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The American Boychoir School was a boarding/day middle school located in
Princeton, New Jersey Princeton is a municipality with a borough form of government in Mercer County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It was established on January 1, 2013, through the consolidation of the Borough of Princeton and Princeton Township, both of wh ...
, and the home of the American Boychoir. The school originated as the Columbus Boychoir in
Columbus, Ohio Columbus () is the state capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the 14th-most populous city in the U.S., the second-most populous city in the Midwest, after Chicago, and ...
. In 1950, the school relocated after receiving property in
Princeton, New Jersey Princeton is a municipality with a borough form of government in Mercer County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It was established on January 1, 2013, through the consolidation of the Borough of Princeton and Princeton Township, both of wh ...
from the Lambert estate. The relocated school was renamed the American Boychoir School. It remained in this location until the sale of Albemarle in 2012. The school served boys in grades 4–8, many of whom came from across the United States and from many countries. It was one of only two boychoir boarding schools in the United States, the other being
Saint Thomas Choir School Saint Thomas Choir School is a church-affiliated boarding choir school in Manhattan, New York, founded in 1919. The school is supported by the nearby Saint Thomas Church, an Episcopal church, continuing the Anglican tradition of all-male chora ...
in
New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
. The school provided opportunity to boys from across the world to experience the rich world of music. The Boychoir toured across the contiguous United States, allowing students to gain diverse cultural perspective while performing at the professional level. The American Boychoir performed with numerous orchestras, frequently including the New York Philharmonic as well as the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. In 2002, the school was embroiled in a scandal due to allegations of sexual abuse of students by faculty and other students. The school served as the basis for a fictionalized choir in the 2014 film '' Boychoir''. From 2012 to 2015, the school's location changed multiple times due to declining admissions and limited funding options. In 2015, the school filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and ultimately closed on August 15, 2017.


Choir

The American Boychoir performed in concerts across the United States and at international venues. On average, the choir made over 200 appearances in four to five major tours annually. The choir performed with the
New York Philharmonic The New York Philharmonic, officially the Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York, Inc., globally known as New York Philharmonic Orchestra (NYPO) or New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, is a symphony orchestra based in New York City. It is ...
, the
Berlin Philharmonic The Berlin Philharmonic (german: Berliner Philharmoniker, links=no, italic=no) is a German orchestra based in Berlin. It is one of the most popular, acclaimed and well-respected orchestras in the world. History The Berlin Philharmonic was fo ...
, the
Boston Symphony Orchestra The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the second-oldest of the five major American symphony orchestras commonly referred to as the " Big Five". Founded by Henry Lee Higginson in 1 ...
, The St. Olaf Choir, cellist
Yo-Yo Ma Yo-Yo Ma ('' Chinese'': 馬友友 ''Ma Yo Yo''; born October 7, 1955) is an American cellist. Born in Paris to Chinese parents and educated in New York City, he was a child prodigy, performing from the age of four and a half. He graduated from ...
, trumpeter
Wynton Marsalis Wynton Learson Marsalis (born October 18, 1961) is an American trumpeter, composer, teacher, and artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. He has promoted classical and jazz music, often to young audiences. Marsalis has won nine Grammy Awar ...
, and several opera singers including
Jessye Norman Jessye Mae Norman (September 15, 1945 – September 30, 2019) was an American opera singer and recitalist. She was able to perform dramatic soprano roles, but refused to be limited to that voice type. A commanding presence on operatic, concert ...
,
Frederica von Stade Frederica von Stade OAL (born June 1, 1945) is a semi-retired American opera singer. Since her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1970, she has performed in operas, musicals, concerts and recitals in venues throughout the world, including La Scala, th ...
and
Kathleen Battle Kathleen Deanna Battle (born August 13, 1948) is an American operatic soprano known for her distinctive vocal range and tone. Born in Portsmouth, Ohio, Battle initially became known for her work within the concert repertoire through performances ...
. The choir had television appearances on
NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters a ...
's ''Today'' show and was featured on sixteen recordings. In the 2004–2005 season, the Boychoir performed at the 77th annual
Academy Awards The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
with pop singer
Beyoncé Knowles Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Beyoncé's boundary-pushing artistry and vocals have made her the most influential female musician of the 21st century, according to ...
and with
Jessye Norman Jessye Mae Norman (September 15, 1945 – September 30, 2019) was an American opera singer and recitalist. She was able to perform dramatic soprano roles, but refused to be limited to that voice type. A commanding presence on operatic, concert ...
before the United States Open (tennis) women's singles final. The choir also had tours across the
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territo ...
and
Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world ...
, an appearance in
Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- m ...
and at
Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between West 56th and 57th Streets. Designed by architect William Burnet Tuthill and built ...
in celebration of
James Levine James Lawrence Levine (; June 23, 1943 – March 9, 2021) was an American conductor and pianist. He was music director of the Metropolitan Opera from 1976 to 2016. He was terminated from all his positions and affiliations with the Met on March ...
’s inaugural season as Music Director of the
Boston Symphony Orchestra The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the second-oldest of the five major American symphony orchestras commonly referred to as the " Big Five". Founded by Henry Lee Higginson in 1 ...
, and six performances with the
Philadelphia Orchestra The Philadelphia Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. One of the " Big Five" American orchestras, the orchestra is based at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, where it performs its subscript ...
. From 2013 to 2016, the Concert Choir completed several national tours (several to the Midwest and Southern states, California and the Northwest, Texas and the Southwest), and sang at festivals in South Korea and France. The combined Training and Concert Choirs contributed to Tim Janis' ''The American Christmas Carol'' at Carnegie Hall in December, 2015. The Boychoir was featured often by the Philadelphia Orchestra; highlights included ''Carmina Burana'' in October 2013, Bach's ''St. Matthew Passion'' in April 2015, and, most recently Mahler's ''Symphony 8'' in March, 2016. The American Boychoir was subdivided into two choirs: the Concert Choir and the Training Choir. The Concert Choir, last conducted by Fernando Malvar-Ruiz, performed and toured regularly while the Training Choir, last conducted by Fred Meads, was made up of first-year students who receive training in order to move up to the Concert Choir when they were ready. Boys joined the choir by auditioning while visiting the school, or auditioning after Boychoir performances at concert sites or after school programs. An alumnus could join the Alumni Chorus, conducted by music director emeritus, James Litton. Auditions were required for enrollment into The American Boychoir School.


