Nelson Mandela National Memorial Service

(upper half, clockwise) VCU Music alumni Brendan Schnabel (saxophone), Victor Haskins (trumpet), Jazz Studies Director Antonio García (trombone), and VCU Music alumnus Reggie Pace (trombone) perform at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. for the Nelson Mandela Memorial Service, December 11, 2013.

Because of the relationships forged during the first year of our “A Jazz Bridge to Greater Understanding” exchange with the University of KwaZulu-Natal, VCU Jazz Studies Director Antonio García was invited for a November 2013 visit to the South African Embassy in Washington, D.C., meeting with Mr. Johnny Moloto (First Minister), Mr. Alu Museisi (First Secretary, Socio-Economic and Development), and Dr. Nomonde Xundu (Health Attaché) to share details, imagine future possibilities, and deepen friendships. That manifested only a month later when the world would mourn the passing of one of South Africa’s greatest leaders, Nelson Mandela, at which time VCU Jazz was then invited to perform at the Nelson Mandela Memorial Service December 11, 2013 at The National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., for which García composed and arranged music for the VCU Alumni Jazz Quartet he assembled, including two alumni who had been part of the VCU Africa Combo. Several of those performances remain online, including “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” (traditional), “That We Might Walk Free” (García), and “Sobukwe” (Ezra Ngcukana, arr. García) .

| Return to Educator/VCU Jazz/Social Justice |