Bryon K. Black II

Bryon K. Black II is pursuing a Doctoral of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting at the University of South Carolina. He is currently a choral graduate assistant, working closely with the UofSC choirs. A native of Akron, OH, he received his B.M. in Music Education from Ashland University, and his M.M. in Choral Conducting from Kent State University. As a KSU alumnus, Bryon proudly served as a Professor on the KSU School of Music faculty. There, he conducted the KSU Coro Cantare (formerly Men’s Chorus) and KSU Gospel Choir, as well as teaching courses in choral conducting. He also formerly served as the Director of Music at Tallmadge Lutheran Church, directing the Chancel Choir and Praise Team.

An active composer, Bryon’s choral compositions have been performed by several ensembles, including choirs at Kent State University, Slippery Rock University and the University of Lincoln-Nebraska. Coro Cantare premiered original compositions by Bryon written specifically for their ensemble. Under his direction, this ensemble also performed the world premieres of compositions by area composers. In November 2018, he and Durrell LeGrair premiered many of their arrangements of traditional African American concert spirituals for In the Spirit! as a part of the “Faith at Four” concert series at Faith Lutheran Church in Akron. Bryon started The Harvest Choir in 2017 to perform original, uplifting choral works for independent concerts, including premiere performances of his compositions. In December 2016, he premiered On Christmas Night, a cantata consisting of original arrangements for chorus and orchestra, for services at Tallmadge Lutheran Church. Some of Bryon’s ensembles were featured during public programs at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens in Akron, including the Deck the Hall, an annual holiday event. He has worked with the choirs in Akron’s Youth Excellence Performing Arts Workshop (YEPAW) Summer Intensive program and the 365 Leadership Academy for many years. He has also served as a guest conductor and clinician for various choral festivals and other events throughout Northeast Ohio.

Bryon has performed solos and sung in choruses professionally, including in concert series with Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY) performing at Carnegie Hall. This included preparing the Tallmadge Lutheran Church Chancel Choir to sing Mary Donald and Joel Raney’s original cantata Sing Christmas at Carnegie Hall in November 2019. He currently holds membership in the American Choral Directors Association, South Carolina Choral Directors Association, the National Collegiate Choral Organization, and the College Music Society. Under his direction, performances by the KSU Gospel Choir and Coro Cantare were featured in the 2020 and 2021 OCDA Annual Summer Conferences. He also served on the OCDA Board as the Chair of the Standing Committee for Diversity. Bryon resides in Columbia, SC, performing locally and composing frequently.