- The Singing Angels
Proudly rooted in
Cleveland, Ohio , The Singing Angels is anon-profit organization dedicated to youth developing the highest level of artistic achievement in theperforming arts .The Angels have visited over 30 countries on three continents. Thousands of young people have become youth ambassadors, star performers and stronger citizens as a result of their Angels training.
History
The Singing Angels was founded in 1964 by Bill Boehm with the dream of creating a program that would bring children of various ages and backgrounds together to learn and perform "good" music. The first group of charter members--80 strong, some as young as 5 years old--delighted audiences that Christmas season with their special brand of youthful charm. Discipline, a prime Angel requirement, extended to their posture on stage...hands at their sides, feet together, no distracting movement. (These Angels didn’t have the benefit of a year in the Training or "Reserve" Chorus which was established in 1965 to help ease the transition from self-conscious babes to confident young performers.)
After that first holiday season, The Singing Angels were such a fresh entertainment idea that they were suddenly in demand all year round for every type of local program from church fund raisers to business conferences in downtown hotels. The Lakeside Summer Art Festival became an annual performance in 1965. The group’s first television special was made for Christmas 1967 at WEWS-TV and repeated in 1968. In 1969, the Angels had their first Command Performance at the White House. That Christmas,
Wayne Newton introduced them to the nation on the Kraft Music Hall Special onNBC . The Singing Angels’ first international tour was toRomania in 1974.The first rehearsal hall was in the Statler Hotel, followed by the old downtown Cleveland
YMCA . In 1970, the Angels made the Cleveland Fire Training Academy their musical home. Today, they rehearse in the Cleveland Masonic Temple.Throughout the group's history the Angels have entertained millions of people as they performed in over twenty-nine foreign countries, starting with their first official tour to Romania. Subsequent tours included
China in 1983, where the Angels sang at theGreat Wall of China . In an era whenUnited States visitors were strictly prohibited in the communist country the Angels were welcomed with open arms and treated as royalty.Russia n Friendship Mission...trips toIreland ,Scotland ,Poland andSpain ...Malaysia ,Hong Kong ,Japan ...Germany ,Italy ,Taiwan ...and the list goes on as the Angels' spirited songs span the world. In July 2000 the Angels were the sole representatives of the United States at theWorld Fair Expo 2000 , held inHanover, Germany . The Singing Angels' signature song "Let There Be Peace On Earth" resounded in several pavilions hosted by other nations - The Singing Angels are truly Cleveland's "Good Will Ambassadors of Peace."The Singing Angels have been featured on national and international television, have performed four times at the
White House and have appeared in concert with a host of superstars, includingBob Hope ,Kenny Rogers , Wayne Newton,Celine Dion , and most recently TheBarenaked Ladies .In the early days of The Singing Angels, Dr. Jerome Gross, surgeon, violinist and Director of The Cleveland Friends of Music, said, "The Singing Angels demonstrate Democracy in Action Through Music." That was widely known as the first motto of The Singing Angels. Although the sentiment still rings true today, in the mid-1990s, the motto was updated to "Make Music. Make Friends. Make A Difference."
And make a difference they do....the three hundred Singing Angels present over 100 programs annually, which include many community service programs that benefit local programs such as WDOK's Cleveland Feed-A-Family, the
American Red Cross , andMake-A-Wish Foundation . The Singing Angels' annual December Caroling Crusades is a thirty-year tradition that consists of teams of Training Chorus members performing at more than forty area nursing homes free of charge. Sharing their smiles and songs, our youngest Angels do.... Make A Difference.... for those in need.The Singing Angels present two annual self-produced concerts, the Spring Benefit Concert and a holiday show. The major productions, currently held at the historically renovated theatres of Playhouse Square in Cleveland, Ohio, feature a lively repertoire of Broadway show tunes, patriotic songs, spirituals, contemporary pop, and barbershop harmony. The Angels' concerts are performed with skill and vitality, complete with precise choreography.
Achievements
Concert Tours
*2008
China
*2007New England ,New York
*2006Italy ,Greece ,Turkey
*2005Seattle and thePacific Northwest
*2004England &France
*2003Hollywood
*2002 Let Freedom Sing Tour
*2001 Cruise, WesternCaribbean
*2000Germany ,Poland ,Lithuania
*1999 South East Tour USA
*1998 Spain, France
*1997 Germany,Austria , Italy,Czech Republic
*1996Canada
*1995England ,Netherlands ,Belgium , France
*1994 American Southwest
*1993 Ireland, Scotland
*1992 Russia
*1991 USA Air Force Bases (Ohio & D.C.)
