Uniting Voices


Uniting Voices Chicago is a non-profit organization, founded in 1956 at First Unitarian Church of Chicago.

Organization

Founded in Hyde Park in 1956, Uniting Voices has grown from one choir into a network of in-school and after-school programs serving nearly 5,000 students across the city of Chicago. Noteworthy faculty include Josephine Lee who currently serves as president and artistic director, Judy Hanson, senior associate artistic director, W Mitchell Owens, composer-in-residence, Lonnie Norwood, Director of Africana studies, and John Goodwin, principal pianist and resident conductor.

History

In 1956 during the Civil Rights Movement, the late Rev. Christopher Moore founded the multiracial, multicultural Chicago Children's Choir at Hyde Park's First Unitarian Church of Chicago. He believed that youth from diverse backgrounds could better understand each other - and themselves - by learning to make beautiful music together. Today, the choir is fully independent and serves all of Chicago from its home in the Chicago Cultural Center.
Distinguished singers included David Edmonds, who performed with the choir from 1970 to 1977. He sang classical, folk and spiritual pieces as lead soloist in numerous concerts, both in Chicago and on national tours. He can be heard on the choir's 1972 album Chicago Children's Choir Sings at Orchestra Hall. Edmonds also performed with the Joffrey Ballet, the Rockefeller Chapel Orchestra and Chorus, and the Bretton Woods Boy Singers. He died from AIDS complications in 1990.
Uniting Voices has performed at Ravinia Festival, Ravello Festival, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and the Kennedy Center.

Discography

Albums

  • Studs Terkel interview with Christopher Moore and CCC music
  • This is Rhythm
  • Flower Communion
  • Recording at First Unitarian Church
  • "You'll Sing a Song and I'll Sing a Song" recording with Ella Jenkins
  • "Play Your Instruments and Make a Pretty Sound" recording with Ella Jenkins
  • Chicago Children's Choir Sings at Orchestra Hall
  • Behold This Star
  • Jambo and Other Call and Response Songs and Chants
  • Chicago Children's Choir In Concert
  • Let George Do It
  • Chicago Children's Choir Sings for Children
  • It's Music
  • Lift Every Voice
  • Hopping around from place to place with Ella Jenkins
  • April Tour Team
  • June Galas Concert
  • Gospel Mass
  • In the Folk Tradition
  • Selections from the CCC
  • Songs of the Season
  • June Galas
  • Japan Tour Excerpts
  • Children's Choral Festival
  • The Thrilling Sound of the CCC
  • Hop, Hop, Hop! Sing-and-Dance Songs from Ladybug
  • Simple Gifts
  • Do You Hear the People Sing
  • 40 Years of Harmony
  • Songs of the Human Spirit
  • Spring Gala Concert
  • Chicago Children's Choir Live from Vienna
  • Open Up Your Heart
  • You Shall Have a Song
  • Sita Ram
  • Songs on the Road to Freedom
  • The Very Best Time of the Year: Music for the Holiday Season
  • Holiday Harmony
  • Holiday
  • We All Live Here
  • Harmony Anew
  • "Long Way Home"
Singles
  • "Multiverse"
  • "Eyes on de Prize"
  • "Go Tell It"
  • "United"
  • "Still Here"

    Other appearances

  • The Life and Times - Tragic Boogie
  • Chance the Rapper - "All We Got", "Same Drugs", "How Great", and "Finish Line / Drown" from Coloring Book
Notable Live Appearances
Voice of Chicago tours:
  • 2026 - India
  • 2025 - Italy
  • 2024 - Mexico - Jun. 10–16, 2024
  • 2023
  • *Lexington, KY - Jan. 14–17, 2023
  • *Miami, FL - Mar. 1–5, 2023
  • 2022 - Egypt - Jun. 19–30, 2022
  • 2020 - Los Angeles, CA - CANCELLED due to the Covid-19 pandemic - was planned for Apr 30 – May 4, 2020
  • 2019 - Spain - Jun 20 – July 1, 2019
  • 2018 - Israel & Palestine - CANCELLED due to political unrest
  • 2017 - Italy - Jul. 4–13, 2017
  • 2016 - Havana, Cuba
  • 2015 - New York City & Washington, DC
  • 2014 - South Africa
Concert Choir tours:
  • 2013 - India
  • 2012 - Italy
  • 2011 - Baltic Tour: Estonia, Finland & Latvia w/ Bobby McFerrin
  • 2010 - Alaska
  • 2009 - South American Tour: Argentina and Uruguay
  • 2008 - South Korea
  • 2007 - "Freedom Tour": Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi & Louisiana
  • 2006 - Czech Republic
  • 2005 - Japan
  • 2004 - Canada
  • 2003 - Germany
  • 2002 - Japan
  • 2001 - Germany, Austria & Hungary
  • 2000 - Colorado
  • 1999 - England, Scotland & Wales
  • 1998 - Pacific Northwest & British Columbia
  • 1997 - Italy, Sicily & Sardinia
  • 1997 - Ukraine
  • 1996 - South Africa
  • 1995 - Canada
  • 1994 - Russia
  • 1993 - Mexico
  • 1992 - Japan
  • 1991 - New Orleans, Atlanta, Alabama
  • 1956-1981: After Chicago Children's Choir began tours in the mid-1960s, touring continued annually through at least 1981. Trips below that lasted less than a week are marked *. Those below lasting more than 11 days, always in summer, were Montreal I, Boston, and Europe. Tours listed here all involved members of the Choir's top performance unit, designated "Senior Tour Unit" during most of this period.
  • 1974-81: list incomplete
  • 1981: East Coast/Ontario
  • 1978 - East Coast
  • 1978 - ?
  • 1977 - Ohio*
  • 1977 - East Coast/Canada and simultaneous trip in northern Illinois*
  • 1977 - Southwest
  • 1976 - Madison*
  • 1973 - East Coast
  • 1973 - Tennessee
  • 1973 - New England
  • 1972 - New England
  • 1972 - Texas
  • 1971 - two simultaneous April tours to different parts of the East Coast
  • 1970 - England, Denmark, West Germany
  • 1970 - New York III
  • 1970 - Colorado?
  • 1969 - Minnesota* and another* simultaneously
  • 1969 - Boston area
  • 1969 - Washington, D.C. area
  • 1969 - New York II
  • 1968 - Kentucky-Tennessee*
  • 1968 - Iowa*
  • 1968 - New York I
  • 1968 - Madison WI*
  • 1967 - Montreal II
  • 1967 - Montreal I
  • 1966 - Indianapolis*
  • 1965?- Madison*
  • 1964?- Southwest