Dr. Andrea Ramsey
The Chattanooga Boys Choir is hosting a community sing along on Tuesday, Sept. 12, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church, 700 Pine Str. Children and adults of all ages are invited to attend and no experience is required.
During this hourlong community sing along, attendees will convene to learn, rehearse and record the song, “I Lift My Voice” written by internationally renowned composer, conductor, scholar and music educator, Dr. Andrea Ramsey.
This recording will be released through social media outlets on Sept. 21 to coincide with the commemoration of the International Day of Peace. First celebrated in 1982, the International Day of Peace (also World Peace Day) is an initiative sponsored by the United Nations promoting peace across the world.
“I’m honored to have ‘I Lift My Voice’ included in an event like this,” said Dr. Ramsey. “I feel like if we could all live and move from a place of love, peace could be inevitable. We hold our collective humanity when we sing together.”
The Chattanooga Boys Choir led a similar effort with its first community sing of the South African hymn “Ukuthula” for the Voice4Peace movement beginning in 2016, resulting in a video that has been viewed tens of thousands of times online. The CBC has continued this effort with community sing recordings of “Be the Change,” “Love Is Love,” and more.
“Singing has provided the soundtrack to the history and struggle for peace throughout the world for centuries, from spirituals to civil rights anthems to songs of Apartheid, “ said Vincent Oakes, Chattanooga Boys Choir’s artistic director. “We hope to add our voice to this in a substantive and direct way through singing together and building community.”
For more information about the Community Sing Along or Chattanooga Boys Choir, contact 634-2299, email voakes@cbchoir.org or visit www.chattanoogaboyschoir.org