Music of Early Black Virginians

Performing Early Black American Music: An Exploratory Symposium

We are hosting a symposium in June, 2022, at George Mason University, where we will bring together experts and curious scholars and performers to both study and experiment with the practices outlined in historical documents. You can learn more about the symposium below. We are also developing a related syllabus, to be shared publicly, that engages students in similar study and experimentation.

Symposium Schedule

George Mason University - Fenwick Library, Room 2001

Thursday, June 24

 9:00: Breakfast 

 9:30: Short Introductions: Goals and Brainstorming

 10:00: Quick Tour of Performance Practices 

 11:15: Break-out groups, session I 

 12:30: Lunch 

 1:30: Break-out groups, session II 

 3:00: Coffee 

 3:30: Open discussion 

 5:00: Adjourn 

 6:00 Dinner Bollywood Bistro (3955 Chain Bridge Rd, Fairfax, VA 22030)

Friday, June 25

 9:00: Breakfast 

 9:30: Check-in about previous day’s work, database report 

 10:30: New Thoughts on the History of the Banjo

Pete Ross, Kristina Gaddy 

 11:30: Flex time [music making, enslaved children monument] 

 12:30: Lunch 

 1:30: Break-out groups, session III

 2:30: Coffee 

 2:45: Break-out session report, free discussion 

 4:30: Final remarks 

Additional Information

 Additional rooms available for break-out sessions: 

·      3001 (3rd floor, directly above our room)

·      4010 (4th floor, left when exiting elevator)