Boston Archdiocesan Choir School

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The Boston Archdiocesan Choir School (aka BACS) is a choir school for boys in grades 5-8 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is one of several boychoir schools in North America, a select group that includes the Texas Boys Choir and the American Boychoir School. It has an enrollment of approximately sixty students, a rigorous academic program and an affiliation with St. Paul's Church (Catholic) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Its performing arm, the Boston Boy Choir, performs actively in the greater Boston area and with groups like the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops. The current headmaster/music director is John Dunn.

Contents

[edit] History

BACS was founded in 1963 by Dr. Theodore Marier, the result of decades of work spent renewing the liturgical and musical traditions at St. Paul's.[1] Dr. Marier was succeeded as director by John Dunn, who has taught at the school since it was founded.[2]

[edit] Building

Since 1991, the school has operated in a 4-story multipurpose building which also houses the St. Paul's rectory, parish offices, and the Harvard-Radcliffe Catholic Student Association.[3] Prior to that, the school was in its own building, built in 1891, on the same site. That building was torn down after being declared unsafe.[4] The new building project was somewhat controversial at the time, raising opposition from parishioners and community activists who wanted affordable housing development on other property that was being sold to finance construction. The property was actually sold to Harvard University.

[edit] Program

Students at BACS attend full-time, completing a vigorous academic program in addition to daily rehearsals and singing mass five times a week. Admission is by audition, with local area fourth graders auditioned every spring. Students have a tuition-less "working scholarship", singing at weddings, funerals and concerts throughout the school year.[2]

[edit] Prominent performances

With the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Tanglewood Festival Chorus:

With the Boston Philharmonic and Chorus Pro Musica:

[edit] Recordings

  • Mahler's Symphony No. 8 (Ozawa/Boston Symphony Orchestra/Robinson, Blegen et al./Philips) (in Philips #470871)
  • Berlioz's The Damnation of Faust (Ozawa/Boston Symphony Orchestra/Mathis, Burrows et al./Deutsche Grammophon) (#423 907-2, #453 019-2)

[edit] References

  1. ^ Alters, Diane. "He gave Cambridge church music for 52 years", Boston Globe, June 9, 1986, p. 13 (Metro).
  2. ^ a b Radsken, Jill. "Hark, the student 'angels' sing...", Boston Herald, December 13, 1992, p. 037.
  3. ^ Marchocki, Kathryn. "Cardinal Law helps dedicate rectory in Harvard Square", Boston Herald, November 2, 1991, p. a01.
  4. ^ Hirshson, Paul. "Cambridge church plan clears a hurdle", Boston Globe, March 22, 1987, p. 47 (Metro).
  5. ^ Rothstein, Edward. "Concert: Ozawa's 'Faust'", New York Times, January 30, 1983.
  6. ^ Dyer, Richard. "Soloists excel in BSO's Faust", Boston Globe, January 22, 1983.
  7. ^ Pincus, Andrew L.. "Tanglewood stages Bach's 'St. Matthew Passion'", New York Times, August 11, 1985.
  8. ^ Pfeifer, Ellen. "Zander sets a Mahler benchmark", Boston Globe, November 22, 2002, p. C20 (Arts).

[edit] External links

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