About us
Our Mission
The University of Liberia Alumni Chorus has been organized as a non-profit organization in the state of Massachusetts with the primary goal of providing assistance to the University of Liberia in the following areas:
•Award scholarships to deserving students seeking higher education at the University of Liberia
•Give teaching awards of excellence to faculty members who distinguish themselves by their contribution to the university and its students
•Establish a Fine Arts Center in honor of Mrs. Agnes Nebo von Ballmoos, Liberia’s only ethno-musicologist and Associate Professor of Music at the University of Liberia until her death in 2000
•Assist the university in its efforts to reestablish itself as an accredited institution of higher education
Organization Profile
"Light In The Darkness"
We dedicate our efforts to assisting in the restoration of the University of Liberia to an accredited institution of higher education.
We will raise our voices in song to achieve this end result. Light will again shine through the darkness !!!!
- Name: University of Liberia Alumni Chorus, Inc.
- Date Founded: 2009
- EIN Number: Secured & Available upon request.
- IRS Determination Letter Number: Secured & Available. upon request
- Ruling Date: April 2015
- Class: 501(c)(3) Charitable Organization (Active)
- NTEE Code: Q30 International Development
- President: Mrs. Estella Cisco-Dalrymple
- Director: Mr. James Milton Weeks, Jr.
- Registered Address: University of Liberia Alumni Chorus, 48 Ithica Rd., Brockton MA 02302-4437
- Tel: (631) 838-0106 (President)
- Tel: (919) 946-8707 (Director)
- Main Email: ulalumchorus@gmail.com
- Email #2: development@gmail.com
- Web: http://www.ulachorus.org
History
Founded in 2009
The University of Liberia Alumni Chorus (ULAC) is a non-profit organization born of a storied musical tradition created by the Late Professor Agnes Nebo von Ballmoos, an internationally respected music scholar and educator. After assuming its mantle in 1961, Professor von Ballmoos, Liberia’s only ethnomusicologist, developed the University of Liberia
Chorus into one of Liberia’s cultural crown jewels, reflecting Professor von Ballmoos’ vision of the Liberian Culture, through choral music.
Like many institutions, the University of Liberia was a casualty of Liberia’s tragic civil war during the early 1990s. When the University reopened following two decades of fighting, the music department had ceased to exist. Mrs. von Ballmoos, the driving force of the Music Department at the University, who had fled to London during the war, died in 2000. Dozens of Chorus Alumni had also resettled in the United States and other parts of the world. Several of them kept singing, years after their last University recital. Their dedication to the dreams of their late directress and their desire to assist their alma mater led the former chorus members to form the University of Liberia Alumni Chorus (ULAC) in 2009.
Since its inception, this group of over 50 Liberian professionals from various walks of life, scattered around the United
States, Europe and Liberia come together once a year in a US city for a fundraising benefit reunion concert.
This internationally renowned singing sensational group performs classical works of Beethoven, Handel and Gounod,
as well as Negro Spirituals by Moses Hogan and Nathaniel Dett. The Chorus also features a repertoire of African choral music from South, East, and West Africa. Sacred and secular choral music from Zambia, South Africa, Ghana, and Liberia, by composers like Mariam Makeba, Ephraim Amu and music arranged by their late university chorus directress, Professor Agnes Nebo von Ballmoos.
In 2012, with some assistance from sponsors and at their own expense, more than thirty members of the Chorus traveled to Monrovia from the US to join other members residing in Liberia to participate in the second inaugural ceremonies of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Their participation in the ceremonies gave the Chorus a stronger sense of national pride, elevated the urgency not only to look back but to give back, and a heightened a commitment to the ideals and goals of the Chorus. Most importantly, it was a clear demonstration of their abiding love for country, and
their hope and faith in the resilience of the human spirit. Since then, the Chorus continues to perform to high profile audiences that include dignitaries, academicians and celebrities.
