Dr. Emorja Roberson is a conductor, vocalist, and composer whose work bridges classical, gospel, jazz, and hip-hop traditions. A graduate of the University of North Florida, he earned both his Master of Sacred Music and Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Notre Dame, becoming the first African American to receive each degree in his respective programs. In 2022, he premiered his groundbreaking oratorio BE-SPOKEN, a powerful exploration of the Black experience featuring artists including Ledisi. A recipient of the Future of Music Faculty Fellowship with the Cleveland Institute of Music, Dr. Roberson now serves as Assistant Professor of Music and African American Studies at Oxford College of Emory University.
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Emorja Roberson, conductor, composer, and scholar, to explore the rich and complex history of Gospel music. Dr. Roberson unpacks how Gospel has shaped, and continues to shape, American music and culture. 🎶