Uganda: Globe-touring African Children’s Choir takes the stage in San Jose

Africa/Uganda/Julio de 2016/Autora: Julia Baum/Fuente: The Mercury News

RESUMEN: Inspirado por las actuaciones del Coro de Niños Africanos con audiencias alrededor del mundo durante más de tres décadas, el 13 de julio el grupo se puso en un concierto gratuito en Crossroads Bible Church en el barrio de Burbank de San José. El grupo, formado por niños pequeños, desde más de media docena de países africanos empobrecidos, recientemente realizó una presentación ante la Reina de Inglaterra y ha compartido escenario con Paul McCartney, Mariah Carey y otros artistas de grabación.
Como parte del programa educativo de la música con sede en Uganda para la Vida, el coro en sus giras ha recaudado fondos para proporcionar oportunidades educativas para más de 52.000 niños en África desde 1984. El acceso a la escolarización de un solo niño que vive en la pobreza puede tener un efecto dominó en sus familias, dijo el manager de coro Tina Sipps. «La educación es, junto a los alimentos, su necesidad percibida mayor», dijo Sipps. «Así que realmente estamos tratando de educar a los hijos que podemos para que puedan cuidar de sí mismos y tal vez incluso proporcionar una educación para sus hermanos y hermanas.»

Inspirational performances by the African Children’s Choir have hit high notes with audiences around the globe for more than three decades, and on July 13 the group will put on a free concert at Crossroads Bible Church in San Jose’s Burbank neighborhood.
The group, made up of young children from more than half a dozen impoverished African countries, recently performed before the Queen of England and has shared the stage with Paul McCartney, Mariah Carey and other recording artists.
As part of the Uganda-based educational program Music for Life, the touring choir has raised funds to provide educational opportunities for more than 52,000 children in Africa since 1984.
Access to schooling for just one child living in poverty can have a domino effect on their families, said choir manager Tina Sipps.
«Education is, next to food, their greatest perceived need,» Sipps said. «So we’re really trying to educate as many children as we can so they can take care of themselves and perhaps even provide an education for their brothers and sisters.»
The role each past and present member of the choir plays in supporting that access is enormous because of the international exposure received.
«Each choir, they’re basically supporting 8,000 children back home,» Sipps said.
The donations pay for those children, including the choir members, to attend primary and secondary school; some older recipients even attend college or vocational school.
Sipps said although the variety of careers former choir members went on to achieve runs «quite the gamut,» including doctors, lawyers and engineers, most of them attended vocational school at some point. While college degrees are nice, she said, vocational skills are a must to find steady work back home.
«The majority of them get some kind of trade first because that’s what’s employable in those countries,» she said.
Some former choir members have ended up working for the African Children’s Choir, such as tour leader Eva Nalukwago. She toured with the group from 1995 to 1997 and attended one of Music for Life’s three schools in Uganda.
«It was a great opportunity for me,» Nalukwago said. «As I child, I went to the U.S. Canada, Europe and the U.K.»
Some vivid memories of those travels include visiting SeaWorld and Disneyland, and also spending Christmas in Canada, where she made snowmen for the first time.
«We don’t have snow back in Uganda,» Nalukwago said. «It’s something which as a child I enjoyed.»
Now she oversees the choir’s performances and coordinates their travel and show arrangements with various hosts and venues. It’s a dream job and leading the group comes naturally, says Nalukwago, adding she is happy to lead the next generation on their adventures.
«Growing up I loved to work with the children, I did music for six years,» she said. «Working with the organization just fills me up. Watching them grow…it’s something as an adult that I really love to do.»
The African Children’s Choir will perform at 7 p.m. on July 13 at Crossroads Bible Church, 1670 Moorpark Ave. Performance is free but donations are encouraged.
Fuente: http://www.mercurynews.com/san-jose-neighborhoods/ci_30090120/globe-touring-african-childrens-choir-takes-stage-san
Fuente de la foto: http://www.redding.com/news/local/african-childrens-choir-makes-a-stop-in-redding-36c36945-811e-131e-e053-0100007fefc4-385395081.html
Nathan Solis/Record Searchlight The African Children’s Choir stopped in Redding on Sunday as part of a tour throughout the United States. The children performed the song «This Light of Mine» at the First Christian Church in Redding.