The Redfourth Chorus United, an organization providing music education and performance opportunities for youth and adults, announced Tuesday that it is pausing operations due to financial difficulties.
The 7-year-old organization said in a statement that it has achieved “great success” but is now facing challenges including unpaid dues, COVID-19 period debts, lack of support for some programs, and “generally the current tough economic times.”
Redfourth Chorus put themselves on the music map after they covered Sauti Sol’s gospel jam, “Kuliko Jana”. The song became an international sensation and even made Sauti Sol change the video into an Acapella version.
“We are currently facing eviction and auction from one of our premises and would not want to incur further financial strain until we are stable,” the statement said.
The chorus said it runs programs for special needs students, high school and college singers, individual performers, and beginning and intermediate musicians. More than 1,000 youth have participated in its programs over the years.
“The Redfourth Family has grown and has achieved great success and picked up valuable lessons along the way. We remain committed to inspiring generations and making different genres of music accessible to many,” the statement said.
But the organization said that “due to various economical challenges” it needs to “pause and ‘get our pitch right'” and cannot continue normal operations for now.
The statement did not provide details on the timeframe for the pause or when the financial troubles began. It said the chorus is open to financial support or donations of instruments and music books as it works to “stabilize and find a sustainable operating model.”
“We hope that things will stabilize sooner and we will get the much needed support,” the statement said, providing a mobile payment number for donations. “We will be back better, stronger and wiser.”
The Redfourth Chorus United is known for its contemporary choral music and performances. According to its website, its mission is “to inspire generations through music.”
The organization was founded in 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya by music director Joshua Otieno and others. It has performed across Kenya and teaches music lessons to children and adults.
