On April 9, internationally celebrated conductor and Brooklyn College Professor of Music Malcolm J. Merriweather was inducted into the Martin Luther King Jr. Collegium of Scholars at Morehouse College, an esteemed international body of academics, researchers, and professionals recognized for their commitment to social responsibility, civil rights, and moral leadership in the tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Merriweather, the inaugural Tania León Chair of Music in the School of Visual, Media and Performing Arts, is a Grammy-nominated artist whose influence spans the global stage and the classroom. At Brooklyn College, he serves as director of choral studies and coordinator of the vocal studies program. Beyond campus, he is director of the New York Philharmonic Chorus and music director of New York City’s Dessoff Choirs and Orchestra.
(Left to right) Malcolm J. Merriweather with Martin Luther King III.
(Left to right) Malcolm J. Merriweather with fellow inductee Keith Boykin.
The induction marks a significant milestone in Merriweather’s career, affirming not only his artistic excellence but also his dedication to using music as a vehicle for community engagement and social impact. The ceremony offered a particularly meaningful moment, as Merriweather had the opportunity to connect with members of Dr. King’s family, including Bernice King and Martin Luther King III.
“This honor is profoundly humbling,” Merriweather said. “To be recognized in the name of Dr. King, and to stand in community with scholars and leaders committed to justice, compassion, and service, is both a privilege and a call to continue using music as a force for connection and change.”
You can read more about Merriweather and his impact on Brooklyn College and the arts world in this interview in the Brooklyn College Magazine.