School

The American Boychoir School was a non-profit, non-sectarian organization. The school did not discriminate in its admissions, scholarship programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, gender or religion, and was an accredited member of
Middle States Association The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (Middle States Association or MSA) was a voluntary, peer-based, non-profit association that performed peer evaluation and regional accreditation of public and private schools in the Mid-Atl ...
. Admissions were rolling and boys often joined the student body after the school year had begun. The school's educational program was designed to be largely interdisciplinary, with project based learning (PBL) its primary focus. Classes were small (maximum of 12 students) and boys studied in self-contained classrooms with a grade-level teacher who delivered the Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science curricula in interdisciplinary "modules." 4th and 5th grade boys studied together in a class labeled the "Lower School." The goal of all student work was authentic, summative assessment of individual and group achievement, and boys regularly reported on their learning to audiences of their peers, as well as experts in specific fields outside the school. Mathematics instruction at the school was entirely differentiated by student and delivered with mixed methodology which included direct and dedicated Mathematics teacher instruction, textbook interaction, and a web-based Mathematics curriculum (TenMarks) that was supported by a 1:1 iPad program. Each student studied Mathematics independently (with small group instruction when warranted and appropriate) and proceeded according to his own abilities and interests; as a result, within each grade level, boys may have been working below, at, or above-- sometimes far above-- grade level. All boys received Latin instruction. The Latin curriculum emphasized grammar and vocabulary that supported parallel Language Arts development, and simple story translation. All boys also received Music Theory instruction at one of four levels and all new boys received keyboard training for their first year at the school. Physical education classes were held four days per week. All boys participated. Many graduates of the school went on to the most competitive independent high schools around the country, including Interlochen Arts Academy, Phillips Exeter Academy, Phillips Academy, Lawrenceville School, Peddie School, St. Andrew's School, and Avon Old Farms. About 20-30% of ABS graduates went on to their home public high schools.


Academics on tour

The educational program was integrated with the Boychoir's touring responsibilities throughout the school year. Modules at each grade level were developed to take advantage of the routes the boys followed when they toured. Much effort was made to match the curricula with enrichment activities while on tour, such as visits to museums, historical sites, and environmental areas that illustrated and enhanced what the boys were learning. One teacher traveled with every tour.


Summer music programs

The American Boychoir had two distinct summer music programs: Camp Albemarle and The American Boychoir Experience. Camp Albemarle provided choruses, a musicianship training program and a small group vocal instruction training program. The American Boychoir Experience was for boys ages 9–12 only, and provided the experience of one week in the life of an American Boychoir School student without the academic classes. The week included choral training, music theory, in addition to traditional summer camp activities. This professional experience in choral training culminated in a formal concert. An audition was necessary to participate in The American Boychoir Experience.


