Several years ago, Professor James Mzilikazi Khumalo, respected composer, conductor and arranger and the doyen of music in South Africa, was approached by the Church to partner with them to fulfil their dream of putting together an interfaith massed choir. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir was already a household name amongst the hugely popular choral groups abounding in churches of all denominations throughout South Africa. The dream became a reality with the performance of massed choirs at the Churches ‘Bridges of Harmony’ in 2002.
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Professor James Mzilikazi Khumalo even conducted his own Salvation Army Band and Choirs at annual LDS Church Christmas pageants. Since then the Professor and his wife Rose, who are lifetime members of the Salvation Army, have attended several Church service events. From these events and the eternal bonds that were formed with beloved Professor & Sister Rose, no Public Affairs event was complete without their presence.
Professor Khumalo has won recognition as one of the leading choral composers in South Africa. He has a long and distinguished career in choral conducting and composition. Four honorary Doctor’s degrees were bestowed by UNISA and the Universities of Zululand, Stellenbosch and Fort Hare for promoting African music.
He was the first black academic at the University of the Witwatersrand to rise through the ranks from Language Assistant to Lecture, Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor and finally full Professor and Head of the Department of African Languages. On his retirement, the University conferred on him the title of Professor Emeritus.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is honoured to have Professor Khumalo and his wife Rose as their dear friends.