Gospel great, Kirk Franklin, to hold a masterclass at Yale

On Thursday, April 24, 20-time GRAMMY® award-winning artist, songwriter, and producer, Kirk Franklin, will hold a masterclass at Yale. The sold-out event at New Haven’s Immanuel Baptist Church will also be livestreamed at this link at 7 p.m. The evening of interactive music-making is part of Professor Braxton D. Shelley’s course on “The Gospel Imagination: Tradition and Revolution.” Franklin will critique student compositions, participate in a free-flowing discussion about his life and work, and direct members of a New Haven-based community choir as they sing several of his best-loved songs. 

The event is sponsored by the Yale Institute of Sacred Music’s Music and the Black Church Initiative and is co-sponsored by the Yale Schwarzman Center, Yale School of Music, and Yale Divinity School.

Dr. Braxton Shelley is a path-breaking theorist of African American sacred music and the faculty director of the Interdisciplinary Program in Music and the Black Church.

In honor of the Kirk Franklin residency, there will also be a service in Marquand Chapel at Yale Divinity School on Thursday, April 24 at 11:30 a.m. Rev. Peter Wherry, senior pastor of the Mayfield Memorial Missionary Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC, will speak and Pastor Lisa Page Brooks, a contemporary gospel music recording artist, will sing. The service can be viewed via livestream. 

While at Yale, Franklin will also be interviewed by Ambre Dromogoole, M.A.R. ’17, Ph.D. ’23, assistant professor of Africana religions and music in the Africana Studies and Research Center at Cornell University. The interview will be added to the growing collection of gospel greats that are part of Yale’s Oral History of American Music (OHAM) archive housed in the Irving S. Gilmore Music Library. 

About Kirk Franklin

For over three decades, Kirk Franklin has been a transformative force in contemporary Gospel Music, masterfully blending Gospel, R&B, Hip-Hop, and Pop to create a unique and enduring sound that resonates across generations. Known as one of the most impactful and innovative figures in modern music, Franklin continues to expand the reach of Gospel Music, redefining its place in mainstream culture.

In October 2023, he released his latest solo album, Father’s Day (Fo Yo Soul/RCA), which has received widespread critical and commercial acclaim. The album’s #1 hit single, All Things, earned Franklin his 20th GRAMMY Award at the 2024 GRAMMYs, where it won Best Gospel Performance/Song. This milestone cements Franklin’s status as the most decorated artist in Gospel Music history.

Franklin’s influence extends far beyond the recording studio. He recently headlined The Reunion Tour 2.0, following its highly successful debut in 2023. This year’s tour featured a star-studded lineup of Gospel icons, including Yolanda Adams, Fred Hammond, The Clark Sisters, and Marvin Sapp, with special guest Kierra Sheard-Kelly.

Beyond the accolades and chart-topping success, Franklin is passionate about making Gospel Music accessible to new audiences. He works tirelessly to ensure the genre reaches greater heights through collaborations with renowned artists such as Mariah Carey, Khalid, Lil Baby, Chance the Rapper, Kanye West, Justin Timberlake, Justin Bieber, Demi Lovato, Michael Jackson, and Wyclef Jean. These groundbreaking partnerships have expanded Gospel’s influence, bringing its message of hope and redemption to diverse listeners worldwide.

Franklin is equally committed to uplifting communities and nurturing the next generation of artists. Through his Camp Lotus, he provides aspiring musicians and singers with mentorship and resources to pursue their dreams. He also supports charitable organizations like Compassion International and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, using his platform to advocate for causes close to his heart.

In March 2023, Franklin made history by becoming the first artist to achieve 100 weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Songwriters chart—a groundbreaking milestone on any Billboard songwriters’ chart. His SiriusXM channel, Kirk Franklin’s Praise, continues to bring Gospel Music to millions of listeners, while his ventures into film and television further amplify his creative vision. Franklin has executive produced acclaimed projects like BET’s Kingdom Business and Lifetime’s Kirk Franklin’s A Gospel Christmas and The Night Before Christmas. In 2023, Franklin co-hosted TVOne’s dating show The One alongside his wife, Tammy Franklin, offering a fresh take on love and relationships.
Through his artistry, innovation, and dedication to community, Kirk Franklin remains a trailblazer whose impact transcends music. He continues to inspire millions around the world, using his platform to share a message of faith, love, and perseverance.