History

The choir and school were founded in
Columbus, Ohio Columbus () is the state capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the 14th-most populous city in the U.S., the second-most populous city in the Midwest, after Chicago, and ...
, in 1937, by Herbert Huffman who believed that "the experience of performing the great choral literature – and performing it at the highest professional levels – could have a profound effect on the academic, social and moral development of boys". Founded as the Columbus Boychoir, the group moved to Princeton in 1950. It changed its name to the American Boychoir in 1980. Former choir directors at the choir school include Herbert Huffman (founder), Donald Bryant, Robert W. Haley, Howard Jewell, Donald G. Hanson, John Kuzma, Jim Litton, Craig Denison, Wallace Hornady and Nathan Wadley. The choir recorded for RCA Victor during Herbert Huffman's tenure before moving to the Decca Label during the Donald Bryant years, where the choir released multiple LP's including one with Bing Crosby. Later, the boychoir would release CDs on its own Albemarle Records label. (see complete Discography below). From 1985 to 2001, the boychoir was conducted by James Litton, an expert on children's choral techniques and vocal production. Regarded as one of America's prominent choral conductors, Litton led the boychoir in more than 2,000 concerts in 49 states and 12 nations. Litton also introduced the changing voice and established
SATB SATB is an initialism that describes the scoring of compositions for choirs, and also choirs (or consorts) of instruments. The initials are for the voice types: S for soprano, A for alto, T for tenor and B for bass. Choral music Four-part harm ...
sections in the choir. He helped recognize that all boys should continue singing regardless of their voice change. In 2012, the choir's longtime home, Albemarle in Princeton, was sold under the presidency of Robert Rund and the choir moved to the Princeton Center for the Arts & Education (formerly St. Joseph's Seminary) for the 2013 and 2014 school years. On April 10, 2015, the school filed for
Chapter 11 bankruptcy Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code ( Title 11 of the United States Code) permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Such reorganization, known as Chapter 11 bankruptcy, is available to every business, whe ...
stating it needed $350,000 to finish the school year and $3 million to come out of bankruptcy and open for the next academic year. On April 14, 2015, the school announced it would end the school year early, on May 17, instead of reaching the normal time for graduation, the second week of June. The school reopened on September 1, 2015, and operated during the 2015-16 school year while working to satisfy its financial obligations and emerge from the Chapter 11 bankruptcy stable and able to move forward successfully. School operations were moved to the campus of Rambling Pines Summer Camp, site of the former Princeton Latin Academy. Rambling Pines provided classroom and office space, gymnasium space, and almost 200 acres of playing fields. The American Boychoir School closed on August 15, 2017
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2002 lawsuit and sexual abuse allegations

In April 2002, ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' reported sexual abuse which had taken place at the Boychoir School several decades earlier by Choir Director Donald G. Hanson and other staff.Diana Jean Schemo
"Decades of Sex Abuse Are Described at Choir School in New Jersey"
''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'', April 16, 2002. Accessed January 11, 2008. "In a court filing, the school accused Mr. Hardwicke of negligence, saying if he had been abused he should have spoken up at the time. The school argued that it was not responsible for Mr. Hanson's behavior or Mr. Hardwicke's well-being, and said that Mr. Hardwicke, then 12, had consented to sex."
In court documents, the American Boychoir claimed that it had no duty to protect children in their care from sexual abuse and that children who were abused were themselves negligent for not bringing the abuse to light. One of the students who had claimed that he was victimized was constitutional scholar
Lawrence Lessig Lester Lawrence Lessig III (born June 3, 1961) is an American academic, attorney, and political activist. He is the Roy L. Furman Professor of Law at Harvard Law School and the former director of the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard ...
, who has represented another student, John Hardwicke, in his lawsuit against the school. In its court filings, the school claimed that Hardwicke, then 12, had consented to sex and said that he was negligent in not reporting the incident at the time. Many other boys have now come forward and said they were sexually abused, either by staff members or other older students enrolled at the school. This alleged abuse occurred in the 1970s, 1980s, and into the late 1990s. The school adopted new policies to protect the boys from further sexual abuse, but paid over $850,000 in settlement money to one victim to avoid further lawsuits. On August 8, 2006, the
New Jersey Supreme Court The Supreme Court of New Jersey is the highest court in the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, the Supreme Court of New Jersey is the final judicial authority on all cases in the state court system, including cases challenging th ...
ruled against the school's appeal of a lower court decision. The school had contended that the state's
charitable immunity Charitable immunity is a legal doctrine which holds that a charitable organization is not liable under tort law. It originated in 19th-century Great Britain. History The early form of charitable immunity in England did not provide immunity fr ...
act protected it from liability in sexual abuse lawsuits brought by former students. The court found that the Charitable Immunity Act immunizes charities for negligence only; it does not bar statutory or common-law claims that are based on willful, wanton or grossly negligent conduct. The school's lawyers requested the New Jersey Supreme Court to reconsider the decision, claiming the ruling represented a major extension of vicarious liability. On January 5, 2006, then-
Governor of New Jersey The governor of New Jersey is the head of government of New Jersey. The office of governor is an elected position with a four-year term. There is a two consecutive term term limit, with no limitation on non-consecutive terms. The official res ...
Richard Codey Richard James Codey (born November 27, 1946) is an American Democratic Party politician who served as the 53rd governor of New Jersey from 2004 to 2006. He has served in the New Jersey Senate since 1982 and served as the President of the Senate ...
signed bill S540/A2512 into New Jersey law, ending the Boychoir's charitable immunity defense, and making New Jersey the 48th state to allow victims of childhood sex abuse to sue churches, schools and other non-profits for the actions of their staff.


