There are not many performance ensembles to which the word “institution” is applicable. And when it is, we are often discussing groups that rest on past accomplishments, preserve what has come before, and live on nostalgia. All of this could not be further from the truth when discussing Sweet Honey in the Rock, the colorful and world renowned African American women’s a cappella ensemble that was founded here in the District, 35 years ago. Sweet Honey will celebrate this milestone with a special concert tomorrow night at the Warner Theatre, along with another artistic treasure, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

“It’s a good time for the community to come out and check in on the group,” said Aisha Kahlil, a current member of Sweet Honey in the Rock. “It’s a time to celebrate and connect with the roots of Sweet Honey here in the Washington, D.C. area.”

Drawing its name from Psalm 81:16, Sweet Honey’s story begins in 1973, borne out of the Civil Rights movement and the African American community’s rekindled interest in its cultural roots. Bernice Johnson Reagon formed the group and led its first performance that year at Howard University’s W.C. Handy Blues Festival. Over time, Sweet Honey released several albums, performed to appreciative audiences all over the world, and garnered numerous accolades, including a 2005 profile on PBS’s American Masters series, and a 2008 Grammy nomination for Experience… 101, its fourth children’s album.