COLUMBUS, Miss. -- Four choirs will come together for one purpose Friday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. in the Connie Sills Kossen Auditorium, Poindexter Hall.
The W’s choral programs, conducted by Dr. Phillip Stockton; the Columbus High School Varsity Singers, conducted by Dr. Doug Browning; and the Columbus Girl Choir, conducted by Dr. Cherry Dunn, will unite as part of a world-wide peace awareness project entitled AVoice4Peace. The United Nations General Assembly established Sept. 21 as International Day of Peace. As part of the awareness project, choirs around the world are encouraged to spread a message of peace. The idea of a dedicated concert for peace was derived from the International Day of Peace.
The local effort is being led by Dr. Stockton, who coordinates The W’s music education degree program and conducts the Women’s Chorale and Chamber Singers.
“The purpose of this concert is to bring awareness and promote peace through song,” said Dr. Stockton. “When people sing in groups, they come together for a common purpose regardless of differing backgrounds.”
The concert will feature songs of hope, love, joy and peace. The participating choirs will close the concert by singing “Ukuthula,” a South African hymn of peace.
Dr. Stockton learned about AVoice4Peace through Dr. Kevin Fenton about a year ago. Fenton, serves as professor of choral conducting and ensembles and is director of the University Singers and Chamber Choir at Florida State University. AVoice4Peace was started by Fenton and Ken Wakia, conductor of the Nairobi Chamber Chorus. Fenton approached Dr. Stockton about volunteering his services to help conduct the Festival Singers of Florida in Kenya.
“Our goal in Kenya is to sing and promote unity. I will work with students and conductors as an ambassador to help their choral programs as well as conduct the Festival Singers of Florida in concert.” Dr. Stockton will travel to Kenya in June for almost two weeks.
“This project resonates because of the power of music to unify and inspire people. Music has been used in almost every aspect of human life, spiritual worship, protests, celebrations, mourning, as well as countless other events,” Stockton said about the upcoming concert. “By bringing singers from various backgrounds of socio-economic, race, gender, etc., we hope to show that we can all work for peace, despite our differences.”
For more information about AVoice4Peace, please go to www.AVoice4Peace.org. The concert is free and open to the public.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2018
Contact: Anika Mitchell Perkins
(662) 329-7124
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