Singers to end Black History Month at Indiana Statehouse

Black History Month concludes today in the statehouse to music from the lips of IU students.\nThe African American Choral Ensemble is scheduled to perform at 10 a.m. today in the Indiana Statehouse rotunda.\nRep. Vernon Smith (D-Gary) is using his "point of privilege," an opportunity for each state representative to offer a special theme on the house floor once during each legislation session, as an invitation for the AACE to showcase its talents in front of Indiana's elected state officials.\n"My students are very honored to represent IU in this way." said James Mumford, director of the AACE. "People are beginning to notice we have a very high level of performance; we are excited and we feel it is long overdue. It takes time for people to hear what you do."\nMumford said the AACE is a "choral ensemble students can take for credit." He said Rep. Smith heard the AACE perform in Gary earlier this year.\n"These ensembles were designed to give students the opportunity to explore musical talents despite (non-musical) career goals," said African American Arts Institute Director Charles Sykes. "When you have the opportunity to perform in situations where you are exposed to decision makers, it's always a good thing -- these people have to make decisions about education and arts in Indiana. It is our hope we will leave a good impression of IU and the (AAAI)."\nThe AACE is not affiliated with the School of Music, except for ties to practice space. Instead, the AACE is a class offered to students by the African American Studies Department through the AAAI.\nThe 2004-2005 academic year is the 30th anniversary of the African American Arts Institute. \nSenior Alexis Carter, a third-year performer, said her fondest memory so far is singing at IU President Herbert's inauguration.\n"I'm personally excited and ecstatic," she said. "I can speak for the AACE as a whole in saying we feel honored and privileged to be invited to the statehouse."\nMumford said students involved in the AACE love music and love to sing. He also said the AACE is "a true representative of diversity on campus" since the chorus involves voices from countries such as Spain and Germany, as well as Muslim and Jewish participants.\n"There is a great deal of emotional involvement and participation in the consumption of (African American) music -- insight not just to the (African American) experience but the human experience," Mumford said. "I am most proud of my students' willingness to grow, learn to value the aesthetic of what we are singing ... I feel my students work with a great deal of zeal."\nStudents can audition for the AACE early in the fall and spring semesters.\nCarter said the AACE combines many voices in one family.\n"We're like brothers and sisters, and Dr. Mumford is like our dad," she said. "He enhances our ways of living, his wisdom and knowledge alone -- life lessons not learned from history books."\n-- Contact City & State Editor David A. Nosko at dnosko@indiana.edu.