About
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For half a century, Detroit’s own Brazeal Dennard Chorale has been committed to Remembering, Discovering and Preserving the music of African American composers. Nationally known for its expressive renditions of African American music in the choral tradition, the Brazeal Dennard Chorale is one of the oldest organizations of its kind in the nation.
The Brazeal Dennard Chorale was established after many years of discussion between Brazeal, his wife, Murdice Dennard and close friends, Gelacy and Naomi Peters. In the Fall of 1972, the Brazeal Dennard Chorale was founded, with a mission to promote the music of African American composers and to perpetuate the heritage of the Negro Spiritual. Today, this highly skilled group of singers not only preserves this rich musical heritage, but also performs music from all genres of Choral Music repertoire at the highest level! |
The Chorale has been a leader in championing the classical music heritage of African Americans. In an effort to highlight the contributions of African Americans to classical music, and to take the music to an even larger audience, the Classical Roots concert was established. Dr. Brazeal Wayne Dennard, working collaboratively with Paul Freeman, DSO’s then Resident Conductor, and several notable community leaders, organized and facilitated the first Classical Roots concert held in 1978 at Detroit’s historic Bethel AME Church. The choir was anchored by the Brazeal Dennard Chorale and also included chorus members from Detroit-area Black churches. Dr. Dennard reports “that was the beginning of the Classical Roots concert that the symphony performs today.” This concert model has now been implemented by orchestras and music organizations across the country.
The Brazeal Dennard Chorale has made significant contributions toward preserving the rich legacy of the Spiritual through public performance and the production of four recordings. Hush! Somebody’s Calling My Name (1994), In Silent Night (1995), Remembering, Discovering, Preserving: Songs of African American History (1999) and Remembering II: Significant Spirituals (2002). These recordings document and share music that is essential to the cultural experience of African Americans and America’s music history. The Chorale has performed locally, nationally and internationally to acclaim throughout its history. Performances include the American Choral Directors Association (National and Regional Conventions), the National Association of Negro Musicians (National and Regional Conventions) as well as the National Conference for Music Education.
Under the exceptional leadership of artistic director, Alice McAllister Tillman, the Brazeal Dennard Chorale continues to maintain a value system that fosters innovation, collaboration, community, inclusivity and excellence. Through performance, commissions, recordings and community engagement, the Brazeal Dennard Chorale is continuing the tradition of African Americans who sang unaccompanied melodies which told of the pains of slavery, the yearning to be free, and the hope of God’s salvation.
The Brazeal Dennard Chorale is an award-winning organization receiving the Brazeal Wayne Dennard Award presented by Chorus America in 2018 in recognition of the Chorale’s commitment to furthering African American choral traditions and other diverse choral music traditions through performance, research, or the creation of new compositions of significance.
(See https://youtu.be/JiGDII8AWUk).
The Brazeal Dennard Chorale has made significant contributions toward preserving the rich legacy of the Spiritual through public performance and the production of four recordings. Hush! Somebody’s Calling My Name (1994), In Silent Night (1995), Remembering, Discovering, Preserving: Songs of African American History (1999) and Remembering II: Significant Spirituals (2002). These recordings document and share music that is essential to the cultural experience of African Americans and America’s music history. The Chorale has performed locally, nationally and internationally to acclaim throughout its history. Performances include the American Choral Directors Association (National and Regional Conventions), the National Association of Negro Musicians (National and Regional Conventions) as well as the National Conference for Music Education.
Under the exceptional leadership of artistic director, Alice McAllister Tillman, the Brazeal Dennard Chorale continues to maintain a value system that fosters innovation, collaboration, community, inclusivity and excellence. Through performance, commissions, recordings and community engagement, the Brazeal Dennard Chorale is continuing the tradition of African Americans who sang unaccompanied melodies which told of the pains of slavery, the yearning to be free, and the hope of God’s salvation.
