African Children's Choir to stop in St. John on Sept. 24

ST. JOHN – Area residents

can look forward to

multiple opportunities to

see an international choir

that will be coming to tour

the Spokane area.

The African Children's

Choir, is bringing it's 52nd

choir through the area

from Sept. 20 through

Sept. 27 and playing six

shows in and around Spokane.

The choir is part of a

larger group called Music

for Life, which provides

opportunity for thousands

of children living

in impoverished circumstances.

According to Sandra

Nakalanda, who is leading

the choir during the

current tour, it also helps

provide educational opportunities

and helps

them to experience parts

of the world they would

not have the chance to

otherwise.

"This has provided

myself and so many others

the opportunities to

see and learn about different

parts of the world,"

Nakalanda said. "Plus,

we get to help share our

culture with the people

we play shows for."

"So, we get to educate

the crowd as well as provide

music," she added.

Nakalanda joined the

group in 2003 and was

part of the 24th choir, and

has taken the opportunity

full circle to where she is

now mentoring kids and

leading the choir on tour.

She said seeing the

children thrive is the best

part.

"To see them embrace

the music and shine for

the crowd is what makes it

worthwhile," Nakalanda

said. "To see them discover

and use their talents

is what the program is

about."

The African Children's

Choir is composed of African

children, aged 10

to 12 years old, all who

come from vulnerable

backgrounds and have

faced hardship and lack

of education.

However, they represent

the potential of the

African child to become

leaders for a better future.

Nakalanda said it

helps the children find

things they are interested

in as well.

"It helps the children

see there is something

more out in the world,"

Nakalanda said. "It can

help them work to learn

about leadership and

bring long term change

for their families and communities."

"I like to think of it as

self-exploration for good,"

she added.

Author Bio

Matthew Stephens, Reporter

Matthew graduated from West Virginia University-Parkersburg in 2011 with a journalism degree. He's an award-winning photographer and enjoys writing stories about people.