BY SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
Alabama A&M University’s Choir will bring its celebrated musical tradition to Birmingham on Saturday, Sept. 19, when it performs with Grammy-winning gospel artist Yolanda Adams during the closing concert of the 2026 There Is A Balm In Gilead National Healing-Reconciliation Conference.
The concert begins at 7 p.m. at Samford University’s Wright Fine Arts Center. Adams will headline an evening of gospel music featuring the AAMU Choir, the Birmingham Youth and Young Adult Fellowship Choir and gospel vocalist Mary D. Williams.
The performance will conclude a four-day conference focused on healing the personal and community wounds connected to racism and racial trauma. Scheduled Sept. 16–19, the gathering will bring scholars, historians, faith leaders and community advocates together for keynote addresses, interactive sessions, artistic presentations and visits to Birmingham civil rights landmarks.
Conference topics include racial trauma and mental health, intergenerational trauma, religion and healing, and the role of the arts in restoration. Organizers describe the event as an opportunity for honest reflection, meaningful dialogue and renewed hope as the nation observes its 250th anniversary.
For Alabama A&M, the concert offers another prominent stage for its choir and introduces a statewide audience to the sound, discipline and spirit that have long defined the University’s choral program. The appearance also places the student ensemble alongside Adams, whose influential career has blended gospel, R&B and inspirational music for more than three decades.
General admission tickets are listed at $54, while VIP tickets are $80.25. Ticket and conference information is available through the official event websites.