Premieres Friday, Dec. 31, 2021 at 10 p.m. on KPBS 2 / On Demand
In "Walk Together Children: The 150th Anniversary of the Fisk Jubilee Singers®," Dr. Paul T. Kwami and his students pay tribute to the original nine members of the Fisk Jubilee Singers. Organized as a choral ensemble in 1871 to perform and raise money to support Fisk University, the Fisk Jubilee Singers celebrate their 150th Anniversary on Oct. 6, 2021.
As the current singers explore the personal stories of the trailblazers who paved the way for future generations in "Walk Together Children," they reflect on their roles as students and preservers of the world-renowned choral group’s rich legacy. Inviting viewers to share in their unique bond and learn the significance of the Negro Spirituals and their value in today’s culture, the film is a dual concert event celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Fisk Jubilee Singers and a call to action for the bright future ahead for Fisk University and all of Nashville.
Created in collaboration with Dr. Kwami and director Jon Royal, the film is produced by the nonprofit Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC), which has presented in-person performances by the Fisk Jubilee Singers to more than 10,000 students as part of its annual Season for Young People.
Organized as a choral ensemble in 1871, the Fisk Jubilee Singers® have played an essential role in introducing and sharing the tradition of the Negro spiritual with the world. This remarkable ensemble has traveled the world singing sacred songs and raising funds to support Fisk University for the past 150 years. Today, the ensemble continues to perform globally and is comprised of Fisk University students who are selected annually through an audition process. The ensemble has been inducted into the Music City Walk of Fame and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. In 2008, the Fisk Jubilee Singers were also awarded the National Medal of Arts, the nation’s highest artistic honor by President George W. Bush.
In addition to commemorating the 150th Anniversary of their founding with a year-long celebration of events, the world-renowned choral ensemble is celebrating its 2021 GRAMMY® for Best Roots Gospel Album for their recently released album, "Celebrating Fisk!," produced with Curb Records. The album is a collection of 12 songs that beautifully represent and communicate the powerful and vibrant history of Fisk University and the Fisk Jubilee Singers. It features the ensemble performing from the stage of Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium with guest appearances by Ruby Amanfu, Keb’ Mo’, CeCe Winans and more.
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