Mays Chapel Boychoir


	Come hear us sing in person...
	CHORAL EVENSONG
	Sunday, 1 August 2010 – 6.00 PM
	[ CLICK HERE ] for more information and directions.


	WHO WE ARE The Mays Chapel Boychoir is a boys’ vocal ensemble open to any talented boy who enjoys singing and has a desire to receive a free classical music education. The choir is under the direction of Adric, a graduate of the Peabody Conservatory with over 15 years’ experience training boys’ voices.
	WHAT WE DO Studying a new skill is of great value in itself, but putting a skill into practice is the only means by which it can be properly developed. Our boys benefit greatly from having a venue in which to perform regularly. The more experienced boys comprise the boy soprano section of the Choir of Men & Boys which sings each Sunday at St Stephen’s Church. We also sing a monthly Choral Evensong, occasional concerts throughout the community, and an annual Lessons & Carols Service at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen. In addition to singing, there’s always time for fun outings to amusement parks, ballgames, cinema, LaserTag, and a Summer Choir Camp in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia.
	WHY WE DO IT In a culture which focuses attention to the needs of boys primarily on sports and athletics, our organisation is devoted to artistic and intellectual development. The beneﬁts of participation go far beyond developing a high level of musicianship; our boys develop social skills, self-discipline and an honest self-esteem earned from hard work – traits from which they will proﬁt for a lifetime. Opportunities of this calibre clearly stand out on high school and college applications.
	FREE EDUCATION Many local children’s ensembles charge expensive tuition fees, however each boy in the Mays Chapel Boychoir receives an extensive classical music education at no cost to his family. The boys are taught to read and write musical notation, and they quickly become proﬁcient singing in several languages, including Latin, English, German and French. Our musical repertory spans several centuries, from early plainsong chant, to Palestrina, Bach, Mozart, Brahms, Bernstein, right through to music composed today.
	AFTER-SCHOOL ACCOMMODATION Many kids today involve themselves in boatloads of activities, and we’re fully aware of the added strain on parental taxi services. And somewhere amidst the after-school maelstrom kids also need to find time for homework. While participation in our choir doesn’t require an insignificant time commitment, we try to do everything possible to help make it work for you. The younger boys rehearse twice weekly after school, while the older, more experienced boys practise up to three days. The rehearsals are generally 90 minutes long with a short break in the middle. As transportation is always an issue with most parents, we go out of our way to arrange carpools to help facilitate rehearsal attendance. When needed, we also can provide a quiet study/homework environment before and after rehearsals, giving parents that extra half-hour to negotiate traffic. We’ve even got a microwave oven.
	EARN A SALARY! Each chorister in the boychoir is paid, indicating his professional status and remunerating him for all the time and effort put into rehearsals. The stipend is incremented as he progresses to each new level of musical proﬁciency.
	HOW TO JOIN Membership in the Mays Chapel Boychoir is open to boys of all faith traditions. Prospective choristers, ages 8 to 12, are welcomed at any time of the year. Older boys whose voices have not yet broken are also considered, particularly those with some singing experience. To schedule an audition, please contact us. The audition is a very simple and stress-free process requiring no preparation or prior singing experience on the boy’s part. By asking the child to sing along with notes played on a piano, we determine his voice’s range (how high and low he can sing) and his ability to hear and match pitches accurately.

	[ BOYCHOIR ] Learn more about the boy choristers.
	[ DIRECTOR ] Learn more about Adric, the Choirmaster.
	[ THE CHOIR OF MEN & BOYS ] Learn more about the St Stephen’s Choir.
	[ CONTACT US ] For more information...
	[ AUDIO ] Hear samples of music recorded during live performances.
	[ PHOTOS ] (Coming soon.)


	NOW AUDITIONING
	To make an appointment, please contact us: 443-632-6452 or boychoir@mac.com
	View our latest recruitment ﬂyers:
	[ FOR PARENTS ] [ FOR KIDS ]