Biography
G. Preston Wilson, Jr. hails from Durham, NC., where he attended the public school system and his love of music was cultivated. He was very active in his church and in his community. In the seventh grade, he was anointed and called to play the organ at his home church, Refiner’s Fire Community Church, where Dr. Willie L. Jones, II is the Pastor. In his junior year he moved to the keyboards and was promoted to assistant musical director, a position he held until he left for college.
He received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Fisk University, where he was a member of the world-renowned, Grammy award-winning Fisk Jubilee Singers® under the direction of Dr. Paul T. Kwami. As a member of the Jubilee singers, he performed in Ghana and Spain and was featured on the recording project, Sacred Journey. He was earned a Master of Music in Choral Music Education from Bowling Green State University, where he was awarded the Winifred O. Stone Graduate Fellowship and was named the Presidential Graduate Scholar.
After graduating from Bowling Green, he taught in the Toledo Public School system. At Start High School, he oversaw five ensembles and the school dance team, and served as an advisor for the African American Culture Club. He was also the vocal coach and co-director for the Toledo Youth Choir, a community youth ensemble, and taught voice and piano for The Mustard Seed Academy of Arts. In addition, he served on the Music Ministry at Friendship Baptist Church, under the leadership of Bishop Duane C. Tisdale, where he was the principal accompanist, directed the Youth and Young Choir, and served as worship leader for district and state Full Gospel events.
Dr. Wilson earned a PhD in Music Education from the University of Missouri – Columbia. His dissertation focused on the lived experiences of urban music educators. His other research interests include the interrogation of music curriculum pedagogy through a Critical Race lens and practical applications of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the contemporary classroom. He was recently awarded the prestigious Mizzou 18 Award, given to selected graduate students for their outstanding research, collaboration with faculty and staff, and demonstrated leadership with undergraduate students.