Brenda Ellis, Ed.D.

Former Director of the Paul Laurence Dunbar Chorale

Dr. Brenda Ellis was an Associate Professor of Music and Director of the Paul Laurence Dunbar Chorale. She earned bachelor degrees in Music Performance and Social Science at Hiram College, a Master degree in Music Education from Case Western Reserve University and a Master and Doctorate in Music Education from Columbia University.

Dr. Ellis taught both Undergraduate and Graduate courses in African American Music and Music Education at Wright State and was a faculty member of the Gospel Music Workshop of America where she taught a course in Research in African American Sacred Music and was the Coordinator of the University Academic Program.

As Director of the Paul Laurence Chorale Dr. Ellis created an ensemble whose mission is to educate while entertaining through performances of a variety of African American music that include spirituals, gospel, art songs, anthems, concert works, blues, and jazz. The Chorale has performanced at the Ohio Music Education Association Conference, toured Toronto, Canada and Pennsylvania along with several local and regional performances.

Dr. Ellis has presented numerous lectures and presentations on African American music at local, regional, national and international conferences and made contributions to publications such as the Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance and the Oxford Book of Spirituals. She has served as a Director of Music in many churches and worked with local arts organizations presenting public performances of African American music.

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