Saint Thomas Choir School
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Saint Thomas Choir School | |
Cantate Domino
(Latin: "Sing unto the Lord") |
|
Location | |
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New York City, New York, United States of America | |
Information | |
Religion | Episcopalian |
Headmaster | The Reverend Charles Wallace |
Enrollment |
apx. 40 boys |
Faculty | 17 |
Type | Private, church-affiliated boarding school. |
Campus | Urban |
Established | 1919 |
Homepage | http://www.choirschool.org |
Saint Thomas Choir School is a church-affiliated boarding choir school in Manhattan, New York. It was founded in 1919 and is supported by the nearby Saint Thomas Church.
Contents |
[edit] History
The Choir School was founded in 1919 by T.Tertius Noble. Noble, an English born organist and composer, had been appointed as the organist of Saint Thomas Church in 1913. With the support of the Church, Noble established the new Choir School to continue the Anglican tradition of the all-male choral ensemble in the United States. While other choir schools throughout the world have recently begun to accept female members into their ranks, Saint Thomas has maintained an uninterrupted tradition of all-male membership. Thus, the Choir School remains one of the few remaining all-male choir schools, along with Britain's Westminster Abbey Choir School.
[edit] Life at the School
The students, boys ranging from ages 8 to 14, reside at the Choir School, which is located in its own 14-story building at 202 West 58th Street in midtown Manhattan, between Broadway and 7th Avenue, one block away from Central Park South. Students simultaneously participate in both a rigorous liturgical music program at Saint Thomas Church and a full range of academic subjects including English, Science, History, Music Theory, Mathematics, Latin, French, and Theology. The school also engages in an athletic program, competing against local private schools in soccer, basketball, and softball. The school holds occasional auditions for boys entering the third, fourth, and fifth grade. Students are accepted based on both musical and academic qualities. The school is administrated by the headmaster, who coordinates the rehearsal and performance schedule of the boys with the Master of Choristers. The current headmaster is Charles Wallace. Past headmasters have included noted math educator Gordon H. Clem, after whom the current Choir School building is named.
[edit] Organists and Master of Choristers
- T. Tertius Noble, 1913-1940
- T. Frederick Candlyn, 1940-1954
- William Self, 1954-1971
- Gerre Hancock, 1971-2004
- John Scott, 2004-present
[edit] Notable Alumni
- Gunther Schuller, jazz and classical composer
- Steve Sandvoss, actor
- Gerry Rosenthal, actor