Jul 28, 2021
In the fifth episode of Deep River: The Legacy of the Spirituals, we are joined by Dr. Raymond Wise for a discussion about the development of spirituals and their influence on his own creative career.
The episode, We’re Marching to Zion: A Visit with Dr. Raymond Wise, includes two performances from his acclaimed recording 21 Spirituals for the 21st Century featuring the Raise Chorale: We’re Marching to Zion and I’ll Stand.
Dr. Raymond Wise is the Professor of Practice of African American and African Diaspora Studies and Director of the African American Choral Ensemble at Indiana University. He has also served as the musical director for more than 30 choirs and has prepared choirs to perform for national recording artists such as Kenny Rogers, Diana Ross, Yolanda Adams, Tramaine Hawkins, Wintley Phipps, and others. He has been a guest soloist, conductor, and composer with the Nashville, Littleton, Ithaca College, and Czech National Symphonies, and has appeared twice as guest conductor with the Akron Symphony Orchestra and the Gospel Meets Symphony Choir.