Ministry of Camerata
The Takoma Academy Camerata, under the direction of Mrs. Lulu Mwangi Mupfumbu, consists of 34 students enrolled in the school’s music program. The program’s goal is to pursue excellence through training in music performance, literacy, technical skill, music history, multicultural music, general musicianship, and music in worship and ministry.
The choir has an active schedule throughout the school year, providing upwards of 30 performances each school year. They participate in various functions in churches, throughout the community, statewide and internationally. The choir performed at the White House for the First Lady Michelle Obama, for the Miss World competition at the US Capitol, as well as performed in programs where they have shared the stage with notable artists such as CeCe Winans, Take Six, the Washington Chorus, Wintley Phipps, and others. The choir has performed internationally in Canada, Bermuda, and Jamaica, Czech Republic, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Trinidad, and The Bahamas.
In March of 2018, the choir was honored to be selected to be a part of the Music For All Inaugural Premier National Choir Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana. An award winning choir, this group of dynamic young people seek to inspire and uplift their community in song. In 2012, 2013 and 2015, the choir won the Montgomery County Martin Luther King Talent Award, and were invited to perform for the Martin Luther King Celebration at the Strathmore Center. In 2013, the choir earned 1st place at the I-Sing High School Choir Challenge at Reid Temple AME Church and was awarded $5,000; and in 2015 upon an invitation to compete again, the choir earned 2nd place at this same competition. The choir won 1 gold medal and 2 silver medals in their first appearance at the 10th World Choir Games in Tshwane, South Africa, and 2 Gold Diplomas at the American International Choral Festival in February of 2019. The choir also performed as a concert choir for the 2022 American Choral Director’s Association Eastern Region, and was awarded the Recording Academy’s Music Education Grant in 2021.
Most recently the choir was honored to be the performing artists for the opening of the Colin Powell Gallery at the National Museum for African American History and Culture, for Maryland Music Educator’s Association Conferences, among other local appearances.
Additionally the choir engages in community service projects. Past projects include, disaster relief and clean, adopt-a-school project in Jamaica, homeless shelter service, senior citizen visitation, restoring a bird sanctuary in the Bahamas, providing supplies to and spending time with a children’s home in South Africa, an exchange program and planting trees with the youth of Diepsloot (post-apartheid township), South Africa, and partnering with the US Dream academy to on music mentorship days.
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The music department aims to make the world a better place through spreading a message of love and unity through music, and the sacrifice of service.