Discography

* ''I Hear America Singing'' (2013), Albemarle Records AR 1008, The American Boychoir, Fernando Malvar-Ruiz, Litton-Lodal Music Director * ''Journey On...Passport to a World of Music'' (2010), Albemarle Records AR 1007, The American Boychoir, Fernando Malvar-Ruiz, Litton-Lodal Music Director * ''ACDA concert'', Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with other choirs (2009) * ''St. Matthew Passion'' (2008), Kurt Masur, The American Boychoir, Westminster Choir College and the New York Philharmonic * ''Harmony: American Songs of Faith'' (2007), Albemarle Records AR 1006. The American Boychoir, St. Olaf Choir, and Alumni Chorus of the American Boychoir School. Fernando Malvar-Ruiz, Litton-Lodal Music Director; Anton Armstrong, Conductor; James Litton, Music Director Emeritus * ''Columbus~American Boychoir'' (2007), 70th Anniversary Compilation * ''A Princeton Christmas for the Children of Africa'' (2007), The American Boychoir, Princeton Day School Choir Madrigal Singers, The Princeton Girlchoir, The Princeton High School Choir, The
Princeton University Princeton University is a private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the ...
Chapel Choir, the Tartantones of Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, The Westminster Choir, and the Westminster Concert Bell Choir of Westminster Choir College, All proceeds benefit the UN World Food Program * ''Messe Basse'' (2004), Albemarle Records AR1005, The American Boychoir, James Litton, Conductor; Scott Dettra, Organ * ''Voices of Angels'' (2004) Albemarle Records, The American Boychoir, James Litton and Fernando Malvar-Ruiz, Conductors * '' The Lost Christmas Eve'' (2004) Lava/
Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most ...
93146-2 distributed by
Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most ...
,
Trans-Siberian Orchestra Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) is an American rock band founded in 1996 by producer, composer, and lyricist Paul O'Neill, who brought together Jon Oliva and Al Pitrelli (both members of Savatage) and keyboardist and co-producer Robert Kinke ...
(The American Boychoir is heard on Track 5, Remember), Gold sales of this album were certified by the
Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and ...
in 2005 *
Benjamin Britten Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten (22 November 1913 – 4 December 1976, aged 63) was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He was a central figure of 20th-century British music, with a range of works including opera, other ...
: ''
A Ceremony of Carols ''A Ceremony of Carols,'' Op. 28, is an extended choral composition for Christmas by Benjamin Britten scored for three-part treble chorus, solo voices, and harp. The text, structured in eleven movements, is taken from ''The English Galaxy of Sho ...
''(2003), Albemarle Records 1003, The American Boychoir, Vincent Metallo, Conductor; John Charles Schuker, Organ; Barbara Ann Biggers, Harp * ''Lullaby, Music for the Quiet Times'' (2002), Albemarle Records 1002, The American Boychoir, James Litton, Music Director * ''American Songfest'' (2002), Albemarle Records 1001, The American Boychoir, Vincent Metallo, Music Director * ''
Kurt Masur Kurt Masur (18 July 1927 – 19 December 2015) was a German conductor. Called "one of the last old-style maestros", he directed many of the principal orchestras of his era. He had a long career as the Kapellmeister of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Or ...
at the
New York Philharmonic The New York Philharmonic, officially the Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York, Inc., globally known as New York Philharmonic Orchestra (NYPO) or New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, is a symphony orchestra based in New York City. It is ...
'' (special edition) (2001), The American Boychoir with the New York Choral Artists, The Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York, Inc.;
Kurt Masur Kurt Masur (18 July 1927 – 19 December 2015) was a German conductor. Called "one of the last old-style maestros", he directed many of the principal orchestras of his era. He had a long career as the Kapellmeister of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Or ...
, Music Director * ''Litton Live! – The Farewell Concert'' (2002) American Boychoir 103 The Concert Choir, the Training Choir, and the Alumni Chorus, James Litton, Music Director * ''Mass & Vespers for the Feast of Holy Innocents'' (2000), LINN Records CKD 152, James Litton, Music Director; Members of the New York Collegium * ''The Prayer Cycle by Jonathan Elias'' (1999),
Sony , commonly stylized as SONY, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. As a major technology company, it operates as one of the world's largest manufacturers of consumer and professional ...
SK60569, The American Boychoir with
Alanis Morissette Alanis Nadine Morissette ( ; born June 1, 1974) is a Canadian-American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known for her emotive mezzo-soprano voice and confessional songwriting, Morissette began her career in Canada in the early 1990s with two ...
,
James Taylor James Vernon Taylor (born March 12, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A six-time Grammy Award winner, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. He is one of the List of best-selling music artists, best-sell ...
