African Children’s Choir to Visit Starbuck

STARBUCK - The African Children's Choir, of Bellingham, will perform at the Starbuck Community Church at 10 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 8. The group is stopping in Starbuck on their way from Spokane to a performance at Kennewick High School. Admission is free and a goodwill offering will be taken.

The African Children's Choir was founded by director Ray Barnett in 1984 and has toured the world with over 1,000 participants in 38 choirs. The choir is made up of African children between the ages of 7 and 10 years old, many who have lost one or both parents to war, famine and disease. They represent the children of African and provide an example of African children becoming strong leaders.

The program features children's songs, hand clapping, traditional spirituals and contemporary music. Listeners are often inspired by the message that in spite of the tragedy that has marred their lives, the children are radiant with hope.

The African Children's Choir has performed around the world for the past 20 years, including concerts at the Pentagon and United Nations. The goal of the choir is to raise awareness of the needs of children in Africa and to raise funds for support of the choir program, which provides unique training for the children. Once choir members have completed a tour, they return to their homelands with new tools to better their future.

Barnett has raised funds to establish many schools throughout Africa that serve children who would otherwise have no chance at an education. He has also raised money for emergency relief and development programs and to help orphaned children in South Africa.