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A Unique & Rewarding Opportunity
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Director Thomas E. Sibley
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Each boy involved with the Raleigh Boychoir devotes numerous hours over
weeks and years to help sustain the choral tradition of boychoir singing.
In return he is provided with a rich, unique, and unforgettable experience
which will remain an integral part of him throughout his life. Through
the
musical training and choral experiences, he develops an appreciation of
a wide range of choral literature. He gains self-confidence and poise.
He
learns how to meet demands - musical and otherwise. He learns how to be
a leader as well as how to be a worker in a closely integrated group.
He
acquires self-discipline and self-respect. He knows that what he does is
of real musical excellence as well as knowing that what he does is contributing
to the community through the arts.
Annual Performance Schedule
The performance schedule has expanded from a single Christmas concert
in 1968 to 15-20 engagements annually. Membership has expanded from those
first 20 boys to more than 80 boys. The repertoire is demanding; the Choir's
programs include sacred and secular classics, selections from the musical
theater, and a rich assortment of American folk and patriotic music.
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Rehearsals are held at the Raleigh
Boychoir Centre, located at 1329 Ridge Road.
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The boychoir's annual home season is comprised of three performances:
the Fall Concert, the traditional Carols of Christmas, and a Spring Concert.
A year's schedule is filled out with engagements which range from participation
in the Friends of the College and Peace Concert Series to concerts for
arts and civic organizations, from outreach performances at retirement
communities to concerts in conjunction with the family oriented events
at the North Carolina Museum of Art, and from festivals and celebrations
for the city of Raleigh and towns in Wake County to performances with
the North Carolina Symphony. The audiences that enjoy the Boychoir performances
are as diverse as the settings in which they perform.
A Brief History
The Raleigh Boychoir was founded in 1968 to give boys aged 8-15 years
an opportunity to learn and perform some of the world's great choral music.
Thomas E. Sibley founded the choir because of his concern about the lack
of choral experiences and performance opportunities for boys whose voices
had not changed. He believed a boychoir could be instrumental in developing
and channeling boys' talents as well as giving them opportunities to perform
great choral music. Thus, in October of 1968, the Raleigh Boychoir was
established with 20 boys and $50 contributed by the Raleigh Woman's Club.
With the belief that the choir could become a recognized contributor to
the performing arts community, the newly formed boychoir offered a public
concert that first Christmas season. That was the first "Carols of
Christmas" - now a Yuletide tradition for many in the capital area.
Since then, the Raleigh Boychoir has grown into a well-organized operation
with an elected Board of Directors, active parent committees, and an annual
membership of more than 80 boys. Boys, aged 8-15 years, regardless of
race, creed, color, or nationality, are recruited three times annually
for the Training Choir. Upon successful completion, they move to the Resident
Choir, then to the Performing Choirs, and sometimes the select Millennium
Choir. The Raleigh Boychoir effectively navigates the fine line between
presenting a professional look and quality while operating with limited
staff and financial resources. The Raleigh Boychoir's success in mustering
the necessary support both in finances and volunteer leadership to operate
an outstanding program is a testament to the quality of the Choir and
the high regard in which it is held by both parents and the community
at large.
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The Raleigh Boychoir at the Governor's
Mansion
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Awards and Recognition
Recognitions have included seven invitations to perform at the White House,
at the World's Fair, at the First Flight Centennial, at the American Choral
Director's Association Convention in Savannah, Georgia, and with the oratorio
societies across the state. The Choir has appeared with the North Carolina
Symphony several times. In 1994, the Choir accepted an invitation to participate
with the International Children's Choir at Carnegie Hall and returned,
that same year, from their European Concert tour. In 1990, Thomas Sibley
was a recipient of the prestigious Raleigh Medal of Arts; in 1992, the
Raleigh Boychoir was a recipient of the same honor.
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