Description
Albert John Joseph McNeil is an American choral conductor, ethnomusicologist, author, and founder of the Albert McNeil Jubilee
Singers. His career has been dedicated to upholding choral music traditions with the presentation of Negro spirituals and
concert music by African American composers. He is Professor Emeritus of Music at the University of California, Davis, where
he was director of choral activities for 22 years and headed the Music Education Program.
Background
Albert John Joseph McNeil is an American choral conductor, ethnomusicologist, author, and founder of the Albert McNeil Jubilee
Singers. His career has been dedicated to upholding choral music traditions with the presentation of Negro spirituals and
concert music by African American composers. He is Professor Emeritus of Music at the University of California, Davis, where
he was director of choral activities for 22 years and headed the Music Education Program.The Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers (AMJS), known as "America's foremost Negro choir," have played a significant role in the
development of African American sacred music traditions in the United States and are among the most honored singing ensembles
in the world. The AMJS was founded by choral director Albert McNeil. McNeil was inspired by the story of the Fisk University
Jubilee Singers, an all black college choir founded in 1871, made up of four black men and seven black women who gained international
fame traveling throughout the United States and Europe giving concerts singing four-part a cappella arrangements of sacred
songs called spirituals.
Restrictions
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and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical
materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Availability
There are no access restrictions on this collection