The Phoenix Boys Choir
Encyclopedia
The Phoenix Boys Choir is a Grammy Award
winning boys choir based in Phoenix, Arizona
and the largest boys' choir in the United States.
In 1993 the choir moved into its first dedicated building, the Helen C. Lincoln Building for the Phoenix Boys Choir. 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..."
Of all of the choir's annual performances, the most attended and most highly publicized are their series of Holiday concerts performed in December. These concerts are performed in churches and concert halls across the Valley of the Sun 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 performs a classics concert-usually in February—featuring great traditional pieces in the boys' choir repertoire and one or two annual Pops concerts — usually in May. The program of the pops concert generally is culled from the traditions of Americana, the American Songbook, Broadway show tunes, and pieces from contemporary film, television, and other popular outlets. These concerts often feature a special guest performer.
debut in 2003 and is considered largely responsible for the choir's current success.
Herbert Washington conducts the cadet choice. A native of Phoenix and an alumnus of the Phoenix Boys Choir, Washington graduated in 2004 with a B.A in Music and Fine Arts from St. Olaf College
in Minnesota. While there he sang in the St. Olaf Choir, conducted by Dr. Anton Armstrong. Washington, an avid composer and arranger; directed “Voices of Praise,” the St. Olaf Gospel Choir; led the choir to record its first CD. During that time the choir grew in membership from 20 to 80 singers, and became an official choir of the College. Washington served as assistant director of the choir under the professional leadership of Keith McCutchen.
Greg Amerind, who joined the choir at the beginning of the 2007-2008 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.
Harvey K. Smith is the Artistic Director Emeritus. A native Arizonan, Dr. Smith received his education at Occidental College
, Master of Music at the University of Southern California
, Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Arizona
, and Honorary Doctor of Letters at Grand Canyon University
. Beginning in 1960, Dr. Smith’s vision and commitment to quality musicianship have guided the Phoenix Boys Choir from a single, 30-voice choir to a current membership of over 170 boys in five choirs. His pursuit of excellence has brought the Phoenix Boys Choir critical acclaim from audiences and journalists around the globe as well as a Grammy, awarded in 2001. Listeners in Europe, the Far East, Mexico, Canada, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, and across the United States have enjoyed the choir’s splendid performances of varied repertoire. The choir has participated in numerous collaborative projects ranging from advertising soundtracks to solo performances with major musical institutions.
Dr. Smith and his wife, Dorothy Lincoln-Smith, continue working as clinicians, are avid scuba divers, and co-authors of the video teaching series Singing and Growing.
Boys as young as 7 audition and begin their choir careers in the Training Choir, the lowest level. The Training Choir 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 Avenue.
The Cadet Choir is the next senior level. Most boys move into this level after one or two years in the Training Choir. The boys are a year or two older and have 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.
The Masters choir, also conducted by Georg Stangelberger is a choir for boys who have graduated from the choir. Any graduated member whose voice has matured to a tenor through bass range may join and perform with this group.
In 2001, the Phoenix Boys Choir was named "Cultural Ambassadors" to the European Union's Federation of choirs.
In December 2002, they were named an Honorary Phoenix Point of Pride by the Honorable Skip Rimza, then Mayor of Phoenix. They share this honor with the Arizona Diamondbacks
and the Phoenix Suns
.
In 2003, the choir performed for the American Choral Directors Association Convention in New York. They were 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 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 of 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
.
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
winning boys choir based in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
and the largest boys' choir in the United States.
History
The Phoenix Boys Choir was founded and had its first rehearsal in 1947, although it was not until February 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. American composer Daniel Pinkham
Daniel Pinkham
Daniel Rogers Pinkham, Jr. was an American composer, organist, and harpsichordist. Pinkham was one of America's most active composers during his lifetime...
wrote a piece for the grand opening entitled "Cantate Dominum" which, translated from Latin reads, "Sing to the Lord a new song..."
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 in December. These concerts are performed in churches and concert halls across the Valley of the Sun 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 performs a classics concert-usually in February—featuring great traditional pieces in the boys' choir repertoire and one or two annual Pops concerts — usually in May. The program of the pops concert generally is culled from the traditions of Americana, the American Songbook, Broadway show tunes, and pieces from contemporary film, television, and other popular outlets. These concerts often feature a special guest performer.
