Mark Miller and Julian Wamble to Perform New Art Songs at Old Whaling Church on July 31

On July 31, the historic Old Whaling Church in Edgartown will host a rare collaboration between composer Mark A. Miller and baritone Julian Wamble. The duo will debut a fresh collection of art songs that blend the words of Langston Hughes, Paul Laurence Dunbar, William Wordsworth and contemporary lyricist Lindy Thompson into new musical settings.

Miller, a composer, pianist and organist who teaches church music at Drew University and lectures in sacred music at Yale, first crossed paths with Wamble during a choir rehearsal at Drew. After hearing Wamble’s powerful voice, Miller invited him to sing a solo, and the two quickly became close collaborators. Wamble later joined the course as a teaching assistant and has since served as a frequent sounding board for Miller’s compositions.

The program, titled Joy, Justice and Resilience, will feature six songs. Miller’s settings of Hughes’ The Negro Speaks of Rivers, As I Grew Older and I, Too, Sing America will be paired with a new adaptation of Wordsworth’s The World Is Too Much With Us. Two additional pieces were written with contemporary lyricist Lindy Thompson, while Wamble contributed the lyrics to The Sacred In‑Between, inspired by an autumn train ride.

Miller has said that the concert’s title reflects his aim to use music as a force for resilience and to counter divisive forces. He believes that music created for church contexts should be inclusive, embodying values such as justice, peace, love, forgiveness and hospitality.

This will be the second public presentation of the new songs. Their first debut took place in a New Jersey church. The Edgartown concert follows Miller’s role as music director for the August 9 Festival of Worship in Word and Song at Trinity Park Tabernacle, where he will share the stage with guest preacher Sen. Raphael Warnock. Miller will also perform with Wamble in the choir at the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury on Sunday.

Wamble, an associate professor of political science at George Washington University, is known for his research on race and politics. He hosts a podcast on the Harry Potter series and teaches a seminar titled Harry Potter and the Politics of Social Identity.

Miller, born in 1967, is a Yale and Juilliard graduate. He serves as Professor of Church Music and Director of Chapel at Drew University and as Minister of Music at Christ Church in Summit, New Jersey. His compositions are widely performed in Mainline Protestant churches.

The Old Whaling Church, located at 89 Main Street, has hosted a variety of musical events in recent years. Its acoustics and historic setting are expected to complement the intimate nature of the art‑song program.

Tickets, suggested at $20, can be purchased online or at the door. The event is open to the public and promises a contemplative evening that highlights the intersection of music, poetry and social themes.

After the performance, Miller and Wamble will discuss the creative process behind the new songs, followed by a brief Q&A session with the audience.

The concert will run for approximately two hours, including a short intermission. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Old Whaling Church website or contact the venue directly.