African Children’s Choir joins voices with World’s Oldest Choir

The African Children’s Choir which is currently touring the UK, joined the World’s Oldest Choir for an impromptu concert at the St John’s House care home in York.

Residents at the home were entertained by African drumming, singing and dancing. This was followed by the eighteen-strong choir joining voices with the World’s Oldest Choir in an impromptu concert.

Ruth Strangeway, activity coordinator at the home, said: “The Oldest Choir in the World whose average age is 91 years, watched spellbound as the young Africans, aged between nine and 12 years, entertained them with inspirational singing and won over their hearts with winning smiles, incredible energy and passion.

“We are so grateful to the African Children’s Choir for taking the time to visit us. It meant so much to us all, elderly residents and staff alike and we were thrilled to sing ‘Silent Night’ with the children. They carry with them the hopes and dreams of Uganda, Africa must be so proud of them.”

The African Children’s Choir is made up of African children, many of whom have lost one or both parents through the devastation of war, famine and disease.

The Choir has performed at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms series. More recently they performed at the Commonwealth Observance Day in the presence of The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at Westminster Abbey.

The primary goal of the Choir is to raise awareness of the need of destitute and orphaned children in Africa and to raise funds for continued development and support of the African Children’s Choir Programmes.

The World’s Oldest Choir, which has been officially recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest choir in the world, with an average age of 91 years and a total age of 1,180 years, is taking part in carehome.co.uk’s Care Home Idol. To view their entry go to www.carehome.co.uk/idol/idol.cfm/id/156

click here for more details or to contact St John's House