Conductors and staff
Georg Stangelberger joined the Phoenix Boys Choir as Artistic Director in 1999. He graduated from the Musikhochschule in Vienna, and spent more than 13 years with the Vienna Boys Choir, where he served as principal choir conductor and associate artistic director. He led the Phoenix Boys Choir to its Carnegie HallCarnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
debut in 2003 and is considered largely responsible for the choir's current success.
Herbert Washington conducts the cadet choice. A native of Phoenix and an alumnus of the Phoenix Boys Choir, Washington graduated in 2004 with a B.A in Music and Fine Arts from St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College is a coeducational, residential, four-year, private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, United States. It was founded in 1874 by a group of Norwegian-American immigrant pastors and farmers, led by Pastor Bernt Julius Muus. The college is named after Olaf II of Norway,...
in Minnesota. While there he sang in the St. Olaf Choir, conducted by Dr. Anton Armstrong. Washington, an avid composer and arranger; directed “Voices of Praise,” the St. Olaf Gospel Choir; led the choir to record its first CD. During that time the choir grew in membership from 20 to 80 singers, and became an official choir of the College. Washington served as assistant director of the choir under the professional leadership of Keith McCutchen.
Greg Amerind, who joined the choir at the beginning of the 2007-2008 concert season, conducts the Town Choir. He majored in music and theatre arts at UCLA, California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge is a public university in Northridge, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, California, United States....
, and Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
.
Jason Snodgrass is the Phoenix Boys Choir's Operations Manager.
Harvey K. Smith is the Artistic Director Emeritus. A native Arizonan, Dr. Smith received his education at Occidental College
Occidental College
Occidental College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1887, Occidental College, or "Oxy" as it is called by students and alumni, is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges on the West Coast...
, Master of Music at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
, and Honorary Doctor of Letters at Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon University is a for-profit Christian university located in Phoenix, Arizona. It is owned by Grand Canyon Education . GCU was founded in 1949 as a non-profit liberal arts college. Grand Canyon Education, Inc. purchased Grand Canyon University in February 2004...
. Beginning in 1960, Dr. Smith’s vision and commitment to quality musicianship have guided the Phoenix Boys Choir from a single, 30-voice choir to a current membership of over 170 boys in five choirs. His pursuit of excellence has brought the Phoenix Boys Choir critical acclaim from audiences and journalists around the globe as well as a Grammy, awarded in 2001. Listeners in Europe, the Far East, Mexico, Canada, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, and across the United States have enjoyed the choir’s splendid performances of varied repertoire. The choir has participated in numerous collaborative projects ranging from advertising soundtracks to solo performances with major musical institutions.
Dr. Smith and his wife, Dorothy Lincoln-Smith, continue working as clinicians, are avid scuba divers, and co-authors of the video teaching series Singing and Growing.
Levels
There are four levels of the Phoenix Boys Choir, of increasingly advanced singers.Boys as young as 7 audition and begin their choir careers in the Training Choir, the lowest level. The Training Choir 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
Peoria, Arizona
Peoria is a city in Maricopa and Yavapai counties in the U.S. state of Arizona. Located primarily in Maricopa County, it is a major suburb of Phoenix. According to 2010 Census Bureau releases, the population of the city is 154,065. Peoria is currently the sixth largest city in Arizona for land...
, downtown Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, Tempe
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
, Scottsdale
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
, and one at that meets at the choir's headquarters in the Helen C. Lincoln Building on Missouri Avenue.
The Cadet Choir is the next senior level. Most boys move into this level after one or two years in the Training Choir. The boys are a year or two older and have 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.
The Masters choir, also conducted by Georg Stangelberger is a choir for boys who have graduated from the choir. Any graduated member whose voice has matured to a tenor through bass range may join and perform with this group.
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's Federation of choirs.
In December 2002, they were named an Honorary Phoenix Point of Pride by the Honorable Skip Rimza, then Mayor of Phoenix. They share this honor with the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
and the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
.
In 2003, the choir performed for the American Choral Directors Association Convention in New York. They were the only American boys' choir selected for this event. While in New York they performed at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
, at the Lincoln Center, and at Riverside Church.
In 2007 the choir took high honors from the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival in its inaugural year. The festival took place in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, in the Goldener Saal of 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
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.