RALEIGH, N.C., Feb. 19, 2014 – William Peace University (http://www.peace.edu), a private four-year university located in downtown Raleigh, is proud to announce that it is honoring Black History Month by hosting a discussion on the Emancipation’s effect on music by Resident Conductor with the North Carolina Symphony, William Henry Curry, on Monday, Feb. 24, 2014. The event is part of the Duke Energy Honors Leadership Speaker Series and will be held in Leggett Theatre above Main Parlor located at 15 East Peace St. WPU Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of English Charles S. Duncan, Ph.D., will moderate the discussion.

Curry is entering his 18th season with the North Carolina Symphony and serves as the artistic director for the Rex Healthcare Summerfest Series and all North Carolina Symphony summer programs. Maestro Curry has also served as music director of the Durham Symphony Orchestra since 2009, and has conducted over 40 orchestras, including appearances with the Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, and National symphonies among others.

Duncan joined the WPU community as an assistant professor in 2001, later earning tenure in 2007, and being named Associate Dean of Academic Affairs in 2013. During his time at WPU, Duncan has taught many courses, including 19th Century American Literature, Introduction to Short Fiction, Non-Fiction Writing, Professional Writing, and Advanced Creative Writing among others. Duncan's professional research has focused on Charles Chestnutt, who was a mixed race author, essayist, political activist and lawyer, best known for his novels and short stories that explored complex issues of racial and social identity in the post-Civil War South. Duncan's research has also focused on 19th Century Western North American authors. He has presented papers at prestigious schools around the world including Cambridge and acted as guest lecturer at Duke University. Duncan was awarded the Sylvia Lyons Render Award for Outstanding Contribution to Chestnutt Studies and is a board member for the Charles Chestnutt Research Association. Duncan has also won William Peace University's McCorkmick Distinguished Teaching Award and the Stockard Research Award.

The discussion will be held at 6:30 p.m. and is open to the public. Tickets are free, but registration is required. For more details on the event and registration, visit: https://wpeaceu.wufoo.com/forms/duke-energy-honors-leadership-speaker-series/.

“William Peace University is excited to welcome William Henry Curry and our own professor, Dr. Duncan, to the stage for such an influential discussion,” said Debra M. Townsley, Ph.D., president of William Peace University. “Our students will have a unique and great opportunity to learn about the historical significance and impact that Emancipation had on our country.”