BIOGRAPHIES
Amandla, the vocal duo of Lori Ann Christian (soprano) and Oliver Nathan Greene (baritone) is devoted to the performance, preservation and education of African-derived music and selected works from American and Western European musical traditions. Amandla has performed in metropolitan New York, Philadelphia, North Carolina and throughout the Atlanta area offering innovative programs of both historical and cultural significance.
Their performances include music of a variety of genres such as African American spirituals, jazz, musical theater, opera and folk songs of the Americas and the Caribbean. The ensemble’s name “amandla” is the South African Xhosa word for “power” that was used during the apartheid movement.
In memory of the struggle and perseverance of all African people, it is the group's mission to educate and empower audiences through exposure to music of various cultures and genres. Their debut CD, Witness! Amandla Sings Spirituals and Jazz, features their own arrangements of well-known and standard popular music selections.
LORI ANN CHRISTIAN, Soprano
A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania holds degrees from Duquesne University and the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. As an educator, she has served on the faculties of Clark-Atlanta University and Spelman College as a voice instructor.
A versatile performer, she has appeared in recitals, concerts and operas in the U.S. and abroad. She has also been noted for the premieres of several contemporary works. She currently, serves as the Director of Choral Activities at Tri-Cities High School Visual and Performing Arts Magnet.
OLIVER NATHAN GREENE, Baritone
A native of La Grange, Georgia holds degrees from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, Southern Methodist University and Florida State University where he earned a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology.
He has been performed as a soloist in concerts, recitals, and excerpts from operas and musical theater in the US, Italy, and Bermuda. As an ethnomusicologist he has published articles in journals, encyclopedias, and books and has produced a documentary film. He conducts research on Afro-Caribbean music and is an Associate Professor at Georgia State University.