The African Children’s Choir (Photo / Ryan Meuller)

By: Bobby Marvin
Special to the AFRO

(December 18, 2008) - A soothing harmony of praise gives life to the halls of the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. The sounds are not uncommon in the historic venue, except this particular morning the voices of children can be heard.

Taking a break from the huge audiences they have grown accustomed to, the children are gathered for their special moment of “devotion,“ a time where they give thanks for their blessings and the additional ones to come.

They are sitting in a circle, dressed down in jeans, sweatshirts and T-shirts, with some sporting the colorful headbands they have become known for wearing. A bit shy and soft-spoken, they each go around and share their most memorable Christmas moments with their families back home, with giggles for the stories they find humorous. After devotion, they break their circle and embrace each other and their chaperones with hugs and kind words as they begin their full day of school. Those that are able to get a quick peek through the window passing by wouldn’t expect for this small bunch to be the world renown African Children’s Choir, here to perform at the Holiday Spectacular with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

Beginning Dec. 12-23, the 26-member African Children’s Choir, made up of Ugandan and Kenyan children, will be in town for the annual holiday event that features Grammy award winning Christian vocalist and host Sandi Patty with conductors Jack Everly and Steven Reineke, and the Baltimore School for the Arts Dancers. Throughout the week the children are busy with rigorous schedules of not only performances, but school, which is a top priority.

“Education is considered the key to breaking the cycle of poverty,” said Dawna Hodgins, publicity administrator for the African Children’s Choir. “So, by providing the children with an education it’s giving them an opportunity to have a future.”

Back home, the children are reminded once again why they perform and why it is so vital to reach the masses around the world. Their inspirational stories begin not on stage, but in a crossfire of poverty and hopelessness.

The African Children’s Choir was created by human rights activist Ray Barnett in 1984 after he witnessed the aftermath of a civil war in Uganda that left thousands of children orphaned. Once Barnett realized the talented singing ability many of the children possessed, he envisioned a children’s choir that would tour to attract sponsorships and donations benefiting their education and personal growth.

The idea became a huge success and has saved the lives of many children.

“We help thousands of children reach their potential when other wise they would have been simply unable to afford school,” said Victor Thiessen, a math teacher and chaperone for the choir. “Certainly the children on tour have a much greater experience, having been around the United States and Canada, but the funds that we raise help us to put several other thousand children through school in Africa, and that is going to make a huge difference for them.”