Princeton boychoir tours FHS

by Kathy Domgard

The FHS auditorium was engulfed in the sounds of the American Boychoir on the Oct. 30. Twenty-eight boys, ages 10-14 sang and spoke to the audience about their lives in the national choir from Princeton, N.J.

“One of the best parts of being in the choir is the traveling,” said choir member Jackson Morgan. “It’s exciting to meet  different people.”

James Litton, the American Boychoir director, isawell-known choral director. He has been named a Fellow of the Royal School of Church Music and has also served on the faculty of Westminster Choir College. He has discovered many exceptional voices for the choir.

Academics are extremely important at the school the boys attend. In order to be eligible for a tour the boys have to meet requirements such as working well with others, successfully endure tryouts and, most important, they must have passing grades “When we travel by airplane, it’s like a flying classroom for the boys,” said Litton. “Teachers create ‘tour packets’ to keep the boys caught up with the class.”

Tuition for the special school the boys attend needs to be renewed every year. Parents pay for the schooling, not the tours; tours are paid for by fees charged for concerts.

“This is like going to college in many ways,” said Litton. “The tuition and environment is much like a college campus.”

At FHS, the choir sang for elementary schools during the day and for the public Thursday night. The choir ended the concert with familiar Hollywood songs they danced and sang to. The audience ended the night with a standing ovation.

The boys will end their tour in San Fransisco, California then travel to Bermuda for a field trip for a couple of weeks before returning to New Jersey.

“The people here are wonderful,” said Litton. “We have very much enjoyed our stay in Kalispell.”