Converse College in Spartanburg, SC is hosting a special interdisciplinary symposium about Southern hymns titled "The Legacy of Singin' Billy Walker: Hymns in the South." The symposium will take place on January 28-31, 2009 at the Converse College campus. SC Humanities sponsored this program through a Major Grant in September 2008.
William Walker is one of South Carolina's most important composers and a native of Spartanburg. Singin' Billy Walker is most famous for having first brought together the hymn text and hymn tune for the beloved hymn "Amazing Grace." January 2009 is the bicentennial anniversary of his birth.
The symposium will offer a panel discussion, several workshops and round-table paper sessions, a concert showcasing works by Walker and other hymns, and a final lecture-concert celebration, "A Bicentennial Tribute to Spartanburg's William Walker: Folk Hymns and Spirituals of the Early South." Most events are free and open to the public. More information can be found here or by contacting Melody Boland at 864-596-9678.
The mission of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. SC Humanities programs and initiatives are balanced, reflecting sensitivity to the diversity of ideas, encourage open dialogue, demonstrate integrity, and are ethical in operations.