*1990Puerto Rico
*1989Poland ,Spain
*1988 Canada,Florida (Disney World )
*1987 Malaysia, Hong Kong,Macau , Japan
*1985 Canada
*1984 Germany, Austria, Hungary
*1983 China,Japan
*1982Mexico
*1981Wales , England
*1980 Germany, Italy, Austria
*1978Japan ,Taiwan ,Israel
*1976 USA tour
*1974 Romania
*1972 CanadaRecordings
2005 "Somewhere in My Memory - 40 Years of Holidays with the Singing Angels"
2004 "Walking on Sunshine"
2001 "God Bless the USA"
2000 "Happiness"
1998 "We Wish You the Merriest"
1993 "And The Angels Sing"
1987 "Getting Ready for Christmas"
1984 "Make Someone Happy"
1983 "Jolly, Holly Days"
1981 "Christmas in the Air"
1981 "Get Happy"
1980 "Children of the World"
1979 "Great Day"
1977 "Finally It’s Christmas"
1976 "Sing America"
1974 "Tenth Anniversary"
1973 "Christmas Is Christmas All Over The World" (single)
1972 "Bill Boehm’s Singing Angels"
Supporting Act for the "Stars"
2007 Neil Zaza's One Silent Night, Palace Theatre, Cleveland Ohio
2006 The 5 Browns, Cain Park, Cleveland, Ohio
2006 – 2000 US Air Force Band, Lake Farm Park, Ohio
2005 Barenaked Ladies, Palace Theater, Cleveland, Ohio
2003
Nancy Sinatra , Egyptian Theatre, Hollywood, California1997 Celine Dion, Gund Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
1994
Peabo Bryson ,Roberta Flack , Cleveland, Ohio1993 Kenny Rogers Christmas Show, Cleveland, Ohio
1991
Audrey Hepburn ,UNICEF , Cleveland, Ohio1988 Frank Patterson, Cleveland, Ohio
1988 Four Lads, Music Hall, Cleveland, Ohio
1985 Roger Williams, International Capital Goods Fair, Cleveland, Ohio
1983
Bob Hope , The Breakaway, Akron, Ohio1978 President
Gerald Ford , Front Row Theatre, Cleveland, Ohio1974 Bob Hope, Pine Knob Pavilion, Pontiac, Michigan
1974 Bob Hope, Melody Fair Tent Theatre, Buffalo, New York
1972, 1970 Wayne Newton, MusiCarnival, Cleveland, Ohio
Command Performances
2006, 1997, 1980 The Vatican
2002 The Pentagon
2006, 1990, 1981, 1977, 1969 USA, The White House
1990, 1986, 1975, 1969 Cleveland Mayor’s Inaugurations
1983 Great Hall of the People, China
1974 Romania, President Nicolae Ceausescu
1973 President Inaugural Float, Washington, D.C.
1971 Governor’s Inauguration, Columbus, OH
1971 Super Sesquicentennial Celebration, Cleveland, OH
Major International/National Media Coverage
2003 Breakfast with the Beatles, KLSX, Los Angeles
1993 BBC Radio, Ireland
1989 Polish National TV
1987 Southeast Asia, Cable TV
1985 "Looking East" TV, Orient tour
1983 Walt Disney, Cable TV ; China, National TV; Japan, NHK-TV 1982 Mexico
1981 United Kingdom
1980 Italy
1978 Japan, NHK-TV; EMMY, regional, "Singing Angels Orient Tour"
1977 Bronze Award, International Film/TV Festival, NY, "And The Angels Sing"; EMMY, regional, "And The Angels Sing"
1976 Distinguished Award, Freedom Foundation of Valley Forge; USA "Sing America" with Bob Hope
1974 Bob Hope Christmas Special, NBC
1971 Half-time Browns/Colts playoff game, NBC
1970 EMMY, regional, "Songs of Christmas"
1969 Kraft Music Hall Christmas Special, with Wayne Newton
External links
* [http://www.singingangels.org The Singing Angels Website]
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