T. Mychael Rambo

Regional Emmy Award-winning actor, vocalist, arts educator and community organizer; T. Mychael Rambo has made an indelible mark here in the Twin Cities performing principal roles at such theaters as: Penumbra, the Guthrie, Ordway, Illusion Theatre, Mixed Blood, Park Square Theatre, Children’s Theatre and Minnesota Opera to name but a few. Nationally and internationally his stage credits include Carnegie Hall and performances abroad in Africa, Europe and South America. He has appeared in local and national television commercials, feature films, HBO mini-series, and other television programming. T. Mychael is an accomplished residency artist and an affiliate professor in the College of Liberal Arts,
Theatre Arts and Dance at the University of Minnesota.

As a recording artist, T. Mychael has released two popular CD’s: Simply – a collection of jazz standards; and The Gift; A Christmas With Love – a selection of original and holiday classics. T. Mychael had the great honor of singing the National Anthem for both President Barack Obama and former President Jimmy Carter. Mr. Rambo is also the proud recipient of the 2009 Sally Award in Education presented by the Ordway and the 2010 Minnesota Black Music Award. His other honors and awards include Young Audience Artist of the Year with his dear friend and teaching partner Anita Ruth, McKnight Theatre Artist Fellowship, Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Fellowship, Bush Finalist and both the University of Minnesota Century Council Community Award and Outstanding Community Service Award among others.

Workshop Description

Hannibal Lokumbe’s piece, In The Spirit of Being, perfectly illustrates the power of music to effect change in the lives of all peoples. T. Mychael and Anita will expand and support the resource guide’s assertion that “this work will show how we are all interconnected through our past, present and future regardless of cultural background."

We will explore the history and magnificence of the Negro Spiritual. Through this exploration we will study how they have been the cornerstone of African American music embodying the struggles and victories the culture has experienced. Lokumbe has said that he is greatly influenced by spirituals and students will have the opportunity to write their own musical composition. By doing so, they will demonstrate how the study of spirituals has influenced them and how giving voice to their own “struggles and victories” affirms the “spirit of being” in each of them.

To Prepare Students

  • Students may benefit from participating in the following resource guide activities:
  • “Words of Life: The Poetry of Langston Hughes” on p. 85 of the WITNESS Teacher Resource Guide
  • “Music of the Civil Rights Movement: Sam Cooke’s ‘A Change is Gonna Come’”
    on p. 110
  • Songs of Peace And Hope: African American Spirituals on p. 133

Workshop needs and support:

  • Tuned piano (or available keyboard)
  • Access to dry-erase/chalkboard or flip chart for song creation
  • Space within the classroom to accommodate community building / “circle” exercise(s)
  • Easy access to electrical outlet(s)