The Phoenix Boys Choir
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The Phoenix Boys Choir is a Grammy Award winning boys choir in Phoenix, Arizona and the largest boys choir in the United States.
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[edit] History
The Phoenix Boys Choir was founded and had its first rehearsal in 1947, although it was not until 1949 that they performed their first concert.
In 1993 the choir moved into its first dedicated building, the Helen C. Lincoln Building for the Phoenix Boys Choir. Famed American composer Daniel Pinkham wrote a piece for the grand opening entitled "Cantate Dominum" which, translated from Latin reads, "Sing to the lord a new song..."
[edit] Awards and Honors
In 2000, the choir was awarded a Grammy for Best Choral Performance for its recording of Krzysztof Penderecki's Credo with the Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Hellmuth Rilling.
In 2001, the Phoenix Boys Choir was named "Cultural Ambassadors" to the European Union.
In December of 2002, they were named a Phoenix Point of Pride by the Honorable Skip Rimza, then Mayor of Phoenix.
In 2003, the choir performed for the American Choral Directors Association Convention in New York. They were honored as the only American boys' choir selected for this event. While in New York they performed at Carnegie Hall, at the Lincoln Center and at Riverside Church.
In 2007 the choir took home high honors from the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival in its inaugural year. The festival took place in Vienna, Austria, in the Goldener Saal inside the Musikverein. The choir won first place in the Treble category and second in the Mixed category. The second place award was shared with The Christ's College Chapel Choir from New Zealand
[edit] Performances
Each year the choir performs a full and varied season, beginning in the early fall and ending in late May or early June, followed by their annual concert tour.
Of all of the choir's annual performances, the most attended and most highly publicized are their series of Holiday concerts, performed over a series of weeks in December. These concerts are performed in churches across the city of Phoenix and contain both Christmas and Hannukah pieces.
In recent years the choir has been invited to sing annually at the Arizona Biltmore Resort's Tree Lighting ceremony.
The choir also performs one or two annual Pops concerts. The program generally is culled from the traditions of Americana, the American Songbook, Broadway Showtunes, and pieces from contemporary film, television, and other popular outlets. These concerts also generally feature a special guest performer.
[edit] Conductors and Staff
Georg Stangelberger joined the Phoenix Boys Choir as Artistic Director in 1999. He previously spent more than 13 years with the Vienna Boys Choir. He led the choir to its Carnegie Hall debut in 2003 and is considered largely responsible for the choir's current success.
Dr. Craig Westendorf conducts the Cadet Choir. He holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music, the University of Notre Dame, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champlain. He taught music history at the University of Notre Dame and the University of Illinois. He joined the choir at the beginning of it's '07-'08 concert season.
Greg Amerind, who joined the choir at the beginning of the 2007-'08 concert season, conducts the Town Choir. He majored in music and theatre arts at UCLA, California State University, Northridge and Arizona State University.
Jason Snodgrass is the Phoenix Boys Choir's Operations Manager.
[edit] Levels
There are four levels of the Phoenix Boys Choir, and each level has a bit more experienced singers in it. Each of the boys in each level helps make the Phoenix Boys Choir the largest boychoir in America.
The Training Choir is the lowest level. Boys as young as seven audition and begin their choir careers at this level. The Training Choir as a whole is divided into five "Neighborhood Choirs," each under the direction of a different conductor and meeting at separate locations. Currently there are Neighborhood Choirs located in Peoria, Downtown Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, and one at that meets at the choir's headquarters in the Helen C. Lincoln Building on Missouri Ave.
The Cadet Choir is the next senior level. Most boys move into this level after one or two years in the Training Choir. Consequently these boys are a year or two older and can claim some concert experience.
The Town Choir, is senior to the Cadet Choir. Boys in this choir are exposed to their first touring experiences. They embark annually on a national tour but do not travel internationally. Previous tours have gone to Texas, New Mexico, and Northern Arizona.
The Tour Choir is the Phoenix Boys Choir's top level. Members range in age from 10 to 14 years old and are the most advanced, most accomplished singers in the program. Each year they perform an extensive tour, alternating national and international itineraries each year.
