2026 ROYER SESSIONS

WHAT WE CREATE TOGETHER ONLY HAPPENS ONCE

SEPT 30

PETE SHUNGU

BEATS, RHYMES AND LIFE

A HIP HOP FOCUSSED SONGWRITING WORKSHOP

Participants will have the opportunity to learn some of the basics about hip hop, both as a style of music, and as a cultural practice consisting of 5 elements. Then we will dive deeper into the element of Emceeing (rapping), learning about concepts such as lyrics, delivery, flow, wordplay and rhyme. Participants will have the opportunity to create lyrics, freestyle and engage in songwriting from a hip hop perspective, building on their feelings/moods, areas of interest, cultural/linguistic backgrounds and life experiences to create meaningful lyrics.

JOIN THIS SESSION

OCT 7

JA'NELLE DAVENPORT - PLEASURE

REFLECTIONS UNVEILED

A JOURNEY THROUGH SELF PORTRAIT POETRY

An immersive poetry experience that invites participants to turn the mirror inward and explore identity, memory, truth, and the many experiences that shape who we are. Participants will explore the art of self-portrait poetry through reflection, guided prompts, conversation, writing, and creative experimentation. Together, we'll examine how poets have used language to reveal pieces of themselves, then use those ideas as a doorway into discovering our own poetic voices. No previous poetry experience isCome as you are. Leave having written yourself into view. required.

JOIN THIS SESSION

OCT 14

UNITING PRIDE OF CC

THE ART OF JOY

PRIDE IN EVERY PIECE, JOY IN EVERY STORY

Celebrate Pride Fest Week through creativity, connection, and the powerful act of sharing what brings us joy. During this special Royer Session, each participant will create a small, personal image inspired by the people, places, memories, identities, and experiences that make their life brighter.Every individual creation will then be brought together to form one vibrant, unified work of art—honoring the many different stories and expressions of joy that make our LGBTQIA2S+ community so strong and beautiful. No artistic experience is needed. Simply bring your imagination, your perspective, and something that makes you smile.

JOIN THIS SESSION

OCT 21

CU JAZZ FESTIVAL

LISTENING WITH SCISSORS

VISUAL ART + JAZZ

Inspired by Matisse and the cut-out project he called Drawing with Scissors, we will create original visual works. Participants will examine the creative process and how Matisse utilized negative space and color, then apply these principles to listening practices and improvisatory music. During the workshop, we will listen to live jazz and create our own visual vocabulary.Each participant will be guided to deepen this vocabulary, express it in response to the
music, and in ultimately, create a whole new piece of work.

JOIN THIS SESSION

OCT 28

DJ SILKEE

DROP THE BEAT

FROM LISTENER TO DJ: FIND YOUR SOUND

What does it take to turn a playlist into an experience? Step behind the booth with DJ Silkee for an interactive introduction to the art, energy, and creativity of DJing. Discover how DJs choose tracks, read the energy of a crowd, build momentum, mix sounds, and create transitions that keep people moving.
Then it’s your turn to get hands-on. Using sample DJ boards, you’ll experiment with beats, blending, timing, and the basics of creating your own mix while discovering how much creativity goes into every set. Whether you’ve always wondered what happens behind the DJ booth or simply love music and want to try something new, this session is your chance to experience DJing from the other side of the speakers.

JOIN THIS SESSION

NOV 04

NICCOLE POWERS

TBA

COMING SOON

NOV 11

JA'NELLE DAVENPORT-PLEASURE

THE CONVERSATION

LEARNING TO SPEAK THROUGH MOVEMENT

NOV 18

FINALE

THE HOUSE REMEMBERS

WHERE CREATIVITY LEAVES IT'S MARK

This beginner-friendly movement experience is designed to take the fear and intimidation out of dance and remind us that movement is something our bodies already know how to do. We’ll begin with gentle stretching, intentional movement, and body care before exploring rhythm, connection, and the many ways we communicate through dance. From there, we’ll bring it all together with a short, fun routine that everyone can learn. No dance experience is necessary—there is no pressure to get it right, no complicated choreography, and no expectation that you already know how to dance. Come ready to move, laugh, connect, and discover what your body has to say.

JOIN THIS SESSION

Return to the Royer House for the culminating evening of Royer Sessions—a vibrant celebration bringing together the artists, performances, and collaborative works created throughout the series. Revisit the stories, sounds, movement, and artwork that filled the house week after week, now woven together into one unforgettable experience. Meet the featured artists, connect with fellow participants, and explore how each session left its mark on the Royer House. Whether you attended one evening or joined us throughout the series, you are invited to celebrate everything our community imagined, shared, and created together.

