One of America’s most celebrated university choral ensembles, the Morgan State University Choir, will return to South Africa in May 2026 for a highly anticipated concert tour that promises not only musical excellence, but also a profound celebration of cultural exchange, spiritual heritage and human unity through song.
The tour marks the choir’s second visit to South Africa, following its warmly received debut at the Ihlombe! South African Choral Festival in 2009. Seventeen years later, the ensemble returns with a rich and deeply moving programme, joining hands with some of South Africa’s finest choirs in performances that will span Pretoria, Johannesburg, Soweto and Cape Town.
Founded at Morgan State University in 1869 in Baltimore, Maryland, the choir has earned an international reputation for artistic distinction and for preserving the spiritual and cultural traditions rooted in African American sacred music. Their repertoire embraces classical masterworks, spirituals, gospel music and contemporary compositions, all delivered with remarkable precision, warmth and emotional depth.
At the heart of this South African tour lies a spirit that resonates deeply with Christian communities: the belief that music can heal, unite and uplift. Across continents and cultures, sacred choral music continues to serve as a language of hope, dignity and shared humanity.
The Southern Cross has in recent years also reported on major international youth and university ensembles visiting South Africa. In June 2023, the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra toured the country, followed in May 2025 by the University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra. Significantly, both ensembles included performances at the historic Regina Mundi Church during their national tours, reaffirming the church’s enduring role as a spiritual, cultural and historical landmark that continues to welcome artists and audiences from around the world.
The Morgan State University Choir’s tour opens on 20 May with an Africa Day celebration concert alongside the University of Pretoria (UP) Choir at Normaal Saal on the Groenkloof Campus in Pretoria. Africa Day, commemorated annually on 25 May, celebrates the unity and aspirations of the African continent, making the opening concert especially meaningful. The collaboration between American and South African voices is expected to be a stirring reminder of the enduring bonds forged through faith, history and music.
Further performances will follow with the University of Johannesburg (UJ) Choir in Randburg, the acclaimed Quava Vocal Group in Orlando West in Soweto, the Tygerberg City Choir at Cape Town`s historic St. George’s Cathedral, and finally with Amici Di Lumine and the University of Cape Town (UCT) Choir at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church.
The Repertoire
For many lovers of sacred music, the repertoire itself will be one of the tour’s greatest treasures. Audiences can look forward to timeless spirituals and gospel works that have shaped generations of worship and resilience within the African American experience. Pieces such as *Lift Every Voice and Sing*, often referred to as the Black national anthem in the United States, stand alongside beloved gospel favourites including *Total Praise*, *Calvary*, *Trust Me* and *Oh Happy Day*.
The programme also features excerpts from *The Ordering of Moses* by the distinguished composer R. Nathaniel Dett, whose work beautifully bridges classical tradition and spiritual heritage. Contemporary compositions by composers such as Eric Whitacre and Frank Ticheli add moments of lyrical reflection, while songs from the films Selma and Harriet recall themes of courage, justice and perseverance.
South African audiences will also be delighted to hear the traditional folk song *Bawo Thixo Somandla*, an inclusion that reflects the choir’s desire to honour local musical traditions and connect meaningfully with South African listeners.
Within a Catholic context, the tour offers something more profound than entertainment. Sacred choral music has long occupied a special place in Christian worship and spirituality. Whether expressed through African American spirituals born from suffering and hope, or through African hymns rooted in communal prayer, such music reminds believers of God’s sustaining presence amid struggle and joy alike.
The tour also arrives at a time when societies across the world continue to seek healing, dialogue and solidarity. In this regard, the Morgan State University Choir’s visit becomes a witness to the power of cultural encounter — not merely as performance, but as communion.
Concert Schedule
20 May 2026 – 19:30
Africa Day Celebration Concert
With the University of Pretoria (UP) Choir
Venue: Normaal Saal, UP Groenkloof Campus, Pretoria
Tickets available via Tixsa: https://www.tixsa.co.za
23 May 2026 – 17:00
With the University of Johannesburg (UJ) Choir
Venue: Dormus Dei Church
Tickets: R100 per person via Quicket: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/369164-morgan-state-university-choir-usa#/
24 May 2026 – 15:00
With the Quava Vocal Group
Venue: Holy Cross Anglican Church, Orlando West, Soweto
Free entry with reservation via Quicket https://www.quicket.co.za/events/367565-morgan-state-university-with-quava-vocal-group-holy-cross-anglican-church/#/
27 May 2026 – 19:30
With the Tygerberg City Choir
Venue: St. George’s Cathedral
Tickets: R200 per person via Quicket Cape Town Concert: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/373319-morgan-state-university-choir-at-st-georges-cathedral#/
28 May 2026 – 19:30
With Amici Di Lumine and the UCT Choir
Venue: St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
Free entry with reservation via Quicket Final Concert Reservation: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/373321-morgan-state-university-choir-at-st-andrews-presbyterian#/
For South African audiences, these concerts promise evenings of exceptional music-making, spiritual reflection and joyful fellowship. In a divided and restless world, voices raised together in harmony remain one of the clearest signs that unity is still possible.
Did you enjoy reading this article or find it helpful? We need your support to continue to bring the Good News to our country, so badly in need of God’s healing hand. Please consider subscribing to The Southern Cross Magazine or becoming a Southern Cross Associate
- Songs of Faith and Freedom: Morgan State University Choir Returns to South Africa - May 19, 2026
- Fr David Motsepe Appointed Vicar-General of Archdiocese of Pretoria - May 12, 2026
- Mrs Fikile Mlotshwa, Rest in Peace - May 7, 2026
