The Pennsylvania Academy of Performing Arts and the Voices of Namibia Concert

The award-winning African choir, the Voices of Namibia, will be presenting a collaborative concert with the Pennsylvania Academy of Performing Arts’ Ariana Women’s Choir and Orpheus Men’s Choir on July 15 in West Chester. The choirs will begin their performance on the West Chester Court House steps at 6:45 p.m. (weather pending) and will move into the Chester County Historical Society at 7:00 p.m. for a full concert program.

The Voices of Namibia choir has been performing throughout the United States in preparation for the 2012 World Choir Games. Under the direction of Rayno Burger, the Voices of Namibia performs a variety of world music, including traditional African pieces and music from the classical and contemporary western canon. The heartbeat of the Voices of Namibia is their particular sound distilled from a unique blend of cultures and language groups ranging from Afrikaans, Damara/Nama, English, German, Oshiwambo, Otjiherero, and several other languages representing Namibia – diverse in cultures and landscape, but united in song.

The Pennsylvania Academy of Performing Arts (PAPA) is a Chester County-based non-profit organization dedicated to providing an environment that culturally enriches the community through exposure to the performing arts. Christopher G. McGinley and S. Katherine Shealy direct the choirs of PAPA in seasonal performances, as well as at a variety of community events. PAPA’s choirs have recently performed at the West Chester Old Fashioned Christmas,the West Chester Gallery Walk, a Longwood Gardens Christmas, and for the PhiladelphiaPhillies. Upcoming performances include the Brandywine Valley Summer Music Series on July19, and the Kimberton Fair on July 23. For more information about upcoming concerts, to schedule a performance, or to join the organization, please visit www.PAperforming.org.

McGinley speaks of the collaboration with the Voices of Namibia with enthusiasm: The opportunity to host and collaborate with the Voices of Namibia is very exciting for ourchoirs. From the beginning, [PAPA] has strived to provide a first-rate, meaningful internationalexperience for our members and our audience...Meeting and making music with singers fromanother continent is the ultimate expression of that philosophy. Hosting the Voices of Namibiais a true pleasure for us, and this concert is sure to be an event to remember.

The concert is free of charge, but donations will be accepted.