JOIN THIS SESSION

MEET OUR ARTISTS

PETE SHUNGU

Pete ‘Afro D’ Shungu is a trumpet player, MC (rapper), spoken word poet, and educator who has lived in Champaign-Urbana since 2017. He is a Teaching Assistant Professor of Music Education and Co-Director of the William Patterson Hip Hop Innovation Center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He is the bandleader for Champaign-Urbana live hip hop/soul bands Afro D & Global Soundwaves and Nebulous, and he also plays trumpet in Champaign-Urbana based Mariachi Libertad. He is trilingual (English, Spanish, French) and has taught a variety of subjects, including music, ESL, history, service-learning, and hip hop emceeing, on both the K-12 and university levels in several different places, including Champaign-Urbana, IL; Boston, MA; Brooklyn, NY; and Colima, Mexico. Born in New Jersey to a father from the heartland of Africa (Democratic Republic of Congo) and a mother from the heartland of the US (Kansas), he is a ‘Double Jumbo’, having earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Tufts University in Medford, MA. He has experience teaching hip hop-focused songwriting workshops to youth and adults in a variety of settings.

JA'NELLE DAVENPORT - PLEASURE

Ja Nelle Davenport-Pleasure is an award-winning poet, author, multidisciplinary artist, fashion designer, and former Urbana Poet Laureate whose creative work explores identity, truth, resilience, and the stories we carry. Her artistic practice moves beyond the page, bringing poetry into conversation with visual art, fashion, performance, and lived experience. Through workshops and community arts programming, Ja Nelle creates spaces that invite people to explore their own voices and recognize the power of their stories.

UNITING PRIDE OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY

Since 2009, Uniting Pride of Champaign County has been a driving force for equality, wellness, and LGBTQIA2S+ visibility throughout East Central Illinois. Through affirming support and social groups, community-building events, educational workshops, advocacy, and connections to vital resources, Uniting Pride creates spaces where people can feel safe, celebrated, and empowered to live authentically. With joy, connection, and civic engagement at the heart of its work, Uniting Pride is building a stronger, more inclusive community where people of all gender and sexual identities can live healthy, vibrant, and fulfilling lives.

JENELLE ORCHERTON

Jenelle Orcherton is a jazz performer and educator, with training in Education and a Masters in Jazz Performance from the University of Illinois. She is the Artistic Director and Founder of the annual Champaign-Urbana Jazz Festival, which will celebrate its 2 year anniversary season this October. She has served on many music and community organizations including Music Defying Boundaries and the Urbana Public Arts Commission. Jenelle has twenty years of education experience and is passionate about giving all audiences the opportunity to engage with jazz.

KINSEY FITZGERALD

Kinsey Fitzgerald is an artist, doula, and educator who lives and practices in Urbana,Illinois. She recently graduated from Eastern Illinois University with her MA in Studio Art where she focused on the technical aspects of drawing and painting, specifically figure drawing and color theory. In 2017 she graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with her BFA in Craft and a concentration on Ceramic Sculpture. She has studied a variety of disciplines, including life drawing, and costume design. Kinsey also enjoys being an artist and educator, having taught preschool art and also
workshops for Young Artists Studio at the Urbana Free Library. She has won several local Public Artworks including the Native Prairie Roses, 2022 and the sculpture Mother and Child, 2020. Her work has been shown domestically, as well as internationally. It is loved and kept in many private collections locally and all around the world.

NICCOLE POWERS

COMING SOON

JA'NAEA MODEST- DJ SILKEE

Ja’Naea Modest, professionally known as DJ Silkee, is an award-winning DJ, educator, and cultural curator based in Urbana, Illinois. Known for her ability to read any room and deliver high-energy, genre-blending sets, DJ Silkee has established herself as one of the Midwest’s most sought-after DJs.Her performance resume includes opening for nationally recognized artists such as Tweet, Ava Max, DJ Self, and Young Dro, as well as providing music for large-scale events, festivals, and institutional clients including the University of Illinois, Champaign Unit 4 Schools, Urbana School District 116, the Urbana Sweet Corn Festival, and the Urbana Get Down. Whether on stage or behind the decks at
community events, DJ Silkee consistently creates engaging, memorable experiences that connect with diverse audiences. In addition to her work as a performer, DJ Silkee is a dedicated educator and mentor. She serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Illinois, where she teaches DJing and introduces students to the technical, cultural, and creative aspects of the craft. Her commitment to education extends into the community as the founder of She Spins, an all-girls DJ camp for ages 10–17 designed to empower young women through music, technology, and confidence-building experiences rooted in STEM. Her impact has earned her recognition as a 2023 News-Gazette 40 Under 40 Woman of the Year, highlighting both her professional excellence and her commitment to community development. With a unique blend of performance expertise, educational leadership, and community engagement, DJ Silkee continues to push boundaries while building pathways for the next generation of creatives.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Step inside the historic Royer House

for an intimate evening filled with art, performance, conversation, and connection. Each session offers something different, inviting you to experience the creative process up close, meet talented local artists, and take part in creating something meaningful together.

MEET THE HOUSE

Built in 1905 and designed by renowned local architect Joseph Royer, the Royer House is more than a beautiful backdrop—it is part of the experience. Its warm rooms, distinctive architecture, and historic character create an inspiring setting where local art, new ideas, and community connections can come to life.

JOIN A SESSION

No artistic experience is needed—just bring your curiosity and a willingness to participate. Meet local artists, explore different creative mediums, connect with others, and help shape a one-of-a-kind collaborative work. Every session offers a new opportunity to create, contribute, and become part of the Royer Sessions story.