UA Inspirational Chorale Returns from Successful Tour of Jamaica

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Inspirational Chorale

The UA Inspirational Chorale has returned from a successful tour of Jamaica. The Chorale, under the direction of assistant professor of music Jeffrey Murdock, gave 7 performances and 3 workshops in just 5 days. In addition to this non-stop music tour, the Chorale donated funds and instruments to the Alpha Boys Institute, which provides vocational and musical training to at-risk youth in Jamaica. Their performance on March 21 at St. Andrew's Parish Church (founded in 1700) with the Kingston College Chapel Choir had an audience of more than 600 people in attendance and was broadcast on Jamaican national television. The tour group included 26 singers, 6 musicians, and 2 faculty members. Christopher MacRae, coordinator for vocal studies in the Department of Music, served as a faculty chaperone with Murdock and helped organize the trip.

This tour directly ties into the Chorale's mission of keeping the black sacred music tradition alive. The ensemble provides a forum where university students, regardless of ethnicity, can perform the various genres of the tradition. The Inspirational Chorale - as an integrated part of the Department of Music, the academic community, and the community at large - has enjoyed an illustrious reputation while performing for dignitaries and heads of state. The ensemble has made appearances at national and international conferences and has taken international tours to Beijing, China, and Kilkenny, Ireland—and now Jamaica.

Support for this tour was provided by Dean Todd Shields of the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. The Chorale returns to the U of A campus ready to share their music again as they prepare for an upcoming concert at the Faulkner Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 13. This concert, called "Passion According to Inspire," will include music telling the story of the last week in the life of Jesus Christ. Tickets for the concert can be found at the FPAC box office.