,
Salif Keita Salif Keïta () (born 25 August 1949) is a Malian singer-songwriter, referred to as the "Golden Voice of Africa". He is a member of the Keita royal family of Mali. Biography Early life Salif Keita was born a traditional prince in the village o ...
, Perry Farrel and Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn * ''Fast Cats and Mysterious Cows'' (Songs from America) (1999), Virgin Classics 7243 5 45368 2 3, The American Boychoir with James Litton, Music Director; Patricia Petibon, Soprano; Catherine King, Mezzo-Soprano * ''Christmastime'' (1998),
Reunion Records Reunion Records is a contemporary Christian record label based in Brentwood, Tennessee, that operates under the Provident Label Group. The label was founded in 1982, by Dan Harrell and Mike Blanton. History The label was formed by Amy Grant's ...
02341 0015 2,
Michael W. Smith Michael Whitaker Smith (born October 7, 1957) is an American musician who has charted in both contemporary Christian and mainstream charts. His biggest success in mainstream music was in 1991 when " Place in This World" hit No. 6 on the '' ...
, The American Boychoir is featured on Track 3 Christmastime; Track 6 Medley: Sing We Now of Christmas; O Come O Come Emmanuel, Emmanuel; and Track 11 Carols Sing. * ''Wide Awake'' (1998),
Miramax Miramax, LLC, also known as Miramax Films, is an American film and television production and distribution company founded on December 19, 1979, by brothers Harvey and Bob Weinstein, and based in Los Angeles, California. It was initially a lead ...
, Original motion picture soundtrack composed by Edmund Choi * ''Grace'' (1997),
Sony Classical Sony Classical is an American record label founded in 1924 as Columbia Masterworks Records, a subsidiary of Columbia Records. In 1980, the Columbia Masterworks label was renamed as CBS Masterworks Records. The CBS Records Group was acquired by ...
SK 62035, The American Boychoir with
Kathleen Battle Kathleen Deanna Battle (born August 13, 1948) is an American operatic soprano known for her distinctive vocal range and tone. Born in Portsmouth, Ohio, Battle initially became known for her work within the concert repertoire through performances ...
, The American Boychoir performs with Ms. Battle on Track 3, Mozart's Laudate Dominum. * ''Sing!'' (1997), ABS Recordings E-2200, The American Boychoir, James Litton, Music Director * ''Carol'' (1996), EMI CDC 7243 5 56180 2 3, The American Boychoir with the Albemarle Consort of Voices and orchestra, James Litton, Conductor * ''In the Spirit'' (1996), Phillips 454 985-2, The American Boychoir with
Jessye Norman Jessye Mae Norman (September 15, 1945 – September 30, 2019) was an American opera singer and recitalist. She was able to perform dramatic soprano roles, but refused to be limited to that voice type. A commanding presence on operatic, concert ...
, David Robertson, Conductor, The American Boychoir is heard on Away in a Manger, Of the father's Love Begotten and Mary Had a Baby. * ''By Request'' (1996), EMI CDC 7243 5 55247, The American Boychoir, James Litton, Music Director, A collection of selections from The American Boychoir's tour programs performed either a capella or with piano. * ''Hymn'' (1995), EMI CDC 55064 2 9, The American Boychoir with Stephen Curtis Chapman, Twila Paris, the Albemarle Consort of Voices, and the St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble, James Litton, Music Director, Orchestrated and arranged by Ron Huff and Tom Mitchell * ''In Search of Angels'' (1994),
Windham Hill Records Windham Hill Records was an independent record label that specialized in instrumental acoustic music. It was founded by guitarist William Ackerman and Anne Robinson (née McGilvray) in 1976 and was popular in the 1980s and 1990s. The label wa ...
01934 11153-2, The American Boychoir featuring
Patty Larkin Patty Larkin (born June 19, 1951) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist based in Boston, Massachusetts. She is a founding member of Four Bitchin' Babes. Her music has been described as folk-urban pop music. Life and career Patty Lar ...
,
Jane Siberry Jane Siberry ( ; ; born 12 October 1955) is a Canadian singer-songwriter, known for such hits as " Mimi on the Beach", "I Muse Aloud", " One More Colour" and " Calling All Angels". She performed the theme song to the television series ''Maniac ...
, k.d. lang,
Tim Story Timothy Kevin Story (born March 13, 1970) is an African American film director. He is best known for '' Barbershop'' (2002), the ''Fantastic Four'' (2005) and the ''Ride Along'' franchise. He has been nominated for two NAACP Image Awards for Ou ...
, and others, Soundtrack from PBS Special. Choir sings Jesus Christ, the Apple Tree. * ''Interview with the Vampire'' (1994), Geffen GEFD 24719, Original motion picture soundtrack, composed by
Elliot Goldenthal Elliot Goldenthal (born May 2, 1954) is an American composer of contemporary classical music and film and theatrical scores. A student of Aaron Copland and John Corigliano, he is best known for his distinctive style and ability to blend various ...
* ''Lost in the Stars'' (1992), MusicMasters Classics 01612-67100-2, American Boychoir Chorister Jamal Howard sings the role of Alex in this recorded revival of the passionate musical based on
Alan Paton Alan Stewart Paton (11 January 1903 – 12 April 1988) was a South African writer and anti-apartheid activist. His works include the novels '' Cry, the Beloved Country'' and '' Too Late the Phalarope''. Family Paton was born in Pietermaritzbu ...
