth. Special thanks to: Jackson State University Department of Music, Lauren Summa, Sandra Kaetsu, Patrick Ware, Vivian Murray-Caputo, Chelsea Thiel, Kimberly Collins, and Ian Cicco for EVERYTHING.

https://youtu.be/IrMfnv8PgAg?si=0ezxmKyKcYwXND4M

29th Annual Orff-Schulwerk Levels 1-3 Final Share 2025