Lee met Thula Sizwe in May 2012 while the group was on tour in the US. Inspired by their work with his students and their stories of striving for a better South Africa — and being in the midst of his own personal striving to build a meaningful career and home life — Lee wrote “Sweet, Sweet Singing” the following fall as a response to the well-known South African working song, “Shosholoza”. After bringing the group back to the US in 2025 through his work with Pittsburgh Youth Chorus, Lee was able to realize the dream of performing and recording the song with these phenomenal men and musicians.