NSCS Music Director Dr. Julia Davids arranged for Dr. Thomas W. Jefferson to speak to NSCS members about the history of African American Spirituals at the October 20, 2020 rehearsal (conducted online via Zoom).
Thomas is a longtime NSCS collaborator, friend and supporter. He most recently collaborated with us in March of 2019, when we sang a concert of his music in Evanston, at the Unitarian Church, and then again at his parish church, the historic Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica in Garfield Park. In April of 2019, Thomas supported us again via his collaboration for our benefit, "The Liberty Lines Songs & Stories of the Underground Railroad" where he played piano interludes.
During his presentation, Thomas shared some of his own performances, and answered our questions.
A biography of Dr. Jefferson was sent to members before the October 20th rehearsal:
Dr. Thomas W. Jefferson, a native of Galveston, Texas, earned his Bachelor of Music degree with honors in Music Education from Texas A&I University (Kingsville); a Master of Music in Piano Performance from Chicago Musical College, Roosevelt University; and his Doctor of Music degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Northwestern University. Regarded as an accomplished performer in both the classical and popular genres, Thomas has collaborated with numerous vocal artists including the late, world-renowned bass-baritone William Warfield. In addition, he has performed with various choral groups such as the All-City Elementary Youth Chorus and the Voices of Resurrection, with whom he toured Vienna and Australia, respectively. Jefferson was a participant in the Eleventh International Chopin Piano Competition in Poland and has performed as a recitalist across the country and within the Chicago area. As a skilled music transcriber, he has transcribed the music of gospel artists such as Kirk Franklin and Walter Hawkins, to name just two. In 2010, his debut CD Impromptu was released by World Library Publication, followed by his book, I Hear Music in the Air: Gospel-Style Piano Technique, in 2013. Most recently, a two-volume collection of his piano arrangements, Spirituals for Piano: Let it Shine, has been published. In addition to his popular setting of "Ave Maria," Thomas has numerous choral pieces and arrangements published with WLP, GIA Publications, Inc., Augsburg Fortress Press, and Simply Liturgical Music. Currently, Thomas serves on the piano faculty of the North Park University School of Music and the Sherwood Community Music School and is music minister at the Basilica of Our Lady of Sorrows on Chicago's West Side. In addition, Thomas is music editor of WLP In Spirit and Truth series, music from the African American Community.