A&M Choir performs in Colombia

Alabama A&M University Choir members performed in a joint international choir in Medellin, Colombia. (CONTRIBUTED)

NORMAL – Partners Achieving Success (PAS), a group of professional musicians and business people, selected Alabama A&M University Choir members to perform in South America.

The A&M vocalists were among three choirs that formed a joint international choir for PAS. Prairie View A&M University and Central State University also participated.

Each school sent 10 choir members to form the 30-voice international choir. The choir performed in Medellin, Colombia on July 30 through Aug. 6.

This performance marked the first overseas trip for the A&M Choir, interim choir director Dr. Horace Carney said. “They were excited about blending their vocal talents with two other historically black college/university (HBCU) choirs,” he said.

Carney said the opportunity would not have been possible without financial and moral support of A&M President Andrew Hugine Jr. In April 2014, Hugine and his administration financially assisted the choir to reach the national honor as the first HBCU choir to perform at New York City’s Lincoln Center, Alice Tully Hall.

For the summer trip, A&M funded airline tickets to Colombia. Additionally, Carney was chosen as one of the three international conductors for five performances in Medellin. The other two conductors were Dr. Jan Taylor of Prairie View and Jeremy Winston of Central State.

“Being chosen for this international performance and honor is a credit to the continuing choral excellence of the AAMU Choir and the excellence of the entire music program faculty,” Carney said.

For more information about the choir’s schedule, call 256-372-5512 or 372-5513, email to horace.carney@aamu.edu or visit aamuchoir.wix.com/uchoir.