By Earl Abalajon and Jordan Biordi
Canada’s premier afrocentric choral group The Nathaniel Dett Chorale took to the Humber concourse at North Campus to share their unique brand of spiritual choral pieces.
Founder and artistic director for the group, Brainerd Blyden-Taylor, started the group in 1998 and named it in honour of the celebrated Black-Canadian composer Nathaniel Dett, who pioneered the early gospel movement and promotion of afrocentric arrangements in Canada during the early 1900s.
“There did not seem to be a professional chamber choir that specialized in afrocentric choral music (in Toronto),” said Taylor, who approached the Ontario Arts Council, and subsequently the Canada Council of the Arts to get the Nathaniel Dett Chorale off the ground.
The group performed today at the Humber North concourse. Humber News’ Jordan Biordi was there to experience the music first-hand.