Feature Friday: Afro-American Music Institute Celebrating 30 years of Boys Choir!
The Afro-American Music Institute is celebrating a massive milestone this year: 30 years have passed since the creation of the Boys Choir!
Started in 1990 by Mrs. Pamela Johnson, the AAMI Boys Choir began with a group of 12-14 young singers, recruited for a one-time Father’s Day tribute concert, under the director of Dr. James Johnson Jr. 30 years have passed since that inaugural season, and the choir has seen massive growth and success, having performed at numerous venues and locations in Pittsburgh, and traveling around the United States and Canada. In 2011, they competed in the National Boys’ Choir Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, where they won first place. And if you aren’t impressed enough at how much this young choir has accomplished in 30 years, know that they’ve also recorded several full-length CDs!
Dr. James and Mrs. Pamela Johnson, AAMI Executive and Program Directors, have been doing absolutely amazing work over the years with these boys. According to Mrs. Johnson, “Mother of the Choir”, the ensemble is one big family, where she’s seen generations of boys pass through the ranks. It is important to her that these young boys not only get a good musical education, but that they grow into fine young men, too. Mrs. Johnson lives up to her title, and can name every single boy in each choir photo that hangs on the walls of the Institute. She can probably even tell you where that boy is now, for good measure!
To properly celebrate the success of the last 30 years of the Boys Choir, AAMI will be holding a Father’s Day Dinner and Concert on Sunday, June 21, 2020. It will be an Alumni-Homecoming Celebration, where all singers from 1990 to 2020 will be invited to come and sing once again in the Boys Choir! Consider saving the date, because this will be a concert that you won’t want to miss!
The Afro-American Music Institute offers more than just a Boys Choir- check out their listing on our directory, or their website for lessons in numerous instruments and genres, awesome events like their Miles Davis music series and Gumbo Fest 2020, and more about AAMI.
