What for?

The tradition of Boychoir singing is a long one. Originally, boys and men sang together in Christian churches (women weren’t allowed to sing in church), and this history of course dates back to the early 4th century AD; in fact, it was the unique nature of boys’ changing voices that may have contributed to the development of part-singing, since they couldn’t sing comfortably in either the upper (treble) range or the lower (baritone range). Since then, of course, choral music has come a long way, and the boychoirs of today are known for their purity of tone – and not just in the treble register!

But what is the point? Why do boychoirs – detached, for the most part, from religious institutions – continue to thrive, particularly in America?

Boychoirs offer something that young men don’t get on sports teams or in the classroom: the chance to put it all together. As any choral singer can tell you,  the ability to marry physical coordination with language and literary skills and the ability to analyze mathematically the music on the page, all placed within the framework of a team sport, is a challenge to both sides of the brain. Approached in the context of a single-sex setting, boychoirs are uniquely positioned to foster intellectual and emotional growth in young men, far, far away from the growing distraction of young women.

As the funding for arts in schools declines, it becomes increasingly incumbent upon independent organizations to fill the vacuum for the creative and performing arts. Whereas the mission of the Cincinnati Boychoir upon its founding in 1965 may have been primarily performance-oriented, we find ourselves now more than actively seeking out the role of educator. These are not mutually-exclusive goals: to perform at a professional level, often with professional symphonies or opera companies, is one of the most unique educational experiences a young person can have.

It is my goal that this experience be made available to young men throughout Cincinnati. This organization has an extraordinary 45-year history and a very bright future. Welcome!

- Christopher Eanes, Artistic Director