November 2026 and April 2027
ERUUF will welcome the Singing Rams and their director, Maestra D'Walla Simmons-Burke to our sanctuary on Sunday, November 15, when they will offer compelling music to enrich worship during the 11:00 AM service. Singers from WSSU will return in the spring to provide music for worship on April 4, 2027, following the congregation’s weeklong pilgrimage to Alabama.
The Choir-in-Residence is a strategic initiative that emerged as part of the ERUUF Artist-in-Residence (AIR) Program. In alignment with ERUUF’s Racial Equity and Inclusion Theory of Change initiatives, the Choir-in-Residence works to further inspire us toward innovative use of the arts in co-creative worship.
The Grammy-nominated Winston-Salem State University Choir (aka WSSU Singing Rams) is the oldest student organization on the campus of Winston-Salem State University. The University Choir is now under the leadership and baton of Maestra D'Walla Simmons-Burke.
This University Choir has performed commissioned works such as On Imagination and I Too (Undine Smith Moore), Recent Reflections on Deep River (Michael Williams), Come Sunday (arr. S. Van Dixon), Hold On and Oh, What a Beautiful City (arr. Stacey V. Gibbs). Under the leadership of Maestra Simmons-Burke, The Winston-Salem State University Choir has traveled both nationally and internationally recording and performing major works with professional ensembles and major symphony orchestras such as the American Spiritual Ensemble, Winston-Salem Symphony Orchestra, Gateways Festival Orchestra, Dvořák Symphony Orchestra, Colour of Music Symphony Orchestra, and the New England Symphony Orchestra when major works are programmed.
The Winston-Salem State University Choir has recorded 11 compact disks under Maestra Simmons-Burke’s leadership. Somewhere Far Away, recorded in Prague and published by Albany Records, was also nominated for a Grammy in 5 categories of the classical genre. The choir is also a recipient of two Telly Awards (2018 Silver People’s Telly and a Gold Telly) for the Singing Rams Hype Jam. The choir has performed for several major music conferences as the featured guest and has also performed on many national stages such as Carnegie Hall/Lincoln Center (New York) and the Kennedy Center (Washington, DC). The Winston-Salem State University Choir was one of the featured ensembles on the Lincoln Center stage to debut Rosephanye Powell’s Cry of Jeremiah. It was also one of the only university choirs from North Carolina’s sixteen (16) state institutions invited to perform during the festivities of the inauguration of former Governor James B. Hunt. This choir has been an ambassador for the university both nationally and internationally since its beginnings and is well sought after for its moving renditions of major choral works, spirituals, and world music.
About Maestra D'Walla Simmons-Burke
Maestra D'Walla Simmons-Burke is the Director of Choral and Vocal Studies and founder of three of five choral ensembles currently existing within the Department of Music at Winston-Salem State University (Amazwi Treble; Complesso Voce' and the renowned Burke Singers). The other choral ensembles are the Grammy-nominated Winston-Salem State University Choir (aka WSSU Singing Rams) and Schola Cantorum. Her choirs are well sought-after for the performances of master choral works, social justice songs, spirituals, and world music. Maestra Simmons-Burke's ensembles have also performed on national stages such as Carnegie Hall (NY), The Washington National Cathedral (DC), and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (NY). These ensembles have performed internationally with her in Prague, Vienna, Salzburg; Nassau, Bahamas; Accra, Cape Coast & Kumasi, Ghana - West Africa; and Pilanesberg, Cape Town; Johannesburg – South Africa. She was named one of the national conductors for the 105 Voices of History Concert Choir in Washington, DC, Nashville, TN and Nassau, Bahamas. She also received the 105 Voices of History John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center Medallion for her work with this concert choir. Simmons-Burke was appointed the national choral coordinator and one of three national conductors who lead the 105 Voices of History Concert Choir in their inaugural performance at the Grand Ole Opry - the first of its kind.
Because of Maestra Simmons-Burke’s work with mass concert choirs, she was selected as co-conductor for the 2020 Inaugural Mass HBCU Concert Choir of the ACDA Southern Region and guest conductor of the 2022 ACDA Southwestern Region Mass HBCU Honor Concert Choir. Her choral ensembles have performed for and/or with regional, national, and international dignitaries. Simmons-Burke is the recipient of several teaching, community service, and performance awards for her national achievements in music and research. Recently, Winston-Salem State University recognized Maestra Simmons-Burke with the Inaugural Simon G. Atkins Champion of Education Award. The North Carolina American Choral Directors Association presented Maestra Simmons-Burke The Lara Hoggard Award for Distinguished Service in Choral Music in North Carolina. Winston-Salem State University has also recognized Maestra Simmons-Burke for her social justice and community service in music by awarding her the 2025 Martin Luther King, Jr. Building the Dream Award. The Raleigh Links, Inc. recognized her with the 2026 Emerald Awards in the Arts.
She is listed in Outstanding Young Women of America and holds memberships in several professional organizations such as the Music Educators National Conference; American Choral Directors Association; Chorus America; National Association for the Study and Performance of African-American Music; National Association of Negro Musicians; Intercollegiate Music Association; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and The Moles.
