Wynton Marsalis Headlines Baylor's 2025 Beall-Russell Lecture

Since 1982, the Beall-Russell Lecture in the Humanities series in the College of Arts & Sciences, founded by the late Virginia Beall Ball, B.A. ’40, has welcomed some of the leading intellectuals of varied professions from around the world to Baylor’s campus. This year’s lecture features world-renowned trumpeter, bandleader, composer, author and leading advocate of American culture, Wynton Marsalis.

“We are excited and so fortunate to have Wynton Marsalis on our campus,” said Chair of the lecture series Kim Kellison, Ph.D. “His passion for jazz, music and the humanities has helped shape and inform artists for many years. His investment in our students and faculty will continue to impact the future for years to come.”

In addition to giving a lecture in the Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center on Nov. 13, Marsalis will join the Baylor Jazz Ensemble with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra in an evening performance in Waco Hall.

“It’s an awesome opportunity for our Baylor music students to work with and perform alongside the renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Observing, learning from and collaborating with musicians of their caliber represents the kind of transformational educational experiences we strive to create at Baylor,” Alex Parker, director of the Wayne Fisher Jazz Program, said.

Raised in a storied musical family, Wynton’s father, Ellis Marsalis Jr., was a renowned pianist, and his brothers Branford, Delfeayo and Jason also are accomplished musicians. Marsalis began trumpet practice at age 6, entered formal training by 12 and was accepted to Juilliard at 17 before joining Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, launching his professional career.

Marsalis’ original contributions to the classical and jazz canons are significant, many of which are genre-bending. He has composed 607 original songs and movements.

In 1997, Marsalis won the Pulitzer Prize for Music for Blood on the Fields, marking the first time the prize was awarded to a jazz composition.

Marsalis’ creativity has been celebrated throughout the world. Honors include the National Medal of Arts (2005), National Humanities Medal (2015), UN Messenger of Peace (2001) and many more, in addition to numerous honorary doctorates from elite universities such as Harvard, Yale and Princeton.

Past Beall-Russell lecturers have included poet Maya Angelou, journalist Bill Moyers, historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, filmmaker Ken Burns and Nobel Prize winner for Literature Czeslaw Milosz.

“Highlighting the humanities in the Beall-Russell series helps them come alive,” said Kellison. “These illustrious speakers challenge our community on campus and beyond to think, question and look at life a little differently, no matter their background. The series also is an important avenue for highlighting the value of the arts and humanities. It’s a perfect fit for Baylor, where our goal is to support every student in following their calling and finding success as a leader and servant in the world.”