's ''
Cry, the Beloved Country ''Cry, the Beloved Country'' is a 1948 novel by South African writer Alan Paton. Set in the prelude to apartheid in South Africa, it follows a black village priest and a white farmer who must deal with news of a murder. American publisher Benn ...
'', Julius Rudel, Conductor of the Orchestra of St. Luke's. * ''A Carnegie Hall Christmas Concert'' (1992),
SONY , commonly stylized as SONY, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. As a major technology company, it operates as one of the world's largest manufacturers of consumer and professional ...
Classical SK 48235, The American Boychoir featuring
Kathleen Battle Kathleen Deanna Battle (born August 13, 1948) is an American operatic soprano known for her distinctive vocal range and tone. Born in Portsmouth, Ohio, Battle initially became known for her work within the concert repertoire through performances ...
,
Frederica von Stade Frederica von Stade OAL (born June 1, 1945) is a semi-retired American opera singer. Since her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1970, she has performed in operas, musicals, concerts and recitals in venues throughout the world, including La Scala, th ...
,
Wynton Marsalis Wynton Learson Marsalis (born October 18, 1961) is an American trumpeter, composer, teacher, and artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. He has promoted classical and jazz music, often to young audiences. Marsalis has won nine Grammy Awar ...
,
André Previn André George Previn (; born Andreas Ludwig Priwin; April 6, 1929 – February 28, 2019) was a German-American pianist, composer, and conductor. His career had three major genres: Hollywood films, jazz, and classical music. In each he achieve ...
, Conductor of the Orchestra of St. Luke's * ''Trumpets Sound, Voices Ring'' (1991), MusicMasters 523153F, The American Boychoir with the Atlantic Brass Quintet, William Trafka, Organ; Thomas Goeman, Piano and Harpsichord, James Litton, Music Director * ''Trumpets Sound, Voices Ring'' (single CD version) (1991), MusicMasters 01612-67076-2, The American Boychoir, James Litton, Music Director * ''Dixit Dominus'' (1991), MusicMasters 01612-67084-2, The American Boychoir with the Albemarle Consort of Voices, and the Eighteenth Century Ensemble, James Litton, Music Director * ''Hymnody of Earth'' (1990), MusicMasters 01612-67058-2, A ceremony of songs for choir, hammer dulcimer and percussion composed and arranged by
Malcolm Dalglish Malcolm Dalglish (born August 14, 1952) is an American hammered dulcimer player and builder, composer, and choral director. A virtuoso performer on the hammer dulcimer, he is a former member of the folk/Celtic trio Metamora and has performed f ...
(b. 1953) with inspiration and lyrics from
Wendell Berry Wendell Erdman Berry (born August 5, 1934) is an American novelist, poet, essayist, environmental activist, cultural critic, and farmer. Closely identified with rural Kentucky, Berry developed many of his agrarian themes in the early essays of ' ...
* ''The American Boychoir On Tour'' (1990), Ocaso HR006CD, The American Boychoir; Thomas Goeman and Wallace Hornady, Piano, James Litton, Conductor, Selections from The American Boychoir tour repertoire * ''
Leonard Bernstein Leonard Bernstein ( ; August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, pianist, music educator, author, and humanitarian. Considered to be one of the most important conductors of his time, he was the first America ...
,
Chichester Psalms ''Chichester Psalms'' is an extended choral composition in three movements by Leonard Bernstein for boy treble or countertenor, choir and orchestra. The text was arranged by the composer from the Book of Psalms in the original Hebrew. Part 1 u ...
; Charles Davidson, I Never Saw Another Butterfly'' (1988), Music Heritage Society MHC 312514Y, The American Boychoir with The American Symphony Orchestra * ''The American Boychoir with
Jessye Norman Jessye Mae Norman (September 15, 1945 – September 30, 2019) was an American opera singer and recitalist. She was able to perform dramatic soprano roles, but refused to be limited to that voice type. A commanding presence on operatic, concert ...
– Christmastide'' (1987), Philips 420 180-2, released on video, The American Boychoir with the New York Choral Society and the Empire Chamber Ensemble,
Robert De Cormier Robert Romeo De Cormier Jr. (January 7, 1922 – November 7, 2017), sometimes known as Robert Corman, was an American musical conductor, arranger, and director. He arranged music for many singers and groups, including Harry Belafonte and Peter, P ...
, Conductor * ''On Christmas Day'' (1987), Ocaso HR002, The American Boychoir with the Cathedral Symphony Orchestra and the New York Vocal Consort, James Litton, Conductor * ''Go West Young Man, Michael W. Smith'' (1986), The American Boychoir and other choirs,
Reunion Records Reunion Records is a contemporary Christian record label based in Brentwood, Tennessee, that operates under the Provident Label Group. The label was founded in 1982, by Dan Harrell and Mike Blanton. History The label was formed by Amy Grant's ...
