Southeast, Hazard, Big Sandy to jointly hold virtual Martin Luther King, Jr. observance
Southeast, Hazard, and Big Sandy community and technical colleges will jointly honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, Jan. 18 at 10 a.m. with a virtual presentation by Dr. Kathy Bullock. An educator, scholar, speaker, singer, choral arranger and conductor, Dr. Bullock specializes in African American music and culture, including gospel, spirituals and classical works by composers from the African diaspora.
Dr. Bullock is a Professor Emerita of Music from Berea College. She teaches, performs, and conducts workshops and other programs on African American music throughout the United States, Europe, and Africa.
She earned a doctorate and master’s degree in music theory from Washington University in St. Louis, MO, and a bachelor’s degree in music from Brandeis University, MA. At Berea College she taught Music Theory, African-American Music, World Music, and other courses in music and general studies. She also directed Berea’s Black Music Ensemble, a choral ensemble that specializes in African American sacred music, developing a small student-run ensemble into an accredited, diverse, and exciting course that averaged seventy students each semester. Additionally, Dr. Bullock designed and led new international study courses in Ghana, Zimbabwe, and Jamaica. In her role as administrator, she actively participated in the college’s governance structure throughout her tenure; she was chair of the department, and a member of primary governance committees.
Dr. Bullock received many acknowledgements for her contributions to Berea College. In particular, she was awarded the highly coveted Seabury Award for teaching, and was later made an Honorary Alumni of the college. Although she has now retired from full-time teaching, Dr. Bullock recently joined the faculty of the University of Kentucky, School of Music as an adjunct, teaching and providing master classes in African American music.
Dr. Bullock’s presentations include explorations of musical connections between African American culture and West African and Appalachian cultures, and workshops on spirituals and gospel music. Other subjects presented include Issues of Race and Diversity in the Teaching and Performance of African American music, the Music of the Civil Rights Movement, and African American Women and the Women’s Suffrage Movement. Dr. Bullock teaches and performs at schools, universities, churches, community organizations, providing programs and workshops for organizations such as the Kentucky Humanities Council, the Swannanoa Singing Camp in North Carolina and the Findhorn Foundation in Forres, Scotland. Recently, Dr. Bullock was the first artist at the John C. Campbell Folk School to teach a program on Appalachian and African American Musical Connections. Other research projects include an edition of art songs and spirituals by contemporary African-American composers.
In response to the 2020 pandemic Dr. Bullock created a series of inspirational videos online, performing songs of faith and hope. Indeed in all of her work, Dr. Bullock shares infectious joy and inspires heartfelt connections as she celebrates the transcending power of love and spirit through music.
For those wishing to hear Dr. Bullock on Jan. 18 at 10 a.m., via Microsoft Teams Meeting, call 859-286-5834. The conference ID is 615 298 053.
(Dr. Kathy Bullock will speak in virtual observance of Martin Luther King Day.)
