The Aeolians of Oakwood University was originally organized in 1946 by
the late Dr. Eva B. Dykes. Since then the choir has traveled widely,
touching the hearts of both young and old with their inspirational
singing.
Later conductors include: Mrs. Joni Pierre-Louis, Mr. Harold Anthony, Dr. Jon Robertson, Dr. Alma M. Blackmon, Dr. John Dennison, Dr. Ricky Little, Dr. Eurydice Osterman, Ms. Michele Cleveland, Ms. Julie Moore, Dr. Lloyd Mallory, Mr. Norman Crarey, and Dr. Wayne Bucknor. The new director of the ensemble beginning in the 2008-09 school year is Mr. Jason Ferdinand, former director of the Pine Forge Academy Choir.
Aeolian concerts present a repertoire of choral music which ranges from the Baroque era to the twentieth century. Moreover, the Aeolians is an authoritative exponent of Negro spirituals and work songs which express the yearnings of our forefathers to be free.
Under the direction of Dr. John Dennison, the Aeolians performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and received very flattering reviews.
Dr. Alma M. Blackmon's conducting of the Aeolians, which began in 1973, brought the group into national and international focus with the performance of over 200 concerts in the United States, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Jamaica, the Virgin Islands, and Canada. Performances at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in Dallas, Texas (1980), led to an invitation by the Polish SDA Church in Warsaw to tour that country.
Motivated by the taste for international performances, the Aeolians competed successfully in a nationwide contest to become Friendship Ambassadors for the USA. Under the sponsorship of the Friendship Ambassadors Foundation of New York City, the choir toured Romania (1981) and Great Britain (1983). The choir has also visited Poland (2003) and Spain (2006).
The album of Negro spirituals, "Oh Freedom" (1974), sold over 10,000 copies. Most recent recordings include "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" (1997) and "Joyful Noise" (2003). Other recordings include two joint concerts of the Aeolians and wind ensemble of the University of Alabama, Huntsville, at the Von Braun Civic Center in Huntsville, Alabama (1977 and 1978), under the titles, "Together In Concert" and "Together Again." Both were aired on Public Television. The Aeolians have also made appearances on Good Morning America (ABC) and the CBS Morning Show. In 2003, the Aeolians received a star in the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, and in 2005, the Aeolians was the featured choir during the first Sabbath service of the 58th General Conference Session of Seventh-day Adventists.
Later conductors include: Mrs. Joni Pierre-Louis, Mr. Harold Anthony, Dr. Jon Robertson, Dr. Alma M. Blackmon, Dr. John Dennison, Dr. Ricky Little, Dr. Eurydice Osterman, Ms. Michele Cleveland, Ms. Julie Moore, Dr. Lloyd Mallory, Mr. Norman Crarey, and Dr. Wayne Bucknor. The new director of the ensemble beginning in the 2008-09 school year is Mr. Jason Ferdinand, former director of the Pine Forge Academy Choir.
Aeolian concerts present a repertoire of choral music which ranges from the Baroque era to the twentieth century. Moreover, the Aeolians is an authoritative exponent of Negro spirituals and work songs which express the yearnings of our forefathers to be free.
Under the direction of Dr. John Dennison, the Aeolians performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and received very flattering reviews.
Dr. Alma M. Blackmon's conducting of the Aeolians, which began in 1973, brought the group into national and international focus with the performance of over 200 concerts in the United States, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Jamaica, the Virgin Islands, and Canada. Performances at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in Dallas, Texas (1980), led to an invitation by the Polish SDA Church in Warsaw to tour that country.
Motivated by the taste for international performances, the Aeolians competed successfully in a nationwide contest to become Friendship Ambassadors for the USA. Under the sponsorship of the Friendship Ambassadors Foundation of New York City, the choir toured Romania (1981) and Great Britain (1983). The choir has also visited Poland (2003) and Spain (2006).
The album of Negro spirituals, "Oh Freedom" (1974), sold over 10,000 copies. Most recent recordings include "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" (1997) and "Joyful Noise" (2003). Other recordings include two joint concerts of the Aeolians and wind ensemble of the University of Alabama, Huntsville, at the Von Braun Civic Center in Huntsville, Alabama (1977 and 1978), under the titles, "Together In Concert" and "Together Again." Both were aired on Public Television. The Aeolians have also made appearances on Good Morning America (ABC) and the CBS Morning Show. In 2003, the Aeolians received a star in the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, and in 2005, the Aeolians was the featured choir during the first Sabbath service of the 58th General Conference Session of Seventh-day Adventists.