The Brazeal Dennard Chorale is an award-winning organization receiving the Brazeal Wayne Dennard Award presented by Chorus America in 2018 in recognition of the Chorale’s commitment to furthering African American choral traditions and other diverse choral music traditions through performance, research, or the creation of new compositions of significance.
(See https://youtu.be/JiGDII8AWUk).
Our Artistic Director...
Alice McAllister Tillman
A versatile artist whose experiences have taken her to concert halls and recital stages throughout North America. Her voice has been described as “Exquisite, Soaring, Brilliant and Beautiful!”
Ms. Tillman began singing as a young child with her family singing group, "The McAllisters." As a student at Northwestern High School, she began vocal studies with Gloria Hicks. She became a member of The Northwestern High School Advanced Vocal Ensemble under the baton of Brazeal W. Dennard. It was there that she came to love Classical Music, Ensemble Singing and entered into a relationship with Brazeal Dennard and The Brazeal Dennard Chorale.
Ms. Tillman matriculated to the University of Michigan School of Music, where she studied Voice with Dr. Willis Patterson. She earned a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance, a Master of Music in Voice Performance and a State of Michigan Teacher Certification.
Ms. Tillman has been a Voice Instructor at every level, including Kindergarten through Post-Graduate Studies. She began her career as a Music Educator in the Livonia Public Schools, where she taught Elementary Students and was Director of Choral Music Education at Stevenson High School. She left Livonia Public Schools and began teaching in Ann Arbor Public Schools where she is Director of Choral Music Education at Forsythe Middle School. Ms. Tillman’s ensembles have consistently earned excellent ratings. Her students are frequently accepted into some of Michigan’s most prestigious ensembles, including the Michigan School Vocal Music Association State Honors Choir and Finalists at The Michigan Youth Arts Festival. Many have been accepted into some of the nation’s top Colleges and Universities. Ms. Tillman was Adjunct Faculty at Marygrove College in Detroit, MI.
Alice McAllister Tillman has maintained a highly visible performance career. She is known for her ability to perform a diverse range of literature spanning many genres. She has been presented in Solo Recitals that include Art Songs, Operatic Arias, Spirituals, Musical Theater and Jazz. She is frequently engaged in Oratorio and Symphonic presentations that include Bach’s Magnificat, Bach’s Jauchzet Gott in Allen Landen, Margaret Bond’s Credo, Adolphus Hailstork’s I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s The Creation, Mozart’s Exsultate Jubilate, Mozart’s Requiem, Garcia’s Requiem, Rossini’s Stabat Mater, Robert Ray’s Gospel Mass, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson’s Symphony of the Sphinx premiered by The Detroit Symphony Orchestra during the 2007 Classical Roots Series, Duke Ellington’s Sacred Music Concert During the 2012 Jazz Festival, Dave Brubeck’s To Hope with the Brubeck Quartet during the 2013 Detroit Jazz Festival, Adolphus Hailstork’s Earthrise in the 2013 Detroit Symphony Orchestra Classical Roots Series conducted by Leonard Slatkin. Ms. Tillman was the featured artist for the 2013 Azalia Hackley Concert. Ms. Tillman performs with the Modern Harp Quartet. The Quartet and Alice were featured at the 2014 American Harp Association National Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana as the only Harp and Voice Ensemble to present at the conference. She is a long-standing member of The Brazeal Dennard Chorale.
Alice McAllister Tillman is a featured recording artist on The Second Anthology of Art Songs by Black American Composers, The New Negro Spiritual, Remembering II Significant Spirituals, Reflections and Once Upon a December Eve. Ms. McAllister-Tillman is the creator and featured solo artist of “Once Upon a December Eve,” presented each December. Alice and her husband, Craig, are the proud parents of four children.
Ms. Tillman began singing as a young child with her family singing group, "The McAllisters." As a student at Northwestern High School, she began vocal studies with Gloria Hicks. She became a member of The Northwestern High School Advanced Vocal Ensemble under the baton of Brazeal W. Dennard. It was there that she came to love Classical Music, Ensemble Singing and entered into a relationship with Brazeal Dennard and The Brazeal Dennard Chorale.
