Disney in a Minute: Who are the Voices of Liberty?

The Voices of Liberty is a popular a capella group appearing in the American Adventure pavilion in the World Showcase at EPCOT. Founded by Maney Ray and Derric Johnson, they have performed since EPCOT’s opening in 1982. Most often, the group consists of eight members plus a lead/director. But since its beginning, hundreds of vocalists have been part of the cast.

According to an interview with the founders, the Voices of Liberty had their origins as a gospel show choir called Re’Generation. They were discovered in 1972 at a Rotary Club meeting by Bob Cross. (In case you are wondering, he was the entertainment director at the Magic Kingdom.) Ross asked them to sing in front of Cinderella Castle. And then later, he invited them again to sing in the Magic Kingdom during the Christmas season. The response was so positive that when EPCOT opened, they were invited to become a permanent attraction in EPCOT. They rebranded as the Voices of Liberty and have been performing ever since.

Performances take place in the rotunda of the American Adventure pavilion. The acoustics here are remarkable, thanks to the dome. Disney suggests that for the best sound, guests should stand as close to the rotunda circle as possible. This allows for the full benefit of the dome-enhanced acoustics. The musical selections celebrate aspects of the American experience, and chills are practically guaranteed when they perform America the Beautiful!

During the holiday season the playlist gets a shake-up, as do the costumes. At this time of year, you’ll find them dressed in Victorian finery, belting out everything from classic carols to non-denominational holiday selections.

Showtimes are listed in the My Disney Experience app and are subject to change. Each performance lasts about 15 minutes. And if you’re not able to make it to EPCOT, you can find them on both Amazon and Spotify as the Liberty Voices.

Disney in a Minute is a series of short posts designed to help you better understand a Disney term or planning topic. Is there a Disney term you’d like to see explained a bit more? Make a suggestion in the comments!