American university choir to perform at Norwegian Settlers Church

The Baylor Choir of Waco, Texas will be performing at the Norwegian Settlers Church this Friday May 25 at 6.30pm.

The choir, made up of 21 talented students of Baylor University who volunteer their time because of their shared passion for music and ministry, are aiming to raise funds for the Genesis Music Academy by using their harmonious voices. Tickets range from R20 to R50.

The music academy is a place used by young talented children to express themselves musically. Genesis Music Academy’s operational manager, Lizanne Nair, said the academy is for unlocking God-given talents.

“The Genesis Music Academy’s mission is to give young people the opportunity to learn an instrument and develop their talent. They are also encouraged to express themselves in a creative, musical fashion, and equipped to worship God with freedom and joy. All this takes place, while learning about the gospel of Jesus Christ through this outreach programme,” she said. She added that they offer guitar lessons, voice training, drum lessons, band development, piano and keyboard lessons.

The Baylor Choir is on the coast to help raise much-needed funds for the day-to-day running of the academy.

“In 1948, Baylor University held an on-campus church service called the Baylor Religious Hour,” explained Baylor Choir director, Parker Bowen. “Soon they realised there was an element missing and the former choir director, Dick Baker, helped create a choir that would sing at this weekly service and the Baylor Religious Hour choir was born.

“This choir was developed as a student-led organisation that would minister to Baylor students, to the state of Texas and to the nations of the world. The choir helped lead in many of the church revivals going on during this period, touching and enriching countless lives. God continued to bless the Baylor Choir with some amazing directors such as Dick Baker, Kurt Kaiser, Paul Smith and David Phelps. Often the director has been a student within the choir who rises up to a new type of leadership position,” he said.

He added that, every year in May, the choir goes on a mission trip to serve as an ambassador for the Lord and for Baylor University around the world. The mission trip tradition began in the 1950s and continues to this day.

“It’s our first visit here and we have fallen in love with this awesome, warm community. It has been lovely being here and we hope to meet and interact with the rest of the South Coast on Friday,” said Parker.

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