News & Events

AU Choir to sing at GC2016

20 April 2016, Nashville, TN—A chamber group comprised of fifteen members of the Africa University Choir is headed to Portland, Oregon for the 2016 General Conference of The United Methodist Church. The group arrives in Portland on May 12^th and will return to Zimbabwe on May 19^th. This year marks the sixth appearance for Africa University’s student choir at this global gathering of the denomination.

Opportunities to fellowship with and enjoy the AU Choir at GC2016 include:

• Community Concert at Newberg First UMC  – 7:00pm on May 14th at First United Methodist Church, Newberg, Oregon
• UMC Central Conferences of Africa Worship Service – 11:30am on May 15^th at the Portland Convention Center
• Africa University Alumni & Friends Reception – 5:00pm on May 15^th at the Embassy Suites Portland Downtown
• Africa University Presentation to General Conference – 5:25pm on May 16^th at the Portland Convention Center
• Closing Devotions (of the day) – 6:10pm on May 16^th at the Portland Convention Center
• Higher Education Night Celebration – 6:30pm on May 16^th at the Portland Convention Center

 The choir features students from various academic disciplines and from seven African countries, all with a passion for music ministry. The AU Choir’s repertoire is drawn from the African praise and worship tradition and features songs in more than 18 languages, including English, French, Portuguese, Swahili (East and Central Africa); Shona and Ndebele (Zimbabwe); Zulu (South Africa); and Lingala (Democratic Republic of Congo). 

While in the Portland area, the students and choir director are being hosted by the Rev. Dr. Catherine Davis, the senior pastor, and the members of the Newberg United Methodist Church, located in Newberg, Oregon, about 25 miles southwest of the City of Portland. The Newberg UMC congregation is planning to hold a community concert for United Methodist churches and friends of Africa University. However, the date and time of that concert are yet to be confirmed.

The Africa University Choir is under the direction of Mr. Tendekai Kuture, a Zimbabwean and distinguished choral conductor. He is head of the Department of Music in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Africa University.

For more on the Africa University Choir and Africa University, contact Andra Stevens at the Africa University Development Office in Nashville, TN. Tel: (615) 340-7438 or (615) 584-1002 or astevens@gbhem.org