Newark Boys Chorus

The Newark Boys Chorus School (NBCS) was originally founded as the New Jersey Symphony Boys Choir in 1966 in Newark, New Jersey.

Debut

The original chorus was formed with the New Jersey Symphony who needed “angels’ voices” for the “Dance of the Snowflakes” in their production of Tchaikowsky’s “The Nutcracker”. It was James R. McCarthy who undertook the task and found 66 “angels” for use in the production. On December 26, 1966, the chorus finally joined the New Jersey Symphony and the Garden State Ballet in a complete production of the “Nutcracker”.

The chorus’s debut performance at Newark Symphony Hall was so successful and received such critical acclaim, that additional performances were demanded, which ultimately led to the opening of the Newark Boys Choir School on September 15, 1969. In September 1972, the school adopted the name Newark Boys Choir, which later became the Newark Boys Chorus School.

Performances

Known as Newark’s “Musical Ambassadors”, the Chorus has been heard throughout the world with a diversified repertoire that includes traditional classical music, spirituals, folk music, and jazz. In recent years the boys have toured Australia, South Africa, the Caribbean, Finland, Latvia, and Russia. The Newark Boys Chorus has performed in prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Lincoln Center, and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. In October 2007, the Chorus sang in the first public performance at the new Prudential Center. The Chorus can be heard on the Blue Öyster Cult song, The Golden Age of Leather from the album Spectres

Notable Alumni

• Anwar Robinson Finalist in season 4 of popular television show American Idol

External links

• Newark Boys Chorus School
• Newark Symphony Hall
• Garden State Ballet