SOUTH BEND — The University of Notre Dame's Sacred Music program is in discussions with the South Bend Community School Corp. to establish after-school choral programs in two primary schools on the city's west side that would focus on gospel music.
The choirs are expected to begin after Labor Day, according to Mark Doerries, artistic director and administrator of Notre Dame's Sacred Music Academy.
Which primary schools will be involved hasn't yet been announced. Children will have to be enrolled in the school to participate in the choir, Doerries said.
A South Bend schools spokeswoman said the fine art curriculum administrator who would know more details about the partnership was still on summer break Friday and not available for an interview.
The program has hired a gospel music specialist, Emjora Roberson, who is music director at Olivet AME Church in South Bend and a recent graduate of Notre Dame's master's degree in sacred music program, to lead the initiative. In collaboration with the music teachers at the two schools, Roberson will develop an after-school music education choral program for fourth- and fifth-grade singers.
The gospel music choirs are one of the efforts that will be funded by a new $1.6 million grant Notre Dame received from the Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc. to support the Sacred Music at Notre Dame program and its work with graduate students and the community.
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