Voorhees University Hosts Two-Day Dr. Emorja Roberson Residency Celebrating Black Sacred Music

Voorhees University will present a two-day residency titled "Voices of Black Sacred and Choral Excellence" on Feb. 19-20 at Massachusetts Hall in Denmark, SC, spotlighting Black sacred and choral traditions as part of Black History Month programming. The Office of Communications at Voorhees University described the residency as an opportunity for hands-on learning and public engagement across campus and the wider Bamberg County community.

According to the university announcement, the residency "will include a lecture, master class, community rehearsal, and culminating recital and community performance, offering students and the public an immersive exploration of Black sacred music traditions through scholarship, instruction, and live performance." The Thursday schedule on Feb. 19 includes an academic lecture (time not specified), a master class from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., and a community rehearsal from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The program concludes Friday, Feb. 20 with a recital and community performance; the announcement did not list a start time for the Feb. 20 event.

The residency features Dr. Emorja Roberson, identified by Voorhees University as a "distinguished conductor, vocalist, composer, and scholar Emorja Roberson." Office materials list Roberson as Assistant Professor of Music and African American Studies at Oxford College of Emory University and Choral Director at Georgia Gwinnett College. The announcement notes Roberson is a "Member of the GRAMMY Recording Academy" and is recognized nationally for "bridging classical music, gospel traditions, and contemporary performance." His scholarly work in ethnomusicology and Black sacred music has been presented at the American Choral Directors Association Symposium and the British Forum for Ethnomusicology.

Voorhees University materials also highlighted related programming through social posts, noting that "Highlights include the Gullah Traveling Theater and inspirational talks by Dr. Cathy Owens-Oliver and Dr. Emorja Roberson." The mention of the Gullah Traveling Theater suggests a local cultural connection that may resonate with Lowcountry audiences and local school programs, though the university did not specify whether the theater company will perform within the residency schedule or as part of complementary programming.

For local residents and students, the residency promises direct educational benefits: scheduled master class instruction, a community rehearsal where nonstudents may participate or observe, and a culminating performance that showcases student and community work. Voorhees’ emphasis on scholarship and live performance can boost local arts visibility, support music education pathways for young singers, and strengthen cultural tourism in Denmark and Bamberg County during Black History Month.

Several logistical details remain to be confirmed, including exact start times for the academic lecture and Feb. 20 recital, ticketing or RSVP rules, and room-level location within Massachusetts Hall. Voorhees University’s Office of Communications provided the event announcement and related program framing; residents seeking to attend should consult the university for final times and access. The residency offers a compact, high-impact cultural moment for Voorhees students and the wider community and could seed ongoing collaborations between local arts groups and the university.