World-famous group to sing at SU

View larger image Grammy Award-winning South African vocal ensemble Ladysmith Black Mambazo will perform at the Armstrong Concert Hall at Shenandoah University on Feb. 14 as part of the Performing Arts Live Series. The ensemble was featured in the movies “The Lion King II” and “Coming To America.” Courtesy photo

Ladysmith Black Mambazo to perform to sold-out audience

By Josette Keelor -- jkeelor@nvdaily.com

WINCHESTER -- Sloan MacRae knew what he was getting himself into when he accepted the job of managing director at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester. One of his first tasks was overseeing the upcoming performance of Ladysmith Black Mambazo at the Armstrong Concert Hall at Shenandoah University on Tuesday.

Here for one day only, the world-famous all-male South African a cappella group's concert is sold out.

"Which is good news for us," MacRae said. "It's a pretty iconic troupe."

It's also one of the reasons he took the job.

The group, well-known for its contributions to the soundtracks of "Coming to America" and "The Lion King: Part 2," will stop in Winchester on part of its American tour, between stops in Sellersville, Pa., on Monday and Chattanooga, Tenn., next Thursday.

That they would perform at SU speaks volumes about the kind of talent that the conservatory attracts each year, McRae said.

"It's safe to call it a pretty rare treat, that we can share this," McRae said.

The group has earned 15 Grammy Award nominations and three wins, including one in 2009, according to its website, mambazo.com.

"With our Performing Arts Live series ... we're able to attract Grammy-winning talent," MacRae said. "People certainly of international renown and big followings. ... Definitely world-class major acts."

There's always a lot of interest for musicians to perform at universities, he said, because the performances attract a lot of people.

"There's always interest," he said. Matching dates that work for a musical group with a tight schedule of events is always one of the most difficult parts in securing well-known talent.

Since Ladysmith Black Mambazo was passing through the area anyway along their tour, it worked out for SU to able to secure them.

"One of the reasons why we were able to bring them is because they were literally driving through," MacRae said.

But those who missed out on securing tickets for Tuesday still have time to catch them at another venue nearby.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo will perform in Annapolis, Md., on Feb. 22, and they'll be back in Virginia on March 12 at The Barns of Wolftrap in Vienna and at James Madison University in Harrisonburg on March 13.

For more information, visit www.su.edu or mambazo.com.