ON A PEACEFUL MISSION : Members of the African Children’s Choir, Who Know Violence at Home, Don’t Even Watch TV When They Travel

With four to five concerts a week and a full load of academics, the 26 members of the African Children’s Choir don’t have much time to veg out in front of the television. Not surprisingly, the group’s organizers view that as a blessing.

“We don’t allow our kids to watch TV, primarily because of the violence on American television,” explained Norm Schulz, director of choir operations for Friends of the West, the Christian relief organization that sponsors the choir’s international tours. “Considering where these children come from, they can’t understand why we would want to watch people killing each other (on TV), anyway.”

Hailing from villages across the east African republic of Uganda, the 6- to 12-year-old choir members come from a country that has known more than its share of violence. According to the group’s press materials, many of the children in the program have lost one or both parents to disease or political unrest; others have been abandoned.

Choir members are selected from residents in group homes run by the nonprofit Friends of the West, a 20-year-old charitable organization with offices in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. There are two African Children’s Choirs on the road. One, comprised of youths from Kenya, is touring on the East Coast; the Ugandan group is performing across the West Coast and has been in and around Orange County since Nov. 29.

Concerts will be Friday at South Coast Community Church in Irvine, Sunday at the Life Church in San Juan Capistrano, Dec. 19 at Disneyland in Anaheim, Jan. 20 at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach and Jan. 22 in Fullerton’s Eastside Christian Church.

Featuring a blend of African music and dance, along with American pop and gospel, the hourlong concerts are free and appropriate for all ages, Schulz said. Audience members may make contributions during a “free-will offering” at intermission. More than 80% of the funds raised through concert donations and the sale of choir recordings goes toward the Friends of the West projects, Schulz said. Since its inception, the group, which is supported by churches of several denominations, has also provided aid to children in Romania, Albania, southern Lebanon, Somalia, the south Sudan and Rwanda.

The first African Children’s Choir toured in 1984. Choir members typically tour for about 11 months, adhering to a fairly demanding schedule of schooling and performances.

The youths, who have played more than 1,000 concert dates in churches and halls across the United States, Canada and Europe, have been featured extensively on Christian and network television programs, including “Good Morning America” and Robert Schuller’s “Hour of Power.” They’ve also shared concert billing with singer-songwriter Roger Whittaker and “Sesame Street’s” Bob McGrath. In 1993, the African Children’s Choir was nominated for a Grammy award in the category of best gospel choir.

According to Schulz, the program being performed for audiences on the West Coast is an energetic, visually exciting show.

“The kids start out with a variety of native songs,” Schulz said. “There’s some African drumming (and) a lot of dance and movement. Then they go into some gospel songs that are very high energy, followed by some popular (American) songs and medleys.

“There are very few things that are as good as people say they are,” continued Schulz, “but I think I can honestly say that an African Children’s Choir concert is one of the things that actually goes beyond people’s expectations.”

African Children’s Choir

ORANGE COUNTY TOUR SCHEDULE

* Friday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m.

South Coast Community Church

5120 Bonita Canyon Road, Irvine

(714) 730-6337.

* Sunday, Dec. 11, at 11 a.m.

The Life Church

27129 Calle Arroyo, San Juan Capistrano

(714) 248-7729

* Dec. 19 (time unavailable)

Disneyland

1313 Harbor Blvd., Anaheim

(714) 999-4000

* Jan. 20, at 7 p.m.

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church

600 St. Andrews Road, Newport Beach

(714) 631-2880

* Jan. 22, at 6 p.m.

Eastside Christian Church

2505 E. Yorba Linda Blvd., Fullerton

(714) 871-6844

MORE KID STUFF

IN COSTA MESA: ‘LA POSADA MAGICA’

A 14-year-old girl rekindles her holiday spirit during a candlelight posada, the Latin American Christmas procession, in this commissioned play running Friday, Dec. 9, through Dec. 24 at South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive. $10 to $22. (714) 957-4033.

IN FULLERTON: ‘STELLAR SOLSTICE CELEBRATION’

At this workshop at the Fullerton Museum Center (301 N. Pomona Ave.), kids age 8 to 12 will learn about winter solstice and the ways different cultures mark this astronomic event, while making their own sundial. Saturday, Dec. 10, at 1:30 p.m. $5. (714) 738-6545.

IN ANAHEIM: HOLIDAY NATURE CRAFTS

Children age 6 to 10 can create unique gifts from pine cones, dried flowers and other natural materials in this workshop on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Oak Canyon Nature Center, 6700 E. Walnut Canyon Road. $6.50, reservations suggested. (714) 998-8380.