Boychoirs - Page Three!
'Big' on Bach and other classical composers, they have an 80-minute DVD available at their WEBSITE. The video is sold as a 'package' with an audio CD of the same program and a CD of works by Vivaldi and Handel.
Clicking on the photo (above) will bring up a video sample from a concert which was televised in December of 2004 by the Eternal Word Television Network. The 1996 concert, presented in the Grote Kerk of Elburg, was of two works by the Dutch composer Willem de Fesch (1687-1761). An audio CD of this concert is available for EUR 15.
Young boys begin their training in 'Group 4' Sopranos, open to ages 4-7, with one rehearsal per week. Their theme in the youngest group is ZINGEN IS LEUK! (Singing is fun!) Boys then graduate to 'Group 3' for additional training, and then to 'Group 2' where they do their first serious concert work.
The Holland Boys Choir is a large SATB group, with around 30 boys and 18 men. They celebrated their 20th Anniversary in 2004 and still have their original director, Pieter Jan Leusink. The choir sings an intensive concert schedule in various churches throughout the Netherlands.
The Australian Boys Choir
The choir was featured on the soundtracks of the movies "Elizabeth" and "The Dish", a very interesting movie about Australia's part in making it possible for people all over the world to view the first landing of men on the moon. The boys sang in Jubilee Year celebrations in Rome in January, 2000, and at AmericaFest in 1998, 2000 and 2002.
They also represented Australia in the World Choral Symposium, held in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2002.
The choir is directed by Noel Ancell, who began his career as an organist in Adelaide.
More information is available at their website. To view and hear the boys (along with their Vocal Consort) singing the "unofficial national anthem" of Australia at AmericaFest 2000, click on the picture above!
The Danish Boys Choir
These boys have performed in the United States, Canada, Japan, Israel, Russia, Greenland and in almost every European country. det danske drengekor has its own house in Copenhagen where about 80 boys meet twice a week for singing lessons and choir practice. Boys begin in the Junior Choir, and after a trial period, they may be promoted to the Concert Choir. In addition to touring, the boys also enjoy a yearly summer camp.
The choir's website provides only a minimal amount of information in English. Clicking on the above photo will link you to almost ten minutes of video from their AmericaFest performances in 2000.
The Australian Boys Choir is a part of the Australian Boys Choral Institute in Melbourne. Founded in 1939, the choir has performed with the Melbourne Symphony, Opera Australia and the Australian Ballet.
The Danish Boys Choir is known in Denmark as det danske drengekor. Founded in 1943 by Jørgen Bremholm, under the name of Parkdrengekoret, the choir acquired its present name in 1972.
The choir consists of boys aged between nine and fifteen who have an ear for music.
They sing everything from Gregorian works, spirituals, and madrigals, to German and international folk songs. Their training program vows to produce good choristers and even soloists "from supposedly unmusical children!" Current director is Bernhard Reimann, who is also active as a composer.
There is no top age limit for membership-- boys may continue singing after voice change. For a video sample of this choir, taped in 1983, click on their picture, above.
The Münchner Chorbuben are "singing ambassadors of Munich, Bavaria and Germany" according to their German only website. Founded in 1952, the choir has performed in almost all European countries, plus the United States, Canada, Japan and Australia.
The choir has recently included participation in international choral competitions to their list of achievements. In July of 2000, the Concert Choir was awarded a Silver Medal in the Children's Choir Division at the Choral Olympiad in Linz, Austria. Click on their picture to hear a "live audience" recording of "The Battle Hymn" arranged by Peter Wilhousky.
Florida’s Singing Sons Boychoir was formed in 1975 with the vision of providing a “well-trained” boychoir for the community. Beginning with only 85 members, the choir has since grown to include over 200 boys from the South Florida area who enjoy the musical opportunity of being a Singing Son.
The choir consists of boys ages nine through fourteen.
