Oakwood University’s Aeolians Choir will perform in Bermuda for the first time in 15 years in a series of four appearances next weekend.

The choir comes from a university rich in religious and racial history, with a legacy of producing strong Black leaders and marvellous music.

Kenneth Manders, alum of Oakwood University and president of the Bermuda Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, said: “Oakwood University is an HBCU [historically Black college or university], owned and operated by the North American Division Seventh-day Adventists. It has been in existence for 126 years.

“Nestled in the Tennessee Valley in Huntsville, Alabama, on the blood-soaked soil of formerly enslaved people, it is a place birthed to educate Black people in the South.”

Dr Manders added: “The Aeolians was founded in 1946 by Eva B Dykes, the first Black woman to receive a PhD from Radcliffe College, Harvard’s female coordinated initiation. The Aeolians have become a premier choral group. They specialise in the Baroque era to contemporary music, deeply resonating with the yearnings of their forefathers to be free.”

From their inception to the present, the Aeolians have refined their sound to be unique and distinct among the world's choirs.

“The Aeolians’ reputation has grown in the 21st century, marked by visionary leadership and a continuous influx of talented students,” Dr Manders said. “Their performances have expanded from their campus church to international stages, including the Second International Moscow Christmas Festival of Sacred Music and winning the prestigious Choir of the World Luciano Pavarotti Trophy in 2017.”

As president of the Bermuda SDA conference and as a member of the boards of both Bermuda Institute and Oakwood University, Dr Manders was determined to use his influence to bring the Aeolians back to Bermuda to share their talent and inspire the island.

Dr Manders said: “I am on the Oakwood University board, an alum of Oakwood and the chairman of the board for Bermuda Institute. This is an effort I have made because I would like our young people to think of Christian education beyond the high school experience.

“They can go to any university and study anything – and that’s all great – but I wanted them to see the value of Christian education. So I thought, why not show them and showcase Oakwood Aeolians?

“It is a win-win; it helps young people here to see and aspire to get a Christian education, showcases the talent, and provides inspiration that one can get when one chooses to ‘enter to learn, depart to serve’ – that’s a great motto of Oakwood University.”

The Aeolians choir has close ties with Bermuda, having over 30 Bermudian members in its rich history. Wanting to expose Bermuda to the talent, legacy, and opportunity of Oakwood University was one of the driving forces that brought the Aeolians here.

“We have a lot of talented people in music here in Bermuda,” Dr Manders said. “I wanted to show them this is a great place. Owen Simons told me that he was inspired to be a music teacher due to the Aeolians.

“When they hear that voice, that sound, when they hear God through music, it inspires them to higher heights. So that’s part of the reason I wanted the Oakwood Aeolians to come.

"Another reason for bringing them here is their music inspires faith and hope. They have a blend where they reach young, old, and in between. They set a music standard, so I want Bermuda to be inspired, not just our young people.”

The world-renowned choir is bringing its experience to bless Bermuda and Bermuda Institute, as their primary performance and concert will be a fundraising event for the Bermuda Institute.

They will first hold a free mini-concert on January 26 at noon on the steps of City Hall. On January 27, the choir will perform at the Hamilton SDA church at 11am, followed by a performance at the Southampton SDA Church at 12.45pm.

Also next Saturday, their final, fundraising concert will be at 6.30pm at the Bermuda Institute Auditorium. Tickets are available at the ABC (Adventist Book Centre) and the Bermuda Conference of Seventh-day Adventist headquarters on King Street, Hamilton and also through Gpass.bm.