* ''Britten Ceremony of Carols'' (1983), Pro Arte Digital, The American Boychoir with Ruth Negri, Harp; Harriett Wintergreen, Piano; Paul-Martin Maki, Organ, John Kuzma, Music Director * ''This is my Country'' (1983), Pro Arte Digital, The American Boychoir, John Kuzma, Music Director * ''Messiah'' (1981), Smithsonian Collection, The American Boychoir with Smithsonian Chamber Players and Normal Scribner Chorus, conducted by James Weaver. Soloists: Carole Bogarde (soprano), Elvira Green (alto), Jeffrey Gall (counter-tenor),
Charles Bressler Charles Bressler (April 1, 1926 – November 28, 1996) was an American tenor. He was born in Kingston, Pennsylvania, and studied at the Juilliard School with Lucia Dunham. He became a founding member of the New York Pro Musica, with which he t ...
(tenor), and Leslie Guinn (bass)., Performed on original instruments; the only American men-and-boys recording of Handel's Messiah * ''Benjamin Britten War Requiem'' (1975), Kalvier Records, The American Boychoir with The William Hall Chorale and Vienna Festival Symphony Orchestra, William Hall, Conductor, First American recording * ''
Felix Mendelssohn Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (3 February 18094 November 1847), born and widely known as Felix Mendelssohn, was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early Romantic period. Mendelssohn's compositions include sym ...
Elijah'' (1970),
RCA Red Seal RCA Red Seal is a classical music label whose origin dates to 1902 and is currently owned by Sony Music Entertainment. History The first "Gramophone Record Red Seal" discs were issued in 1901.Philadelphia Orchestra The Philadelphia Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. One of the " Big Five" American orchestras, the orchestra is based at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, where it performs its subscript ...
,
Shirley Verrett Shirley Verrett (May 31, 1931 – November 5, 2010) was an American operatic mezzo-soprano who successfully transitioned into soprano roles, i.e. soprano sfogato. Verrett enjoyed great fame from the late 1960s through the 1990s, particularly well ...
, Soprano; Richard Lewis, Bass; Eugene Ormandy, Conductor., Robert Haley, Director, Recorded April 8–9, 1969. Released September 1970. * ''
Leonard Bernstein Leonard Bernstein ( ; August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, pianist, music educator, author, and humanitarian. Considered to be one of the most important conductors of his time, he was the first America ...
Kaddish Symphony'', Private Label (1966), The Columbus Boychoir, Donald Bryant, Music Director * ''Columbus Boychoir School 25th Anniversary Concert, June 5, 1965'' (1965), Private issue, The Columbus Boychoir, Donald Bryant, Music Director, Live concert recording, Westminster Choir College * ''Columbus Boychoir Christmas Concert, December 1964'' (1964), Private issue, The Columbus Boychoir, Donald Bryant, Music Director, Live concert recordings, Alexander Hall (Princeton), 12-inch LP recordings of excerpts from Christmas portion of Handel's Messiah (+Hallelujah), 10-inch LP recording of Christmas carols * ''Firestone presents Your Favorite Christmas Carols'' (1963), Columbus Boychoir with Risë Stevens, Brian Sullivan, and the Firestone Orchestra and Chorus, Donald Bryant, director * ''Family Christmas Favorites'', c. 1962, Decca, The Columbus Boychoir with
Bing Crosby Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, musician and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwide. He was a ...
, Donald Bryant, Conductor * ''The Columbus Boychoir'', c. 1962, Donald Bryant, Music Director * ''Christmastime'', c. 1960, Decca, The Columbus Boychoir with other choirs, Donald Bryant, conductor * ''Singing for the Joy of It'' (1961), Decca DL 74135, The Columbus Boychoir, Donald Bryant, Music Director * ''Joy to the World'', c. 1960, Decca DL 78920, The Columbus Boychoir, Donald Bryant, Music Director * ''The Columbus Boychoir'', c. 1960, Gothic, The Columbus Boychoir with the Princeton Chamber Orchestra, Nicholas Harsanyi, Conductor; Joanna Richard, Soprano; Rachel Armstrong, Alto, Donald Bryant, Conductor * ''Festival of Song'' (1955), Decca DL 8106, The Columbus Boychoir, Herbert Huffman, Music Director * ''Arrigo Boito Mephistofele “Prologue”'' (1954), RCA, The Columbus Boychoir with the
NBC Symphony Orchestra The NBC Symphony Orchestra was a radio orchestra conceived by David Sarnoff, the president of the Radio Corporation of America, especially for the conductor Arturo Toscanini. The NBC Symphony performed weekly radio concert broadcasts with Tosca ...
,
Arturo Toscanini Arturo Toscanini (; ; March 25, 1867January 16, 1957) was an Italian conductor. He was one of the most acclaimed and influential musicians of the late 19th and early 20th century, renowned for his intensity, his perfectionism, his ear for orch ...
, Conductor; Nicola Moscona, Bass., Herbert Huffman, Conductor, Taken from the broadcast of March 14 (1954) * ''Amahl and the Night Visitors'', Original Cast of the NBC telecast (1951), RCA 6485-2-RG, American Boychoir chorister Chet Allen * ''The Lord’s Prayer; O Holy Night'', c. 1950,
RCA Victor RCA Records is an American record label currently owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside RCA's former long-time rival Columbia Records; also ...
, The Columbus Boychoir, Herbert Huffman, conductor * ''Favorite Christmas Carols'', c. 1947, The Columbus Boychoir, Herbert Huffman, Music Director * ''The Columbus Boychoir – May 6, 1947, concert'', Herbert Huffman, Music Director


