You are cordially invited to a performance by the Faculty of Music Gospel Choir to celebrate Black History Month. Join students from the Faculty of Music and the Toronto School of Theology as they take the audience on a musical journey with performances of African-American spirituals as well as traditional and contemporary gospel music pieces, accompanied by a dynamic gospel rhythm section.

• In-Person (SOLD OUT) - Admission will be first come, first served for seating. Doors open at 7:00 P.M.
• Online: A link to the YouTube live-stream or on-demand viewing will be sent to your email upon registration.

Special guest appearances include the University of Toronto Chamber Choir and JUNO-nominated gospel recording artist, Patricia Shirley.

Directed by: 

Dr. Darren Hamilton
Assistant Professor, Music Education
Faculty of Music

Dr. Darren Hamilton recently completed his PhD in music education at the University of Toronto where he now serves as an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Music. He previously taught secondary music full-time for 15 years. In addition to teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in music education, Dr. Hamilton is the founding director of the University of Toronto Faculty of Music Gospel Choir.

Dr. Hamilton has served as a member of the JUNO Award-winning Toronto Mass Choir (TMC) and the JUNO-nominated Youth Outreach Mass Choir. He has also guest conducted performances for TMC, the Oakville Choral and the University of Toronto Chamber Choir. Dr. Hamilton is the co-founder and artistic director of the Gospel Music Association (GMA) Canada Covenant Award-nominated Waterloo Region Mass Choir.

Dr. Hamilton’s research interests lie in formal gospel music, popular music and hip hop music education, in addition to anti-Black racism, equity, diversity and social justice in music education. He has published several journal articles and he is the visionary and co-author of the national MusiCounts Learn teacher resource, #BlackMusicMatters: Hip Hop & Social Justice in Canada. Dr. Hamilton has been a guest lecturer, workshop presenter and panelist for events hosted by MusiCounts, the Ontario Music Educators’ Association, York University, the University of Guelph, and the University of Waterloo.

Dr. Darren Hamilton was the recipient of the 2022 JUNO Award for MusiCounts Teacher of the Year, recognising his commitment to equity and diversity, as well as his  professional contributions to the field of music education.