The Heart Behind Requiem for Colour
Dr. Jeffery L. Ames brings decades of artistry, faith, and vision to this decade long journey.
Dr. Jeffery L. Ames is Director of Choral Activities and Full Professor of Music at Belmont University, where he leads and mentors the next generation of musicians. Before Belmont, he served at Baylor University and as a choral director in Florida, building choirs known for their excellence and spirit.
For more than a decade, Requiem for Colour lived in his imagination — musical themes scribbled on Post-it notes, ideas tucked onto what he calls his dream wall. In January 2022, that dream began to take its full form: a requiem that honors the resilience, sorrow, and joy of Black people from 1619 to today.
The Story Behind Requiem for Colour: A Journey from Africa to Today
A Life in Music: Conductor, Collaborator, Composer
Jeffery is a conductor at home on the world's great stages. He has conducted at Carnegie Hall with the National Youth Choir, led all state choirs including the inaugural Florida Male All State Chorus, and guest conducted across Costa Rica, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Estonia, South Korea, and Ghana.
He is also a gifted pianist and collaborator whose artistry has brought him alongside legends across genres, from André Thomas and Denyce Graves to CeCe Winans, Trisha Yearwood, Michael W. Smith, Sheryl Crow, and the Rolling Stones.
As a composer, his works have been premiered at ACDA conferences nationwide and featured on four national broadcasts of Christmas at Belmont. His music is published by Colla Voce, Earthsongs, Santa Barbara, and Walton and Gentry Publications.
Distinction & Recognition
A proud graduate of Florida State University and James Madison University, Dr. Ames was the first recipient of the National ACDA James Mulholland Fellowship and the first African American to represent the United States in the ACDA International Conductor Exchange Program.
Rooted in Faith & Family
Above all, he is a storyteller, a teacher, a man of faith, and a father. He lives in Nashville with his family, where Requiem for Colour continues its journey from dream to stage to world.
At this years Belmont University 2026 Awards Day, Dr. Ames was recognized for his landmark work, Requiem for Colour: A Journey through Lament and Joy. More than ten years in the making, the composition blends deep research with powerful artistry and has since reached audiences around the world through its PBS broadcast, its London premiere, and three MidSouth Emmy Awards.