MC’s 2025 Humanities Teacher of the Year to discuss folk, blues, jazz music’s classical influence
Renee Wilson, associate professor of music at Mississippi College and the Mississippi Humanities Council’s 2025 Teacher of the Year for MC, will present “Elevated: The Impact of Vernacular Music on American Art Music,” at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 18, in the Jean Pittman Williams Recital Hall in the Aven Fine Arts Building on the Clinton campus.
Wilson will highlight examples of the significant influence of folk music, the blues and jazz upon what is commonly recognized as “classical music.” These popular musical forms tell the stories of people, link us to history and are considered important cultural artifacts.
The Mississippi Humanities Council recognizes the outstanding contributions of 30 humanities faculty members with the Humanities Teacher of the Year Awards, which pay tribute to faculty in traditional humanities fields at each of the state’s colleges and universities.
Wilson said being selected as MC’s Humanities Teacher of the Year is a significant validation of her work with students at Mississippi College.
“I cannot help but feel a bit humbled to join my esteemed colleagues who have been awarded MHC Educator of the Year at Mississippi College,” she said. “Each is a gifted, insightful scholar and educator, and I am pleased to join their ranks.
“Among them, Dr. Viola Dacus, who was the 2021 MHC Educator of the Year for Mississippi College, has been a significant mentor to me in my time at MC.”
“Renee is a very thoughtful teacher and musician,” said Dacus, MC associate professor of music. “She delves not only into the mechanics of music-making, but also the influences and creative resources that went into the music itself.
“Her curiosity and depth of knowledge provide a rich experience for all her students.”
Wilson’s colleagues commend her recognition as the MHC’s 2025 Teacher of the Year for MC.
“Renee’s an active researcher in areas of music education that can meaningfully impact the future teachers she is mentoring,” said Ben Williams, associate professor and chair of music at MC. “Her presentation this spring intersects with music like the blues, which had its founding in Mississippi, ‘the birthplace of America’s music.’
“Our students get the opportunity to work with someone actively moving our field forward in ways to better engage with the communities in which we work.”
Wilson earned her M.Mus. at Western Kentucky University and obtained her M.Mus. and her Ph.D. from Texas Tech University. She joined the Mississippi College faculty in the fall of 2017 and serves as the coordinator of undergraduate and graduate music education programs.
Her research includes qualitative studies of the experiences of music teachers at primary, secondary and tertiary levels of education, community arts involvement, and parenthood and employment within the arts.
Wilson said that as an undergraduate student, she never dreamt of teaching in a university.
“My plan was to teach middle school band,” she said. “To this day, middle school bands hold space in my heart. God provided inspiration and opportunity that became a path to Mississippi College. He receives the credit for any successes that I experience.”
She said her goal for each of the courses she teaches is to create a learner-centered environment where students engage with the content in personally meaningful ways.
“I hope all of my students understand that the development of music is impacted by the other arts, sciences, technology and history,” she said. “We tend to learn about these as separate subjects, but they all develop together, and when we understand the relationships between them, we have a better understanding of the cultures and times from which they come.”
The Feb. 18 lecture is free, and the public is invited. A dessert reception will follow the event.
Wilson will be recognized by the MHC during the 2025 Public Humanities Award ceremony and reception scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Friday, March 28, at the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson. Tickets for the event are $50 each and may be purchased through the MHC website.
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