Background

The Boston Archdiocesan Choir School was founded in 1963 by Dr. Theodore Marier. Now under the leadership of Music Director, Jennifer Lester, the school, in residence at St. Paul Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts, continues as a full-time day school for boys.

Dedicated to providing rigorous academic training and an extensive and unique education in music and liturgy, the Choir School accepts musically talented and academically qualified boys ages ten through fourteen for full-time study in grades five through eight. Students commute from several communities in the greater Boston area.

The area's best secondary schools aggressively recruit Choir School students. Choir School graduates have attended Milton Academy, Roxbury Latin School, Beaver Country Day School, Boston University Academy, Middlesex School, Belmont Hill School, Deerfield Academy, Noble and Greenough, Boston Latin School, Boston College High School, St. Sebastians's Country Day School, Arlington Catholic, Matignon High School, Malden Catholic and Catholic Memorial. Almost every year, several eighth graders are named "Scholar of the School" at Boston College High School, an honor conferred only on those scoring in the top five percent of all candidates taking the entrance examination. In the past, Choir School students have gone on to win "Ignatian Scholarships," four-year full tuition scholarships at Boston College High.

Music Program

Music is taught in a thorough and systematic way. In singing, special emphasis is given to the development of the head voice which produces the much-acclaimed sound of the Choir. Ample opportunities are provided for creative activities including improvisation and composition. All boys study the recorder in grades five and six, and the piano in grades six, seven and eight. This training reinforces and complements the skills learned in the vocal music program. The study of hand bells, organ, and other instruments is available to qualified students.

Academic Program

Uniquely integrated with music study, the school's diverse academic offerings aspire to give each student a strong foundation in basic skills and to provide multiple opportunities for enrichment. The positive influence of the study of music on other academic areas is clearly evident. Classes are small and motivation is high among both students and teachers, making for a lively, energetic and creative classroom environment.

In addition to music, the course of studies includes: language arts, science, geography, computer, physical education, art, French, history/literature, mathematics, and religion. The school's French program is designed to develop basic proficiency in speaking, listening, reading and writing, enabling graduates to enter a second year program at the high school level. The strong musical ear, which the boys possess, facilitates foreign language study. The history/literature sequence coordinates the history being studied with related literature selections. This concept, unusual in the middle school, reinforces the understanding of American history through the enrichment that only literature can provide. The mathematics curriculum covers general pre-Algebra which leads to a basic Algebra I course in grade eight. The religion curriculum has a strong orientation toward the scriptures, complementing the rich and deeply meaningful appreciation of liturgy gained by frequent musical participation in the Church's many and varied ceremonies. All the boys receive instruction in the liturgical ministries of acolytes, lectors and leaders of song.

Auditions

Auditions for fourth grade boys are held each spring. Because of the unique nature of the music program, boys are admitted to the Choir School only in September of grade five. Musical experience is not a requirement for admission, but a candidate must possess natural musical talent including a good sense of rhythm and a strong musical ear. The candidate must also be achieving A and B grades in his academic program, and have a reading comprehension level at least one full year above grade.

Working Scholarship

Fees are charged for supplies and private piano lessons, but students are not charged tuition. Because the boys sing Sunday Mass, weddings, concerts and other choir engagements, they are said to be on a "Working Scholarship," a concept unique to the Choir School. Its two components, the contribution the boys make through performance and recording, and the matching financial contribution from a variety of fundraising sources, enable each student to contribute to the cost of his own extensive and rigorous education, while helping him to develop personal responsibility and commitment.