St. Paul's Choir School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Paul's Choir School |
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| Address | |
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29 Mount Auburn Street
, United States
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| Coordinates | 42°22′15″N 71°06′55″W / 42.3708°N 71.1154°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Private, Day, Choir school |
| Motto | Repleatur os meum laude tua ("Let my mouth be filled with Your praise") |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic |
| Established | 1963 |
| Headmaster | Patrick Moran |
| Pastor | Rev. William T. Kelly |
| Director of Music | Brandon Straub |
| Faculty | 15 |
| Grades | 3-8 |
| Gender | Boys |
| Enrollment | up to 65 |
| Campus | Urban |
| Color(s) | Maroon |
 The Church of St. Paul (Harvard Square), where St. Paul's Choir School is located |
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St. Paul's Choir School is a special school for boys in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is located at St. Paul’s Church in Harvard Square. The school was started in 1963 by Theodore Marier.
This school is unique because it is the only boys' choir school in the United States connected to the Catholic Church. Boys from third to eighth grade attend the school. They learn regular school subjects and also train to sing in the St. Paul's Choir. The choir sings for church services and performs in the Boston area.
The Choir
The St. Paul's Choir is a traditional church choir. It includes boys from grades 5-8 who go to St. Paul's Choir School. It also has men who are professional singers. These men often come from local music schools.
Boys have been singing at St. Paul's Church since it was built in 1923. The choir is known for singing many types of church music. This includes old songs like Gregorian chant and newer pieces. The choir mainly sings for church services. They also perform with orchestras in Boston and sing at concerts, weddings, and funerals.
History of the School
St. Paul's Choir School began in 1963. It was founded by Theodore Marier and Monsignor Augustine F. Hickey. They started the school because the Vatican wanted city churches to have their own boys' choir schools.
The school started with 25 students in grades five through eight. These boys were chosen from all over the Boston area. The school was planned as a four-year program. Students studied regular subjects and spent two periods each day on music. They also had extra rehearsals with the men of the choir. The music program taught them how to read music, understand music theory, and play instruments.
Under Mr. Marier's leadership, the choir performed with famous groups. They sang with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at places like Symphony Hall and Tanglewood. They also performed with the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and the Handel and Haydn Society. For many years, they performed the Nutcracker Suite with the Boston Ballet.
For a time, the school was called the Boston Archdiocesan Choir School. After its 50th anniversary, it went back to its original name.
After Mr. Marier retired in 1986, John Dunn became the director of music. He had been involved with the church's music program since 1960. Mr. Dunn helped the choir make recordings and go on tours. He also made sure more students joined the school. In 1991, a new building for the school was built. By 2007, the school was officially recognized by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
In 2008, Jennifer Lester took over as Director of Music. She had been an assistant at the school since 2000. In 2010, John Robinson (Church Musician) became the Director of Music. He helped the choir sing more often for church services. He also added professional male singers to the choir. In 2012, the school started accepting fourth-grade students.
In 2015, the choir became well-known after releasing their album Christmas in Harvard Square. This album was very popular. In 2017, they released another album called Ave Maria.
John Robinson left the school in 2019. James Kennerley then directed the choir until March 2023. Owen Reid was the Interim Director for a short time. Richard Webster then became the interim director. Brandon Straub was appointed associate director and became the Director of Music in 2024.
Student Life
Students at St. Paul's Choir School attend full-time. They have a challenging academic program. They also have daily choir rehearsals and sing for church services several times a week.
The students are divided into three groups:
- Pre-choristers: Boys who are just starting their choir training.
- Choristers: Boys in fifth to eighth grade who sing with the professional men in The Choir of St. Paul's.
- Chorus: Boys whose voices are changing, or who join the school as Chorus members.
The Choristers sing for four weekday Masses (Tuesday to Friday) and Thursday evening vespers. They also sing for the Sunday 11:00 High Mass with the professional men. The Chorus sings once a month and at other special events. Each student's tuition is partly covered by a "working scholarship." This means the choristers are expected to sing at weddings, funerals, and concerts.
Students study subjects like math, science, literature, language arts, social studies, geography, religion, and French. Latin was added back to the curriculum in 2018. All students learn to play the piano, and some also study the organ. They have chances to perform in concerts.
As of 2021, about 40 students attend the school. New students usually join in the third grade. They are accepted based on a singing audition, an application, and an interview. Students travel from many towns around Boston to get to school. Most students are Roman Catholic.
The choir has traveled to many places to sing. They have visited Chicago, Montreal, Washington, DC, and Rome. They also went to Mexico City and toured Germany and Austria in 2020. In 2005 and 2013, the choir sang in Rome at St. Peter's Basilica. In 2013, they even met Pope Francis. They have also sung at the Basilica of the National Shrine in Washington, DC, and at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City.
Tuition
For the 2024-25 school year, the tuition is $21,500.
Performances and Recordings
The St. Paul's Choir has performed with many famous groups. They have sung with the Boston Symphony Orchestra for pieces like The Damnation of Faust and Symphony No. 3. They have also performed with the Opera Company of Boston and the Boston Lyric Opera for The Magic Flute. In 2017, they sang The Snowman with the Boston POPS Orchestra.
The choir has also released several recordings over the years. Some of their albums include:
- Saint Paul Choir School Sings Advent-Christmas Choral Music (1963)
- A Joyous Christmas Offering (1966)
- When in Rome (1967)
- O Holy Night (1992)
- Christmas in Harvard Square (2014)
- Ave Maria (2017)
