The Voices of Renaissance Choir

Ms. Evelyn Lee-Jones, Director

Mr. James G. Connor, Artistic Director

The Voices of Renaissance, a chorus of 150 students and teachers, was formed in the fall of 1999, at the request of the Superintendent and CEO of the Boston Renaissance Charter Public School, Dr. Roger F. Harris, Ph. D. The mission of the chorus is to convey positive messages and inspiration to people of all ages through the performance of vocal music.  Under the direction of Ms. Evelyn Lee-Jones (Director of Visual and Performing Arts) and Mr. James Connor (Artistic Director) these talented musicians maintain good grades; attend 7:25 am rehearsals during the school week, serving as ambassadors for the school and role models for their peers. The Voices of Renaissance infrastructure also serve as a mentoring program, using music as a caveat. The tenor section, The Young Kings and the soprano and alto section, The First Ladies of Renaissance are mentoring and performance programs.

Though a young organization, The Voices of Renaissance has received many invitations to perform for a variety of audiences. In December 1999, the chorus made their debut performance at a reception held at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel for now Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.

Since then the chorus has performed for the Wang Center for The Performing Arts, the Schubert Theater, the Massachusetts State House, Fenway Park, Northeastern University, the Boston Public Library Foundation, the YWCA Leadership Conference, the National Grant Makers Association, MFS Investment Management, Boston’s Mayor Inaugural, former Massachusetts Governors Jane Swift and Mitt Romney, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Baltimore, MD, National Conference for Community and Justice, The Microsoft Cooperation, The American Cancer Society, The South African Soweto Gospel Choir, Faneuil Hall, The Timberland Headquarters, the Boston Celtics and the Reebok International Humanitarian Awards Conference. In addition, the chorus has traveled to Baltimore, Maryland, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Pa, Bridgeton, NJ, Wilmington, DE, Virginia Beach, VA, New York City and Atlanta, Georgia performing at Morehouse College, Fort Valley State University, Spelman College and several Atlanta, New York, Baltimore, Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia public schools.

The Voices of Renaissance sang for the youth symposiums at Wheelock College with special guest Archbishop Desmond Tutu (2009) and Hill Harper (2011). The choir was also featured on WBZ-TV with the Liz Walker Sunday morning show. Recently, The Voices of Renaissance performed twice at the Harvard University Law School for the cast of the hit HBO series, “The Wire”. Also The Young Kings (tenor section) performed in Philadelphia, PA., for the Coalition of Schools Educating Boys of Color Gathering of Leaders. In June 2011, The Voices of Renaissance was the featured artist at Boston Symphony Hall performing with the renowned Boston Pops Orchestra. The Choir also toured the New York City area, performing at local public and charter schools.

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“The messages in these songs are inspirational and encouraging. The songs are not only for the audience, but also for the performers”.
- Dr. Roger F. Harris, Ph. D., Superintendent and CEO of the Boston Renaissance Charter Public School.

“Today you’re going to hear from fantastic future leaders of America. You will be overwhelmed with what you hear and see.”,
- Professor Charles Ogletree, Harvard University Law School

“Powerful, awe-inspiring and poised for such young men”.
- Karen Ieong, Board of Trustees, Boston Renaissance

“I was going to talk about the problem, but after hearing them , I realize that the solution is right here in the room.”
- Ayanna Gregory, daughter of celebrated comedian and human rights activist, Dick Gregory

Watch and subscribe to the latest performance by the Voices of the Renaissance Choir, available in iTunes at our Blip.TV web channel:

“The messages in these songs are inspirational and encouraging. The songs are not only encouraging and uplifting for the audience, but also for the performers.”

Dr. Roger F. Harris,
Superintendent, Boston Renaissance Charter Public School