(PRINCETON JUNCTION, NJ) -- On Tuesday, May 15, 2018, Westrick Music Academy, home of Princeton Girlchoir and Princeton Boychoir, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the opening of its new home in Princeton Junction, NJ. This opening is the result of a 3-year search and 8-months of construction.
West Windsor Mayor Hemant Marathe, who attended the event along with West Windsor Township Council Members Jyotika Bahree, Alison Miller, and Virginia Manzari, cut the ribbon. Also in attendance was the organization’s Board of Directors and representatives from local arts organizations and businesses.
Founded in 1989 as Princeton Girlchoir, the organization has grown over the past 29 years from 27 girls to more than 300 girls singing in seven choirs. In 2017, the organization added the Princeton Boychoir to its ranks with 50 boys singing in the inaugural season. To accommodate these flagship choirs and additional growing programs, the board announced in January 2018 the creation of a new umbrella organization, Westrick Music Academy, after the founder, Jan Westrick, that would continue to house Princeton Girlchoir and Princeton Boychoir as they current stand.
Princeton Girlchoir and Boychoir are currently scheduling auditions for new choristers to be conducted throughout late May and early June. All children who will be entering grades 3-12 in the fall are warmly welcomed. The 2018-2019 season will mark Princeton Girlchoir’s 30thAnniversary, with events scheduled throughout the year for both the Girlchoir and Boychoir that fit this auspicious occasion.
Princeton Girlchoir - Where girls make powerful, graceful, and joyous music, and music makes powerful, graceful, and joyous girls.
Fueled by the power of a girl's voice, Princeton Girlchoir presents extraordinary performances at home and throughout the world, while educating the musician, building confidence, and fostering a life-long love of singing together. Founded in 1989 as an after-school activity for girls interested in choral music, Princeton Girlchoir has grown into the area’s premier training and performance choir for girls, with over 300 choristers participating each year. The organization has seven choirs, comprising girls in 3rd through 12th grade. These choirs present music from a wide array of genres, conductors and composers. While honing their musicianship, choristers begin life-long friendships, enjoy professional performance opportunities, and travel the world.
Princeton Girlchoir has been honored to perform in a wide array of venues for audiences both nationally and internationally. Notable performances include the North American premiere of Tan Dun’s Symphony 1997 with Yo-Yo Ma at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center; multiple appearances at Carnegie Hall; performances for Hillary Rodham Clinton, Jeb Bush, Rush Holt, and Sandra Day O’Connor; performing the national anthem at several professional sporting events; and appearances at conferences of the American Choral Directors Association, Organization of American Kodály Educators, and NJ Music Educators Association.
Princeton Boychoir - Launched in Fall 2017, Princeton Boychoir is poised to become the premier extracurricular vocal program for boys in the region. PBC is composed of boys from third through twelfth grade, who are placed by audition in one of our three ensembles: Apprentice Choir, Treble Choir, and the Young Men’s Ensemble. Singers are placed by ability, matching each boy with the choir that best suits his vocal, artistic, and musicianship level. In addition to striving for musical excellence, choristers in Princeton Boychoir grow in maturity, self-discipline, focus, and leadership.
Although the Boychoir grew from its sister organization, Princeton Girlchoir, and the two choirs share many traits, there is a unique spirit when “boys night” starts every Thursday. Led by Fred Meads, former Director of Vocal Studies at the American Boychoir School and eight year veteran with Princeton Girlchoir, each chorister in Princeton Boychoir strives to be an outstanding musician while developing a sense of poise and self-confidence through education and performance, challenging him to tap into the best part of who he is and what he can accomplish.