During the Ebola Crisis in 2014, ULAC’s annual benefit concert was dedicated to all the men, women and children who had fallen victim to the deadly Ebola Virus Disease; and all those courageous individuals involved in the fight to eradicate the disease. ULAC presented a consignment of non-contact thermometers to the University of Liberia Ebola Task Force, headed by the then President of the University, Dr. Emmet Dennis.
With funds raised from its annual benefit concerts and donations from its supporters, ULAC’s scholastic assistance program continues to be its most visible platform to engage students at the University of Liberia and contribute to the mind-power development of our nation, Liberia. To date, 58 students have been beneficiaries of our scholarship program and that number will continue to grow. This year (2018), ULAC’s scholarship endowment was augmented with an amount of $10,000. The Chorus has presented about $1,500.00 as teaching and academic excellence awards to outstanding faculty nominated by the University for sustained excellence in teaching and academics.
The Chorus is spearheading a campaign for the construction of a Performing Arts Center at the University of Liberia. This ambitious initiative led ULAC to partner with the University of Liberia in 2016 and signed a commitment letter that resulted in the University availing 10 acres of land to ULAC for this flagship project. Subsequently, ULAC endorsed Kru Work Shop, one of Liberia’s most prestigious architectural firms, to provide architectural services for this project. ULAC is currently in the process of soliciting grants that will enable us to make this project a reality.
We will continue to lift our voices and sing to be a Light in Darkness for the University of Liberia!
So Why Does the Chorus Sing?
Endorsements
“Attending the University of Liberia Alumni Chorus concert is an
exhilaratin g experience. The Chorus organizes an idyllic event that
generates a feeling of nostalgia among members of the Liberian
Diaspora. Your invaluable contributions to Liberia, through the
University of Liberia will continue to illuminate the torch of “Light in
Darkness”. We congratulate ULAC.”
Dr. James Elliott and
Mrs. Te-Anne Elliott
(Platinum Sponsors)
“Since their debut performance in 2009, the University of Liberia Alumni
Chorus (ULAC) has remained an exemplary emblem of national pride for
Liberia through their marvelous display of home-grown talent and
selfless contribution to the common goal of national reconstruction. On
this third anniversary of their illustrious service to Liberia, I commend
the members of ULAC for their many accomplishments which truly
justify the maxim of Lux in Tenebris - “Light in the Darkness”.
Hon. John F. Lloyd
(Silver Sponsor)
Former Commissioner, Office of African Affairs, Government of the District of Columbia
“The University of Liberia Alumni Chorus is emblematic of the best of
Liberia, presenting music of Liberia and the world, in soul stirring and
uplifting songs. I am honored to be one of their Gold Sponsors, and
would urge anyone, music aficionado or casual listener, to attend their
concerts.”
Mohamedu F. Jones, Esq. (Gold Sponsor)
“In the midst of all of the despair among Liberians in the Diaspora, the
University of Liberia Alumni Chorus (ULAC) has become our shining
light. Thank you for being our Beacon of Hope”.
Leslie Norman Cole, Sr. (ULAC Supporter and Enthusiast)
Sunset September 15th 2017, R.I.P.
Endorsements
“The melodious voices of the University of Liberia Alumni Chorus are
matched only by the civic duty that motivates them. They are a joy to
the spirit!”
Alfred Konuwa, DPA (Silver Sponsor)
Vice President for Academic and Student Services, Woodland College,
Woodland, CA
“With their unrelenting pursuit of perfection, uncompromising
insistence on excellence, abiding love for their craft , and total devotion
to Liberia, the members of ULAC are a constant reminder that each and
every one of us has the capacity to help our country fulfill its noble
destiny.”
Cllr. Kwame Clement (Platinum Sponsor)
“The importance of the arts and its reach cannot be underestimated at
any time. Mrs. von Ballmoos’ legacy lives on in each student that she
taught. We congratulate the Alumni Chorus for its role in ensuring that
the performing arts will be pivotal in the University of Liberia’s higher
education mission and vision."
Al & Aurelia Curtis
(Silver Sponsors)
“Good job well done to all of you for the support you give to UL. I am
very sure the Government of Liberia is proud of you.”
Zinnah Barclay, Sacramento, California
