Lower School Performing Arts Faculty member Samantha Spridellis was this year’s Gordan Lecture speaker. Held during community time, Upper School students, professional community members, and several Class VIII students gathered to hear her lecture, "Black Country Music & the Black Cowboy: How Black People Shaped Country and Cowboy Culture and Identity in the United States."

During the 2023–2024 school year, Ms. Spiridellis designed a professional development opportunity to explore Black country music, specifically Black string band music and cowboy culture, in Fort Worth, Texas, and New Orleans, Louisiana. While country music and cowboy culture are often associated with white men on horseback, playing banjos, and singing about lost loves or lands, there is a rich yet often overlooked history of African Americans whose lives and contributions are rooted in these traditions.

In her lecture, Ms. Spiridellis traced the origins of the cowboy, the impact of slavery on ranching practices, modern Black cowboys, and the connections between hip hop and Black country culture. From a musical perspective, she explored the history of the banjo, early string band music, and how 1920s media shaped perceptions of country music and cowboy culture. She also explored Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter album, discussing its references to Black country music and cowboy history, including her Christmas Day NFL halftime performance.

The Catherine M.S. Gordan Nightingale Mind Lecture series celebrates intellectual life at Nightingale. Established in honor of former Associate Head of School Kitty Gordan—who dedicated more than 42 years to the school—the annual series highlights the scholarly pursuits and interests of our faculty, both inside and outside the classroom.