Celebrating Black Women Icons: Gospel Greats, the Clark Sisters
80 Queens Park
80 Queens Park
The Faculty of Music Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Office invites you to “Celebrating Black Women Icons: Gospel Greats, the Clark Sisters” the evening of Wednesday, Feb. 26th at 5:30pm to learn more about this powerful, influential musical tradition rooted in Black history and art. Join us to learn more about the Clark Sisters, recipients of the 2024 GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award! Food will be served. *We will be joined by special guest, Richard Picart. Regrettably, Patricia Shirley can no longer attend.*
This free screening of The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel will take place in person at the faculty, with the option to attend via livestream. It will be followed by a talk with Dr. Darren Hamilton, Professor of Music Education and founding director of the faculty's Gospel Choir, and inspirational entertainment industry trailblazer, Richard Picart. We’ll also have time for a mini workshop on singing in the gospel style! More information about Dr. Hamilton and Richard is available below.
Directed by Christine Swanson and written by Sylvia L. Jones and Camille Tucker, “The Clark Sisters” tells the story of the highest-selling female gospel group in history, and their trailblazing mother, Mattie Moss Clark. Credited with bringing gospel music to the mainstream, the five sisters rose from humble beginnings in Detroit to achieve international fame, solidifying their legacy as gospel music icons.
Event Details:
- Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2025
- Time: 5:30pm
- Location: Faculty of Music, Edward Johnson Building (80 Queen's Park, Room 330), or virtual via livestream
- Please register here.
Speakers:
Dr. Darren Hamilton is an Assistant Professor of Music Education in the Faculty of Music and founding director of the faculty’s Gospel Choir. His research focuses on formal gospel music pedagogy, popular music pedagogy, hip hop music education, anti-Black racism in music education and equity, diversity, and social justice in music education. His work has been published in the Canadian Music Educator and the Recorder journals, produced by the Canadian Music Educators’ Association and the Ontario Music Educators’ Association (OMEA), respectively. He is the visionary and co-author of the national MusiCounts Learn teacher resource, #BlackMusicMatters: Hip Hop & Social Justice in Canada. Dr. Hamilton has been a guest lecturer, workshop presenter and panelist for events hosted by MusiCounts, the OMEA, the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, York University, the University of Toronto, Choral Canada, the International Society of Music Education, and several Ontario district school boards. In 2022, Dr. Hamilton was awarded the JUNO Award for MusiCounts Teacher of the Year.
Richard Picart is a trailblazer in the inspirational entertainment industry with over 30 years of experience amplifying the voices of businesses, celebrities, and gospel artists. Starting in 1986 by selling gospel concert tickets, Richard quickly became a key figure in the Canadian gospel music scene, promoting significant events and shaping the careers of artists like Marvia Providence, Sharon Riley, Faith Chorale, Londa Larmond, and the Toronto Mass Choir. His impact extends beyond music—he helped bridge US and Canadian Christian music markets through the Gospel City website, launched the specialty TV channel Vertical TV, and now shares his expertise as a thought leader and lecturer at the University of Toronto.
Questions can be sent to edi.music@utoronto.ca.