Jabez l. Van Cleef, a singer in the choir Grace Church in Madison NJ and in Chorus America member Harmonium Choral Society, has been invited to go to China with the United Nations Singers, touring from April 24 through May 8. The singers will provide featured music at a televised ceremony to open the United Nations Pavilion at an International Trade Exposition in Shanghai, and also sing several concerts.

While he is traveling, Jabez will be writing a daily blog, World In Song, that will contain links to recordings of the singers and pictures of their concerts. Enjoy the excitement of a choral tour without leaving your desk chair!

The United Nations Singers is a choir made up of employees and former employees at UN Headquarters in New York. (Jabez is granted a special place with them because they needed a low bass voice!) The choir was founded in 1947 when some staff members wanted to get together and share music from their home countries. Its repertoire consists of choral music and folk songs in dozens of languages. Depending on the occasion, they may dress in traditional ethnic clothing.

Begin the journey here: World In Song!

About the Author

Singer and poet, Jabez Van Cleef, has been singing with choirs for the past 20 years at least four evenings a week. He has been invited to go to China with the United Nations Singers, touring from April 24 through May 8, 2010. While he is traveling, Jabez will be writing a daily blog that will contain links to recordings of the singers and pictures of their concerts. The blog will be nationally featured on the website of “Singer Network,” a division of Chorus America.

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