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The African American Choral Ensemble is one of three performance groups of the Indiana University African American Arts Institute. Directed by Keith McCutchen, the Choral Ensemble presents the finest in contemporary and traditional African American choral music.
Performance
Since its founding in 1975, the Choral Ensemble has been devoted to presenting and promoting the rich and varied traditions of African American choral music. The group's repertoire includes spirituals, folk forms, traditional and contemporary gospel music, and formally composed works by and about African Americans. Sojourner, Soul-ACE, and God's Progress - three contemporary gospel groups drawn from the Ensemble's membership - provide a special feature on Choral Ensemble programs, and frequently perform on programs of their own. The Choral Ensemble has been engaged in venues ranging from schools to concert halls throughout the Midwest and Eastern United States.
What the critics say
The impassioned performances of the Choral Ensemble have received great critical acclaim. Peter Jacobi of the Herald-Times, Bloomington, writes: "Sunday afternoon's spring concert by the Indiana University Afro-American Choral Ensemble was an event...what occurred there, to uplift and sensitize, to help people remember history and reconsider the future, is not reviewable. It is simply, and not so simply, something to experience, to enjoy, to be enlightened by." Andre Raphel Smith, Assistant Conductor, Philadelphia Orchestra says "(The Choral Ensemble) is an exciting group that brings power and intensity to every performance."
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