Mention "boychoir" to someone and the images and sounds of the Vienna Choir Boys usually come to mind. They are easily the world's most famous group of singing boys, and they are a soprano-alto group. Many boychoirs continue this tradition, although some have expanded to include changed-voices in what becomes a SATB choir. While these choirs no longer retain the Vienna model, they do offer an advantage of allowing their choristers to continue singing in the choir after puberty strikes.
Our goal on this page is to include both types of male choirs.Land of Lakes Choirboys
The Land of Lakes Choirboys are made up up six different choirs: The Prep Choir is for boys aged 5-7; The Training Choir has boys from 8-12; the Resident Choir of boys 8-14 that performs locally; the Nordic and Viking Choirs, national and international touring choirs, for experienced choristers 8-14; and the Alumni Choir, composed of young men with changed voices.
Founded in 1976, the choir has since traveled and performed through 49 of the 50 states. They have also sung in England, Wales, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France, Poland, Iceland, Australia and New Zealand.
Francis D.C. Stockwell, a New Zealander by birth, has been Artistic Director of the Elk River, Minnesota choir since 1997. Aaron J. Carpenter works with the choirs as Associate Conductor.
Additional information about the choir is available at THEIR WEBSITE. Also known as Minnesota's Singing Boys, the choirs' logo includes the significant words: Music - Respect - Honor.
In 2004, the choir won the "Trebby Award" for Best Boy's Choir Album. The award, earned by votes of boy and cathedral choir enthusiasts from around the world, went to their album Steal Away. A selection from that and another CD may be heard by clicking on either of the two above photos.
The Wiltener Sängerknaben of Innsbruck, Austria was re-established in 1946, following the tradition of the Abbey of Wilten Boys' Choir that dates back to the 13th century. The choir performs sacred music at church services and concerts. The group also sings classical children's songs by Brahms, Mozart and Schubert; authentic Tyrolian folk songs and popular opera and operetta melodies.
The boys occasionally join a mixed choir to combine their treble and alto voices with the tenor and bass from those whose voices have broken.
The choir has toured Japan, Denmark, France, Germany, Israel, Italy and Switzerland. They have done radio and TV broadcasts for MDR, ORF and ZDF-- and appeared at the 2001 Congress of 1,000 Cities for Europe.
You can hear a sample of their fine work by clicking on either of the above photos. You are also invited to visit their tri-language WEBSITE!
Directed by Johannes Stecher since 1991, the choir has sung with famous orchestras such as the Innsbruck Symphonic Orchestra Tyrol and the Philharmonic Orchestra of Temesvar.
The choir is comprised of boys in grades five through eight, and (as this was written) represents 21 states and the District of Columbia. The American Boychoir offers a unique program of education, musicianship, and fellowship for boys. They have an extensive webpage, and we invite you to read a review of their Hobbs, New Mexico concert. Click on the photo above, left to hear an excerpt from one of their latest CDs, or click on the above, right photo for a video!
Founded in 1937, and based in Princeton, New Jersey, The American Boychoir is this nation's most widely touring and frequently performing choral ensemble with over 175 concerts annually. These include performances with world-renowned orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony and Vienna Philharmonic.
In addition to many television appearances, the choir has been featured on the movie sound tracks of "Wide Awake" (starring Rosie O’Donnell) and "Interview with a Vampire" (starring Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Kirsten Dunst). They have also been featured in commercial sound tracks for Alpo, Apple Computers, BMW, CNN, Colonial Williamsburg, Coty, Kodak ("True Colors"), M & M’s, Merrill Lynch, Monster.com (1999 Super Bowl), Odyssey, Oracle (1998 Super Bowl), Solomon Smith-Barney and Volvo.
Honolulu Boy Choir
The HBC represented the United States at the 50th anniversary of the Hiroshima Peace World Commemoration in Japan (1995) and performed as "Artists in Residence" at the International Choral Kathaumixw in Canada (1998). The boys, ranging in age from seven to fourteen, perform a variety of contemporary, ethnic, folk, traditional and religious music. Ancient and contemporary hula dances by Choir members add yet another unique dimension. Click on the picture for an audio sample from their cassette "We Are Young Men Of This Country".
This boy choir from Hawaii is unique in several ways-- one being that here is no tuition fee. The choir is supported by individuals, corporate donors and the community. Mel Ozeki, Publisher & Editor of "Ohana (Family) Magazine" wrote: "The Choir was founded in 1974 by Roy and Nyle Hallman. Boys come from over 40 schools on the island of O'ahu. They represent the spectrum of socio-economic groups, encompassing Hawaii's distinctive rainbow of cultures."
Thomanerchor Leipzig
The boys are directed by Chorusmaster Georg Christoph Biller.
Also featured at the concert: Victoria Mullova (violin solo), Nancy Argenta (soprano) and Herbert Blomstedt conducting the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig in a fantastic rendition of Beethoven's 5th!
This excellent DVD is available at both the USA and UK amazon.com sites. Just type "Leipzig" in the search window! 
Here is a choir with not only a history of nearly 790 years, but one which can also claim the honor of being the oldest cultural organization in the city of Leipzig! The choir involves about 100 boys of ages 10-18.
Our two clips provided for you are long downloads for this eight minute performance, but well worth the wait if you do not have a fast connection.
The source video is of a benefit concert "Refuge for the Rising" performed on October 9, 1999 in Leipzig's Nikolai Church, in and for the benefit of the church which marked a decisive historical point in recent German history. The performance commemorated the tenth anniversary of the "peace prayers" and the "peaceful revolution" that began there with the decisive "Monday Demonstration" of October 9, 1989, exactly one month before the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus
Travel opportunities are available to those who advance to become members of the Touring Chorus.
You may click on the picture at left for a Real Video sample of a 1997 concert given for an elementary school audience in Amarillo, Texas. The chorus sings many types of music-- an audio clip is available HERE . The TABC also has an excellent WEBSITE!
For more than 62 years, young boys have joined the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus. Its Director for the past 21 years has been Dr. Julian Ackerley.
Boys between the ages of eight and eleven with an interest in music are encouraged to audition. Participation in the Chorus includes regular rehearsals, a challenging trick rodeo roping program, and an annual summer camp.The Chorus also offers many unique performance venues.
Rehearsals take place three times a week-- once at St. Nicholas' Church and twice at Tallinn School No 21, which is also the base school of the choir. The repertoire includes songs from Gregorian chant to vocal polyphony, from Estonian music to African spirituals. The choir performed at AmericaFest in July of 1996. Click on their picture to hear a recording made in April of 1993!
The Tallinn Boys Choir was founded by Mrs. Lydia Rahula, the principal conductor and the artistic director of the choir, in September, 1988. About 200 boys study in the choir studio. Most of the boys also play a musical instrument.
