If you have some time to get to the School of Music building in this week, you can check out the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music special exhibit on William “Willie” Thomas Summerville in the lobby. Summerville was a University of Illinois grad, former Marching Illini tuba player, spent most of his career as a choral director in Urbana schools, and was a founding member of Canaan Missionary Baptist church, where he was a deacon, treasurer, and music minister.
The exhibit honors his career and contributions to the community. You can read more about the exhibit from this interview with his daughter, Shandra A. Summerville.
The School of Music building is located at 1114 W Nevada. The exhibit will be up through March 1st.