AAMI Boys' Choir

The Boys' Choir from the Afro-American Music Institute of Pittsburgh will present a concert, "Soulful Journey Through Afro-American Music," at 4 p.m. Feb. 25 in Hart Chapel, Clarion University.

"Black music is very integrated into the community," said AAMI founder Dr. James T. Johnson Jr. "I mean, it's not only been used for entertainment, but it's been used for survival. If you know anything about the history of black American music, you know this is how we survived all these years through all these hardships."

The choir has performed at major festivals, churches, universities, civic affairs and social organizations throughout the metropolitan Pittsburgh area. Also, the ensemble has performed on radio and television shows. The choir has also recorded and performed with the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh, featuring songs arranged and conducted by James Johnson. In 2007, the Boys' Choir recorded their second CD, entitled "Hamilton Street Blues."

AAMI was founded in 1982 as a community-based music school with a mission to preserve the cultural tradition and quality of a music that is widely recognized today as an original American art form.

The AAMI Boys' Choir, founded in 1990, is renowned for its musical styles and its interpretations of African-American music such as black art music, blues, gospel, pop, spiritual and jazz. Today, the choir is an important part of AAMI infrastructure, serving as the foundation of the youth.

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