On Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, Illinois Wesleyan hosted its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Teach-In, an event that honors Dr. King’s legacy through reflection, storytelling and, this year, music.
The program was made possible by sponsorships and collaboration with the Dean of Students Office, the Office of Campus Culture, Student Senate and the School of Music.
This year’s Teach-In, titled “We Shall Overcome: Music of the Civil Rights Era,” featured performances from the School of Music ensembles, including the Wind Ensemble, Collegiate Choir and Jazz Combo.
Throughout the program, music served as performance and as narrative, telling a story of racism, oppression, grief and the enduring spirit of resistance that defined the Civil Rights Movement and continues to shape the present.
Dr. Sheahon Zenger gave opening remarks, where he reflected on the history of the MLK Teach-In, which began in 2004 and has grown through collaboration across campus.
During the performance, sophomore Neveah Porter and first-year Riya Patel served as narrators, helping guide the audience through the musical and historical journey.
The program opened with “History of Tomorrow” by Dayla Spencer, performed by the Wind Ensemble.
Inspired by the idea that the work of today shapes the history of tomorrow, the piece set the tone for an afternoon rooted in both reflection and forward movement.
“New Wade ‘n Water,” a modern adaptation of the spiritual that once carried coded messages for enslaved people seeking freedom along the Underground Railroad.
Joined by guest musicians from the Bloomington-Normal community, the performance emphasized unity across generations and communities.
Pieces performed by the Jazz Combo explored some of the most painful chapters of American history.
“Strange Fruit,” which was written in response to the terror of lynching, showed audiences the brutal realities of racial violence, while John Coltrane’s “Alabama” honored the four young Black girls killed in the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church.
The Jazz Combo concluded its set with “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” often referred to as the Black National Anthem, a song that has long served as both a rallying cry and a promise of hope for communities of color.
Together, these works illustrated how music has historically been used to mourn, protest and imagine freedom.
The Collegiate Choir continued these themes. “When Thunder Comes” celebrated civil rights heroes and the power of unified voices to drown out fear, while “Hear My Prayer,” arranged by Moses Hogan, offered a quieter moment of reflection—one rooted in vulnerability, faith and resilience.
The program concluded with “Of Our New Day Begun,” a collaboration between the Wind Ensemble and Collegiate Choir, which was written in response to the 2015 shooting at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC.
“Of Our New Day Begun”’s length and emotional depth allowed the story of pain and perseverance to fully unfold, and was met with a standing ovation from the audience.
It was a moment that captured the spirit of the Teach-In itself: acknowledging the weight of history while committing to moving forward together.
Following the performance, Director Logan Campbell offered closing remarks, thanking attendees for their presence and reaffirming his belief in the power of music to educate, connect and inspire change.
Campbell’s words echoed the central lesson of the day: that honoring Dr. King’s legacy requires more than remembrance. It calls for reflection, imagination and action.
