A shipwreck, an evil butcher, and a prison sentence: Benjamin Britten’s cantata Saint Nicolas follows the life of the Saint from his birth to his death in nine musical vignettes. In celebration of [...]]]> Cincinnati Boychoir, Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra, Vocal Arts Ensemble, and Collegium Cincinnati to present Britten’s Saint Nicolas at Christ Church Cathedral

A shipwreck, an evil butcher, and a prison sentence: Benjamin Britten’s cantata Saint Nicolas follows the life of the Saint from his birth to his death in nine musical vignettes. In celebration of the 100^th birthday of one of the twentieth century’s greatest composers, the Cincinnati Boychoir will present Britten’s masterful telling of the Nicolas story in conjunction with musicians from the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Vocal Arts Ensemble, Collegium Cincinnati, and Christ Church Cathedral; tenor Nathan Bick will sing the title role, and Thom Mariner (executive director of the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra) will narrate.

Britten composed the work in 1948 for the hundredth anniversary of a boys’ school in Sussex, England; the chorus that premiered the work was made up of three boys’ schools and two girls’ schools. The orchestra calls for student musicians, together with professionals, to fill out the ranks of each section.

The collaborative nature of the cantata is reflected in the current ethos of Cincinnati; on the heels of the World Choir Games in 2012, many organizations are continuing to work together to develop new and unique relationships. The Boychoir is an Artistic & Educational Partner with the Vocal Arts Ensemble in 2012-2013, and makes its home at Memorial Hall on Washington Park in Over-The-Rhine.

VAE: Cincinnati’s Vocal Arts Ensemble, a chamber choir of professional singers, was founded in 1979 and enters its 32nd season in 2011-2012. Led by conductor Donald Nally, VAE offers an annual subscription series of distinguished choral programs in notable architectural and acoustic venues throughout Greater Cincinnati. In addition, VAE produces outreach programs for children, youth and seniors, as well as recordings for local and national broadcasts.

The Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra (CSYO), under the direction of CSO Assistant Conductor William C. White, is made up of students in grades 9–12 who represent over 30 high schools in southwestern Ohio, southeastern Indiana, and northern Kentucky.

Founded in 1964 by former CSO Music Director Max Rudolf and area music educators, the CSYO is dedicated to the cultivation of talent and provides outstanding young instrumentalists the opportunity to perform repertoire not normally available through their school music programs.

Collegium Cincinnati creates meaningful musical moments to inspire and foster a new generation of music lovers.The musicians of Collegium Cincinnati are passionate about exploring new works and new ways to perform old works, and are among the finest (and the finest up-and-coming) artists from the Greater Cincinnati Area. They are united by a desire to bring relevance and inspiration to a new generation of music lovers.

Tickets are on sale for the performance of Saint Nicolas now, and limited priority seating is still available.

For tickets:

www.cincinatiboychoir.org/concerts

Click here to listen to the interview: Eanes_Interview

Click here for more information about the performance.

On the Sunday, February 17 edition of ‘Around Cincinnati’ on WVXU 91.7 FM, host Anne Arenstein interviewed the Boychoir Artistic Director Christopher Eanes about the Boychoir’s upcoming performance of Benjamin Britten’s cantata Saint Nicolas.

Click here to listen to the interview: Eanes_Interview

Click here for more information about the performance.

For the second time in as many years, the Cincinnati Boychoir and Memorial Hall will play host to boys from all over Cincinnati for a day of singing, games, and making friends. Led by Cincinnati Boychoir Director [...]]]> More than 200 Boys from over 60 schools to come together for the Second Annual All-City Boychoir Festival

For the second time in as many years, the Cincinnati Boychoir and Memorial Hall will play host to boys from all over Cincinnati for a day of singing, games, and making friends. Led by Cincinnati Boychoir Director of Education & Outreach KellyAnn Nelson and Boychoir Artistic Director Christopher Eanes, the boys will have the opportunity to experience singing in a choir in a fun, active, and boy-centered environment. Year-round members of the Cincinnati Boychoir will serve as big brothers to those who attend the festival.

