“Keep your lamps trimmed and burning,” suggest the singers of one of America's brightest gospel choirs, the Aeolians, as they prepare to light up Moscow with a live gig, bidding a temporary goodbye to their “Sweet Home Alabama.”

Fans of the choir say their songs, like the New Mercies, give them more of a boost than any vitamin ever could. “Great and Marvelous,” the Aeolians sing, charging music lovers with energy to live by.   

Founded 65 years ago, the Aeolians are Oakwood University’s internationally celebrated ensemble. The artists have served as musical ambassadors across America and overseas, across Europe and the Caribbean.

The Aeolian choral music repertoire spans the period from the Baroque era to the 20th Century, also drawing on old spirituals from the slavery period.

“How can I keep from singing?” wonder the musicians. But for anyone who knows their work, that’s a somewhat rhetorical question.

The Aeolians will perform at the Moscow International House of Music on January 21 in a concert which is part of the Russia-US Bilateral Presidential Commission on development of cooperation between Dmitry Medvedev and Barack Obama.