The Vocal Motion Six Story

Introductory (a biography) of the ensemble

Introduction

Anyone who has not experienced the phenomenon of Vocal Motion Six cannot imagine the profound effect the spirit of this group will have upon them. Nor can it be described. As they say, you have to be there! All we can do is describe their effect on others!

Music Makers Award

In 1999 the group was among the 537 groups nationwide who auditioned for the National Music Makers Competition. Chosen as one of the 37 finalists, they traveled 700km southwest to the capitol, Windhoek. There, in a televised broadcast, they won 2 awards for Best Vocal Group and First Place overall Artist of the Year, winning the opportunity to record their first album.

Development

In 2000 they relocated to Windhoek to pursue their performance and recording opportunities. In the same year VMSIX had a workshop with the acclaimed Female A cappella group Black Voices from the UK. The young men took the harmonic skills that had been instilled into them growing up, and added their own unique expression to create a distinctive sound. Over the next few years the group was favorites at many corporate and state functions received numerous awards. They sang in many languages including Afrikaans, Spanish, Italian Portuguese and English in addition to other Namibian languages.

Living Positive

In an effort to give back to their community, Vmsix created a platform, "Living Positive" using their "music with a message" to inspire the youth to make good choices as a preventative tool in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Namibia. In 2007 they joined forces with a young woman who is living with the virus, and traveled throughout 11 of the 13 regions in Namibia. As she told her story, they sang and spoke to over 85,000 youth in schools, prisons and mines, sponsored by PEPFAR, the US President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief, in partnership with the Namibian American Cultural Center. (Living Positive video)

"Search and Find" CD October 2009 Release

When they weren't touring, they were in the studio recording their new CD, "Search and Find” was recorded in 2006 and later released in October 2009 which features a variety of songs in English and other northern Namibian languages including Oshiwambo, Otjihimba and Rukwangali all in the phenomenal blend unique to Vocal Motion Six. They also created a music video for their title song which can be viewed at their website at: www.vmsix.com

US Tour - Impatient Optimist

In the Bill and Melinda Gates "Impatient Optimist" presentation in Washington DC, November 2009, the group was recognized for their anti-stigma and prevention work against HIV/AIDS in Namibia. VMSIX was featured singing one of their A cappella arrangements in the language of Rukwangali, from the Okavango Region in Rundu. The song "Onane" is "words of wisdom passed on from parent to child... what you sow in life is exactly what you will harvest... make good choices in life and make our world a better place." Their picture-story is featured as part of "The Living Proof that U.S. investments in global health are working!"

USA State Department

While on this first US visit, which was funded by the Namibian Arts Council, they spent the next week touring DC and Miami with the US State Department's VOLVIS program, interacting with other organizations in the states who were working toward HIV/Aids awareness. Their story was broadcast by Voice of America.

Overwhelming Response in US - November 2009
Next, the group spent 3 weeks in the DC/Baltimore/New York area sharing their music and message in concerts for many schools and churches where they were received enthusiastically time after time with an overwhelming response from all ages!
High School students were especially moved, even to tears, by their dedication to using their gifts to help others.
Students at the prestigious Juilliard School of the Arts in New York City were amazed at the quality of their intricately blended harmonies and expressed disbelief that they had no formal training!

New York ShareTheMic

Before completing their first US tour, VM6 auditioned for ShareTheMic in New York City where they were warmly welcomed as the first international group to be a part of the launch of ShareTheMic! The producers invited Vocal Motion Six to arrange and record the ShareTheMic theme song "Only One World" in the studio 2 days later! www.sharethemic.com
"ShareTheMic™ (STM™) is an innovative cause-related community network that inspires independent musical artists, their fans and non-profit organizations to connect and collaborate to make a difference. It is a movement that supports emerging musical talent while generating awareness, relationship cross marketing, and fund raising opportunities for and with a diverse spectrum of prominent philanthropic causes. "

San Francisco Global Philanthropy Forum

April 18 – 21, 2010 in Redwood City Northern California under the invitation of Jane Wales, founding president, Global Philanthropy Forum Vice President, Philanthropy & society, The Aspen Institute, VM6 was recognized for the philanthropic work they have been doing against HIV/AIDS in Namibia. VMSIX was the main and only act during the conference. VM6 outstanding performance which was a live stream at livestream.com/gpf2010, Can also be viewed on philanthropyforum.org
During the rest of their US tour VM6 performed at the Dakota Lounge in Santa Monica Los Angeles California featured as main act for the night. VMSIX also performed in Atlanta Georgia, Washington DC, Maryland Baltimore and New York City performing in concert, schools and churches as well. In Atlanta city, VM6 was honored to perform at the prestigious and historical Ebenezer Lutheran Baptist Church where DR Martin Luther King JR used to congregate and preach!

Finland Tour 2011

VMSIX received a special award at the prestigious Tampere Vocal Music Festival TAMPEREEN SAVEL 8 - 12.6.2011(Contest for vocal Ensembles) at the international vocal contest in Finland.

Current and upcoming Activities

- Over 15 Upcoming corporate and private shows around Windhoek Namibia.

- Latest music video follow the link: http://youtu.be/IutSc1GNzMA

- VMSIX in Taiwan October 2011

- VMSIX new CD launch of a sacred album “Back to Basics” end of October 2011.

- August – September 2012 VMSIX to launch and host an annually vocal ensemble (A cappella) festival and contest. World’s famous groups to visit Namibia shows in Windhoek and Festival in Swakopmund.