Written By Lexx Thornton
A world-renowned US university choir makes historic London return. The Hampton University Concert Choir’s UK tour will rekindle memories of a landmark moment in its musical history.
It was nearly a century ago that London provided one of the highlights on their 1930 European tour, under the leadership of renowned composer, pianist, and former Hampton (then Institute) director of music, R. Nathaniel Dett.
During a six-week tour of seven countries, the 40-strong choir performed in London for Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald at No.10 and sang at the Royal Albert Hall, Queen’s Hall, and Westminster Abbey. In Paris, they made two recordings for Pathé Talking Machine Company and performed in Berlin and Vienna, where a reviewer compared them to the best Viennese choirs.
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The UK return of yet another cohort of the Hampton University Concert Choir provides a special 95th-anniversary celebration as well as a fitting tribute to the students who performed on that European tour. A photograph from one particular performance best captures the choir’s impact when they delivered an outdoor recital at the Tower of London to a crowd of hundreds.
This Choir’s 2025 tour represents more than a performance opportunity; it’s a cultural homecoming that honors Dett’s vision of African American music as both fine art and a force for global connection.
Under Dett’s leadership, the Hampton Institute Choir became one of the first African American collegiate choirs to perform internationally, introducing audiences across Europe to the depth, dignity, and spiritual resonance of African American spirituals.
“Dett was a musical visionary who used his gifts to elevate the voices of Black students and the power of our heritage,” said Hampton University Choir Director Omar Dickenson. “This London tour continues that mission – educating through music, building cultural bridges, and honoring the extraordinary foundation he laid.”
- Nathaniel Dett served as director of music at Hampton from 1913 to 1932, transforming the choir into a world-class ensemble known for its sophisticated blend of classical European traditions and African American spirituals. His arrangements of works like Listen to the Lambs and Juba Dance were deeply emotional, technically rich, and groundbreaking in their embrace of Black musical identity.
The original 1930 tour included stops in England, France, Switzerland, and Germany, and was hailed internationally for its artistry and the integrity of its message. Dett’s leadership helped dismantle stereotypes abroad and affirmed the spiritual as a legitimate and powerful musical form worthy of global recognition.
Now, 95 years later, Hampton students will walk in those same footsteps – this time sharing their talents across London in a series of performances and cultural engagements that carry Dett’s legacy into the present day.
It is this legacy that has earned the choir plaudits from several US presidents after delivering memorable White House performances. In 2023, the Hampton University Concert Choir performed on the White House lawn for President Joseph Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, as well as Vice President Kamala Harris at a special Juneteenth concert.
“The spirit of that original choir still lives in our students,” said Dickenson. “We aren’t only honoring Dett—we’re continuing his life’s work.”
