Brazeal Dennard
Encyclopedia
Brazeal Dennard was an African-American singer
, educator
, Choral director
, and musical arranger
. He has been a significant contributor in the preservation and revitalization of the spiritual
musical form. His efforts helped moved the African-American spiritual beyond the confines of the church, exposing not only the beauty of this music, but also its historical importance to a wider audience.
, Dennard acquired an early love of music and began playing piano at age 11. He attended Detroit Public Schools
and moved on to Wayne State University
where he received a Master of Arts degree in Music Education
. While in the U.S. armed services, he organized a choral group of enlisted men and their wives.http://www.daahp.wayne.edu/biographiesDisplay.php?id=74.
While a teacher in the Detroit Public schools, Dennard held the position of Fine Arts Department Head at Northwestern High School
and Director of Music Education He retired from this position in 1989.
Throughout his career, Dennard served in many roles, including guest conductor, clinician, lecturer, and church choirmaster. His numerous professional affiliations included the National Endowment of the Arts, Department of Cultural Affairs for the city of Detroit, trustee and member of the Advisory Committee of the Detroit Community Music School, Chairman of the Music Advisory Committee for the Michigan Council for the Arts, President of the National Association of Negro Musicians, member of the Board of Directors of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
, and Adjunct Faculty member at Wayne State University http://www.singers.com/choral/brazealdennard.html.
In 1972 he founded the Brazeal Dennard Chorale, a group of highly trained singers dedicated to developing the choral art to its highest professional level. In keeping with his lifelong interest in education, the Chorale sponsors two other choral groups, The Brazeal Dennard Community Chorus - organized in 1985 as a community outreach program to encourage participation of members of the surrounding communities and to provide them with vocal training and professional performance opportunities, and The Brazeal Dennard Youth Chorale - for singers between the ages of 13 and 22.
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, educator
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, Choral director
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, and musical arranger
Arrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
. He has been a significant contributor in the preservation and revitalization of the spiritual
Spiritual (music)
Spirituals are religious songs which were created by enslaved African people in America.-Terminology and origin:...
musical form. His efforts helped moved the African-American spiritual beyond the confines of the church, exposing not only the beauty of this music, but also its historical importance to a wider audience.
Biography
Born in Detroit at just prior to the Great DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, Dennard acquired an early love of music and began playing piano at age 11. He attended Detroit Public Schools
Detroit Public Schools
Detroit Public Schools is a school district that covers all of the city of Detroit, Michigan, United States. The student population of the Detroit Public Schools is about 65,971 , which is down about 9.7% from the previous school year. Detroit Public Charter Schools educate an additional 56,000...
and moved on to Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
where he received a Master of Arts degree in Music Education
Music education
Music education is a field of study associated with the teaching and learning of music. It touches on all domains of learning, including the psychomotor domain , the cognitive domain , and, in particular and significant ways,the affective domain, including music appreciation and sensitivity...
. While in the U.S. armed services, he organized a choral group of enlisted men and their wives.http://www.daahp.wayne.edu/biographiesDisplay.php?id=74.
While a teacher in the Detroit Public schools, Dennard held the position of Fine Arts Department Head at Northwestern High School
Northwestern High School (Michigan)
Northwestern High School is a secondary education facility in Detroit, Michigan. The most recent enrollment figures for Northwestern indicate a student population of approximately 2,000. Northwestern High School features numerous extracurricular activities; including: Debate, US Army JROTC,...
and Director of Music Education He retired from this position in 1989.
Throughout his career, Dennard served in many roles, including guest conductor, clinician, lecturer, and church choirmaster. His numerous professional affiliations included the National Endowment of the Arts, Department of Cultural Affairs for the city of Detroit, trustee and member of the Advisory Committee of the Detroit Community Music School, Chairman of the Music Advisory Committee for the Michigan Council for the Arts, President of the National Association of Negro Musicians, member of the Board of Directors of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Detroit, Michigan. Its main performance center is Orchestra Hall at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit's Midtown neighborhood...
, and Adjunct Faculty member at Wayne State University http://www.singers.com/choral/brazealdennard.html.
In 1972 he founded the Brazeal Dennard Chorale, a group of highly trained singers dedicated to developing the choral art to its highest professional level. In keeping with his lifelong interest in education, the Chorale sponsors two other choral groups, The Brazeal Dennard Community Chorus - organized in 1985 as a community outreach program to encourage participation of members of the surrounding communities and to provide them with vocal training and professional performance opportunities, and The Brazeal Dennard Youth Chorale - for singers between the ages of 13 and 22.
Discography
Recordings of the Brazeal Dennard Chorale include:- Remembering, Discovering, Preserving
- Hush
- In Silent Night
- Bridging Generations
- Remembering II: Significant Spirituals