SACRED GROUNDS, GOSPEL SOUNDS
Sacred Grounds, Gospel Sounds: A Musical Celebration of Oak Woods Cemetery takes place on June 1st, 2025 from 2-9 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church (6400 S. Kimbark).
The event celebrates the gospel legacies of Chicago in connection with Oak Woods Cemetery, where many gospel notables like Thomas A. Dorsey, Albertina Walker, Otis Clay, and Pops and Oceola Staples have been laid to rest. The day's events will include performances by Saint Sabina Choir and William Kurk, great grandnephew of Thomas A. Dorsey, who is widely regarded as the father of gospel music. This will be followed by a gospel walking tour to the nearby cemetery before returning for Ayana Contreras in conversation with Jacoby Cochran about the histories of gospel music in Chicago. The evening will close out with dinner and a DJ set by Ayana Contreras. The event is free and open to all. If you have not done so already, RSVP here. This event is made possible by the University of Chicago's Department of Race, Diaspora, and Indigeneity and the Department of Music, with support from the UChicago Women's Board.
Sacred Grounds, Gospel Sounds
June 1st, 2025 | The First Presbyterian Church | 6400 S. Kimbark Ave.
2:00 pm: Saint Sabina Choir performance
2:30 pm: Performance by William Kurk
3:15 pm: Assemble for walking tour
3:30 - 4:45 pm: Gospel walking tour at Oak Woods Cemetery
Return to The First Presbyterian Church
4:45 pm: Light refreshments
5:00 - 6:30 pm: Ayana Contreras in Conversation With Jacoby Cochran: Histories of Gospel Music in Chicago
6:30 - 7:00 pm: Dinner with Chef-in-Residence Dozzy Ibekwe
7:00 - 9:00 pm: DJ night with Ayana Contreras
LINEUP
Saint Sabina Choir aka Saint Sabina Levites are the primary singing aggregation for the Faith Community of Saint Sabina under the leadership of Fr. Michael Pfleger. They can be heard every Sunday at 10 a.m. Mass. The Levites have graced many platforms with artists such as Mavis Staples, Vickie Winans, Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier. In 1999, they released their first album entitled "Poured Out" with the hit, "Rock Praise" breaking out on the radio charts. One of their highlights was featured in the film Chiraq directed by Spike Lee, sharing the screen with actors Jennifer Hudson and John Cusack, to name a few. The Levites are under the direction of their Minister of Music/Director of Music Michael Drayton.
William Kurk was born and raised in Chicago, and is a disciple of a rich musical heritage. Kurk is the great grand-nephew of Thomas A. Dorsey (the father of Gospel music), and the grandson of Lena McLin (prolific author, composer, arranger, teacher). Kurk graduated from Columbia College College Chicago with a B.M in Music Composition. Kurk has been a musical director for several musical productions over the years, including “Sarafina” (nominated for Best Musical Director), “The Wiz”, “Once On This Island”, “Godspeed”, and “Trouble The Water” (Winner of Black Theater Alliance for Best Show). As accompanist, He has worked with Steve Arrington, Chico DeBarge, Dionne Warwick, KRS-ONE, Michelle Williams, and Malcom-Jamal Warner just to name a few.
As an independent artist, Kurk has released 8 studio albums, as well as a live performance DVD. A few of the notable guest talents on his various recordings include: Grammy-Award Winner Bob Minter, Will Kennedy, Selina Albright, Marquis Hill, Marqueal Jordan, Chester Gregory, Benny Reid, and Kenny Wesley. Kurk is currently the host of a popular educational web series called “Synth Sounds Of” on Reverb.com. W.K on social media: Instagram / Twitter / Youtube / Snapchat: @Williamkurk
Ayana Contreras is a cultural historian, memory worker, radio DJ and archivist. An avid collector with over 10000 vintage vinyl records, for over a decade, she hosted the Reclaimed Soul program on Vocalo Radio (and later, on WBEZ) in Chicago. She currently hosts Soulful Strut on KUVO Jazz in Denver, Colorado, where she serves as VP of Radio at Rocky Mountain Public Media. A 2014/15 University of Chicago Arts + Public Life Artist-In-Residence, she is also a columnist for DownBeat magazine and her writings have been published in The New York Times, Chicago Review, Oxford American and Bandcamp Daily among other publications. A contributor to the NPR Music New Music Friday Podcast, in 2025, she served as a judge for the NPR Music Tiny Desk Contest. Her book on Post-Civil Rights Era cultural history, titled Energy Never Dies: Afro-Optimism and Creativity in Chicago, was published December 2021 through University of Illinois Press.
As a DJ, She specializes in spinning all-vinyl rare groove, jazz, funky disco and sample sets and has DJed for the Vans Channel 66, Red Bull Music Presents, Gilles Peterson Presents: International Anthem on Worldwide FM, countless galleries, museums and at venues in Los Angeles (Gold-Diggers), New York (Park Avenue Armory) and Memphis (8&Sand at Central Station). She’s also spun at residencies in Chicago (Dorian’s, Pilsen Yards, Bronzeville Winery) and is creative director for a DJ booth at the 95th Street Red Line CTA Station. She’s recently shared the stage with Roy Ayers, Makaya McCraven, Nile Rogers & CHIC, Duran Duran and Gang of Four.
Jacoby Cochran is a writer, storyteller, and educator from Chicago. He is also the host of The Moth, Karaoke Storytellers, and the award winning City Cast Chicago, the city’s number one daily podcast for over 1000 episodes.