Notable alumni

*
Van Dyke Parks Van Dyke Parks (born January 3, 1943) is an American musician, songwriter, arranger, and record producer who has composed various film and television soundtracks. He is best known for his 1967 album ''Song Cycle'' and for his collaborations with ...
, American composer, arranger, record producer, instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, author, and actor * Douglas Ahlstedt, operatic tenor * Chet Allen, child actor and singer * Anton Armstrong, choral conductor * Greg Lyne, American choral conductor, arranger, composer, and vocal educator * Cameron Carpenter, organist * David Karsten Daniels, singer songwriter *
Lawrence Lessig Lester Lawrence Lessig III (born June 3, 1961) is an American academic, attorney, and political activist. He is the Roy L. Furman Professor of Law at Harvard Law School and the former director of the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard ...
, academic and political activist * James Westman, baritone


References


External links


American Boychoir School

Lawrence Lessig and the American Boychoir School
– May 2005 article {{Authority control Musical groups established in 1937 Musical groups disestablished in 2017 Choir schools Private elementary schools in New Jersey Private middle schools in New Jersey Music schools in New Jersey New Jersey Association of Independent Schools Buildings and structures in Princeton, New Jersey Private schools in Mercer County, New Jersey Choirs of children Choirs in New Jersey National choirs Boarding schools in New Jersey School sexual abuse scandals Incidents of violence against boys Sexual abuse cover-ups Boys' schools in New Jersey 1937 establishments in New Jersey 2017 disestablishments in New Jersey Educational institutions established in 1937 Educational institutions disestablished in 2017