During the festival, a free workshop will be held for music teachers featuring African drumming specialist Baoku Moses who will teach basic percussion technique and classroom ideas. Additional workshops will be given on the boy’s voice and music theory for the young singers.

In 1965, the Cincinnati Boychoir was founded as the All-City Boychoir, selecting only three boys from each of the Cincinnati Public Schools; the current festival reflects the Boychoir’s roots in the public schools, drawing young men from all over the region. Included in the Festival will be boys from the three Cincinnati Sings! programs, free after-school choral programs run by the Boychoir at Evanston Academy, Bond Hill Academy, and the Academy of World Languages.

The festival begins at 8:30 am, and finishes with a final concert presentation (free and open to the public) at 1:00 pm.

Details:

 Second Annual All-City Boychoir Festival

Saturday, February 23, 2013

8:30 am – 1:30 pm

Memorial Hall (1225 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45202)

Registration Information:

www.cincinnatiboychoir.org/sign-up-for/

Registration fee: $10; includes lunch & festival t-shirt

The Silent Auction will run 2:30 – 5:15pm, and the Carol Sing will begin at 4:00pm. Refreshments will be served.

The Board of Trustees of the Cincinnati Boychoir is thrilled to announce the establishment of an endowed scholarship fund, founded by a generous gift from Mrs. Jean Clipson and her husband Addison Clipson, Jr. The endowment will fund two full scholarships for boys just entering the choir who wouldn’t otherwise be able [...]]]>

Artistic Director Christopher Eanes announces the endowment with Mr. & Mrs. Addison Clipson.

The Board of Trustees of the Cincinnati Boychoir is thrilled to announce the establishment of an endowed scholarship fund, founded by a generous gift from Mrs. Jean Clipson and her husband Addison Clipson, Jr. The endowment will fund two full scholarships for boys just entering the choir who wouldn’t otherwise be able to participate in the program. The Maxwell Scholarship Fund is named for the great-grandfather of Mrs. Clipson, who was a president of the Cincinnati May Festival, and a lifelong supporter of vocal music in Cincinnati.

At a private event before the Boychoir’s appearance with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra on Saturday (October 6), Artistic Director Christopher Eanes announced the news to a gathering of supporters, friends, and parents: “We are thrilled with the generosity displayed by Mr. & Mrs. Clipson; not just because this scholarship fund will support those boys who wouldn’t otherwise be able to participate in the Boychoir, but also because it will serve as a foundation for others to contribute in a significant way, thereby ensuring our ability to reach out to all

Jim Huizenga, Nate Bick, and Patrick Quigley enjoy the reception.

communities throughout Cincinnati for years to come.”

About the Maxwell Scholarship Fund

Lawrence and Emily Maxwell were prominent Cincinnatians.  He was an accomplished lawyer and civic leader, she a steadfast companion and hostess extraordinaire. Their eternal bond was music and singing. They met at a Methodist church in Ann Arbor, Michigan where she was a chorister and he the organist (the Boychoir performed at this very church in 2007).

After marriage, they settled in Cincinnati and forged a lasting tradition through their support of the May Music Festival where he was President and she a determined fundraiser. Their beautiful stone home, Maxwelton, still stands at Edgecliff in Walnut Hills. In order to appreciate the fullness of vocal arts, they had a dance hall with clerestory and pipe organ installed for entertaining purposes. They supported the vocal arts their entire lives.

The Maxwell’s legacy of caring and compassion for the vocal arts lives on in through the Maxwell Scholarship, a grant provided to boys to enable them to participate in Cincinnati Boychoir.  Founded by Lawrence Maxwell’s great granddaughter, Jean Maxwell Schmidlapp Clipson and her husband Addison H. Clipson, Jr., the fund is the first endowment established in support of the Cincinnati Boychoir. Jean’s grandson, Robert Maxwell Pauly, is a Boychoir alumnus and her son Lawrence Pauly is a member of the Men’s Glee Club and former member of the Boychoir’s Board of Trustees.

The Maxwell Scholarship fund at the Cincinnati Boychoir will accept further contributions to help build this endowment, while continuing to fund annual scholarships. For information about how to help ensure the future of the Boychoir, please contact the Cincinnati Boychoir at (513) 396-7664.

Click here for the full article.