Maryland Boychoir Performs Friday, November 8, At St. Peter's Church

Maryland State Boychoir

Maryland’s Goodwill Ambassadors

“The sound of angels. The voices of eager and creative young boys.”

Friday, November 8, 7:30 PM

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church

115 St. Peter’s Street

Salisbury, MD 21801

410-742-5118

http://www.stpeterschurch.net/

Free Will Offering

29 October 2013

Salisbury, MD—The ancient tradition of boys and youth singing returns to Salisbury on Friday, November 8, when the Maryland State Boychoir’s (MSB) touring ensemble performs at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church at 7:30 p.m. Some 45 young singers will perform a musical program ranging from medieval to modern. Admission is free, with a free will offering taken to defer expenses.
Over a quarter century old, the MSB has a total of 150 choristers in different ensembles, ranging in age from 7 to 20. Headquartered in Baltimore, singers represent a wide range of ethic, socioeconomic and religious backgrounds from Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia and Pennsylvania. 
One of the state’s popular “Official Goodwill Ambassadors,” they have sung at the White House, the Kennedy Center, the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., and St. Patrick’s and Holy Trinity cathedrals in New York. They have toured throughout North America and Europe performing at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in Ireland, Coventry Cathedral in England and St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican, among many others in Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Austria, France and the UK. 
The MSB was featured on NBC’s “Homicide: Life on the Street,” National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered,” and Maryland Public Television. Music from their six CDs has been broadcasted nationally. 
Its concert repertoire has ranged from Gregorian chant and Renaissance polyphony, to classical including Handel and Mozart, to American and contemporary with world music, gospel and pop favorites. 
According to the MSB, music is used as a discipline to develop the mind, shape character and feed the spirit. Like a sports team, the boys learn to work together toward a common goal, developing self-discipline, concentration and the confidence that comes from mastery of a challenging subject. Music is approached much like learning a foreign language, with reading and understanding, then conveying that understanding in performance. Like athletes, many of the boys enjoy sports, performing and just horsing around.
Dr. Stephen A. Holmes is artistic director of MSB. A former member who joined at the age of 9, he earned his doctorate in choral conducting from the University of Maryland College Park. He is also director of choral activities at the Notre Dame of Maryland University. He has worked with multiple choirs and ensembles throughout the country and he and his wife and daughter live in Baltimore. 
On Saturday, November 9, at 9:30 a.m. he leads a “Growing a Church/Community Choral Program for Kids Forum” for anyone who would like to see boys and girls on Delmarva have opportunities to learn and perform beautiful music. Admission to the forum at St. Peter’s is also free and the public is invited. 
To learn more about the concert and the forum, please call Bruce Horner, St. Peter’s director of music, at 443-417-0240, e-mail intunerbh@gmail.com or call St. Peter’s Church (located off Route 50 in downtown Salisbury) at 410-742-5118.