lifestyles
The Boys Choir of Harlem
Photo courtesy of the Boys Choir of Harlem
The boys will bring their music and inspiration to the Lied Center tonight.
By Casey Barnes Kansan staff writer
Lawrence is getting a taste of New York entertainment tonight, but it's not from the stages of Broadway. This time it's coming from the streets of Harlem.
The Boys Choir of Harlem, founded by Walter J. Turnbull in 1968 as a church choir, is now a performing arts and academic institution for inner-city, New York children.
The 35 to 40 boys of the touring choir will bring their act to the University of Kansas at 8 tonight in the Lied Center.
This season is the choir's 25th year of singing classical, jazz, contemporary, gospel and spiritual music.
They have performed worldwide, including at St. Paul's Cathedral and Royal Albert Hall in London, and Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
The majority of members attend the Choir
Academy of Harlem, which also serves as their high school. The members receive school credit and, by traveling the world, exposure to cultures that they would not likely encounter on the streets of Central Harlem.
Simon Carrington, director of choral activities at the University, will give a preconcert lecture about the choir at 6 tonight at the Adams Alumni Center. He said the choir's style was exceptional.
"The fact that Dr. Turnbull brought this group together from Harlem is truly amazing." Carrington said. "They have great choral discipline and perform a full range of music that is sure to be full of excitement."
Turnbull still directs the choir and is a nationally known artistic director. He has developed a formula for educating incerity children and often lectures on education and the arts throughout the country.
He not only teaches music to the members
of the choir but also prepares them for a productive life outside the streets of Harlem.
"The choir takes kids off the street and gives them something constructive to do," said Nancy Kaiser-Caplan, director for the Lied Center. "Dr. Turnbull's ideas of helping these children has grown beyond his dreams."
The academy is more than music.
It is a school that prepares 89 percent of its students for a college education.
In 1993 the Choir Academy of Harlem moved to a New York City Board of Education facility, adding a high school program to its elementary and junior high school programs.
It also added girls to the student body for the first time.
But only the boys' choir will perform tonight, singing a classical piece, five spirituals, a jazz medley and pieces from their album, which is to be released this month.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Lawrence Nightlife Calendar
737 New Hampshire St.
Velocity Girl with Showertrick and Jale, 10 p.m. tonight, advanced tickets $7 (18 and over) Corrosion of Conformity, 7 p.m. tomorrow, advance
Corosion of Conformity. 7 p.m. tomorrow, advance
tickets seven, at the door (all ages show).
Mccarter's /v with the hbo6r (hangres shw)
McCartney's /v with the Gospel Porn Singers, 10
o.m. tonyy, $4.
Billy Goat, 10 p.m. Monday, $6 advance tickets, $7 at the door
The Brands, Jack Timberfish, 10 p.m. Tuesday, $3
Web Wilder with the Eudoras, 10 p.m. Wednesday,
$6 advanced tickets (18 and over)
1601 W.23rd St.
1601 W.23rd St
River Valley Music Can
1020 Massachusetts St.
Dada, 8 p.m. Wednesday, advance tickets $10
Granada Theater
Mondo Disco with D.J. Ray, 9 p.m. tonight, $4-5
Canbe, 3:0 p.m. tomorrow, $6
Red Planet Masquerade Ball with Moby, 9 p.m. Monday, advance tickets $12, $14 at the door
642 Massachusetts St.
Glenfire, 8.p.m. tonight, advance tickets $12.30
KANU Goodtime Radio Revue, 7:15 p.m. tomorrow,
advance tickets $8.30 (adults), $4.30 (12 and under)
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, 8 p.m. Sunday,
advance tickets $12.80, $13.50 at the door
Ario Guthrie, 8 p.m. Tuesday, advance tickets $16.80
The Jazwhus of Lawrence
Common Ground, 10 p.m. tonight and tomorrow, $4
Halloween Costume Party with special request D.J..
10 p.m. Monday, $1
Student Union Activities
Union Ballroom
SUGAR with Magnapop, 9.p.m. tomorrow, advance tickets $12 (students), $14 (non-students)