The HBCU Symphony is the first gospel ensemble dedicated to revitalizing Negro spirituals as modern classical hymns. The organization was founded to provide a platform for students and alumni to celebrate the roots of African-American culture. The Album “Now Testament” serves as the centerpiece to gospel, classical and hip hop genre.

The HBCU Symphony was founded by Dr. Sir William James Baptist on March 14, 2023 at 5:51pm as an ensemble and organization to support the advancement of music education, hands on practicum experience in the music industry, and funding efforts for students and music programs of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. 

With a mission to support student-musicians in all their endeavors, the HBCU Symphony aims to create and seek out professional opportunities in performance and education for HBCU students, directors, and alumni in an effort to increase HBCU visibility in all facets of the music industry. The HBCU Symphony is the first gospel ensemble dedicated to revitalizing Negro spirituals as modern classical hymns. It was founded to provide a platform to celebrate the roots of African-American culture.

Made up of HBCU student-musicians, directors, and alumni, the 2023-2024 Alpha class members of the HBCU Symphony came together with Dr. Baptist, best known as global artist, Sir the Baptist, and a list of decorated artists and producers, to create the NOW TESTAMENT, an unconventional, contemporary Gospel album, that is sure to continue the path set by Sir the Baptist and Tennessee State University, as a highly respected and decorated album. 

Sir the Baptist and the tymple team were blessed to work with student-musicians made up of vocalists and instrumentalists, directors, and alumni representing 11 HBCUs across 5 states over the summer of 2023. Each person bringing their unique sound and soul to a project that is one of a kind. The HBCU Symphony Alpha Class Student-musician and director members represent North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Winston Salem State University, Shorter College, Arkansas Baptist College, Philander Smith University, Mississippi Valley State University, Fisk University, and Wilberforce University. Our alumni members represent North Carolina Central University, Elizabeth City State University, and Saint Augustine’s University. 

Creating this album was the first experience as a member of the HBCU Symphony. Each live recording session wielded learning, creating, collaborating, networking, and a finished product that highlights Black music and continues to spread the Gospel. The album serves as the centerpiece to genres, and generations of black musicians and composers who attended black institutions.

The NOW TESTAMENT is just the beginning. It is our prayer that the HBCU Symphony grows as an ensemble and organization that partners with Black music programs to support the aims and goals of their students. We can only hope to help the advancement of music education while continuing to merge the music industry with practicum education. 

The HBCU Symphony, will continue to build classes of HBCU students, directors, and alumni each year to participate in the creation and recording or music, film and television, symphony hall performances, and other professional opportunities. 

Tymple Mastery Program: A classroom-studio experience that brings the recording process to the HBCU Symphony. Students contribute to industry music recordings while learning and improving on key skills in theory, arranging, vocal and instrumental performance, engineering, production, collaboration, and professional development 

Family Experience: The HBCU Symphony extends professional and educational opportunities to alumni musicians in an effort to build another level of support and visibility for HBCU music. The alumni experience continues to cultivate and support HBCU Symphony members well after graduation. In an effort to extend our reach, the HBCU Symphony aims to have partnerships with businesses, organizations, and persons of HBCU alumni status.

Professional opportunities: The HBCU Symphony aims to facilitate opportunities in the music industry for it members to be paid artists an/or contributors. Focusing on opportunities in live performance, touring, scoring, arranging, studio session work, instrumental and vocal recording.