Ms. Tillman matriculated to the University of Michigan School of Music, where she studied Voice with Dr. Willis Patterson. She earned a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance, a Master of Music in Voice Performance and a State of Michigan Teacher Certification.
Ms. Tillman has been a Voice Instructor at every level, including Kindergarten through Post-Graduate Studies. She began her career as a Music Educator in the Livonia Public Schools, where she taught Elementary Students and was Director of Choral Music Education at Stevenson High School. She left Livonia Public Schools and began teaching in Ann Arbor Public Schools where she is Director of Choral Music Education at Forsythe Middle School. Ms. Tillman’s ensembles have consistently earned excellent ratings. Her students are frequently accepted into some of Michigan’s most prestigious ensembles, including the Michigan School Vocal Music Association State Honors Choir and Finalists at The Michigan Youth Arts Festival. Many have been accepted into some of the nation’s top Colleges and Universities. Ms. Tillman was Adjunct Faculty at Marygrove College in Detroit, MI.
Alice McAllister Tillman has maintained a highly visible performance career. She is known for her ability to perform a diverse range of literature spanning many genres. She has been presented in Solo Recitals that include Art Songs, Operatic Arias, Spirituals, Musical Theater and Jazz. She is frequently engaged in Oratorio and Symphonic presentations that include Bach’s Magnificat, Bach’s Jauchzet Gott in Allen Landen, Margaret Bond’s Credo, Adolphus Hailstork’s I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s The Creation, Mozart’s Exsultate Jubilate, Mozart’s Requiem, Garcia’s Requiem, Rossini’s Stabat Mater, Robert Ray’s Gospel Mass, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson’s Symphony of the Sphinx premiered by The Detroit Symphony Orchestra during the 2007 Classical Roots Series, Duke Ellington’s Sacred Music Concert During the 2012 Jazz Festival, Dave Brubeck’s To Hope with the Brubeck Quartet during the 2013 Detroit Jazz Festival, Adolphus Hailstork’s Earthrise in the 2013 Detroit Symphony Orchestra Classical Roots Series conducted by Leonard Slatkin. Ms. Tillman was the featured artist for the 2013 Azalia Hackley Concert. Ms. Tillman performs with the Modern Harp Quartet. The Quartet and Alice were featured at the 2014 American Harp Association National Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana as the only Harp and Voice Ensemble to present at the conference. She is a long-standing member of The Brazeal Dennard Chorale.
Alice McAllister Tillman is a featured recording artist on The Second Anthology of Art Songs by Black American Composers, The New Negro Spiritual, Remembering II Significant Spirituals, Reflections and Once Upon a December Eve. Ms. McAllister-Tillman is the creator and featured solo artist of “Once Upon a December Eve,” presented each December. Alice and her husband, Craig, are the proud parents of four children.
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Board of DirectorsMr. Leroy Richie, Chairman
Ms. Yvonne C. Turner, Executive Director Mrs. Alice M. Tillman, Artistic Director Mrs. Madonna Draughn, Treasurer Ms. Barbara Middleton, Secretary Mr. W. Michael McFarland Mr. Kenneth E. Harris Ms. Sharon Johnson Dr. Theodore Jones Dr. Brazeal W. Dennard, Founder |
Goals
Establish relationships and or acquire sponsorships from public and private organizations to assist in providing listening opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds. Promote spiritual emphasis to strengthen and celebrate cultural pluralism and broaden cultural understanding.
Recruit, educate and develop young people through participation in the tradition of excellence in choral singing of all genres of music by offering a broad range of genres from Baroque to Broadway, from Classical to Jazz with emphasis placed on Spirituals and music composed by African American composers.
Recruit, educate and develop young people through participation in the tradition of excellence in choral singing of all genres of music by offering a broad range of genres from Baroque to Broadway, from Classical to Jazz with emphasis placed on Spirituals and music composed by African American composers.