(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Princeton Girlchoir (PGC) and Princeton Boychoir (PBC), the area’s premier training and performance choirs for boys and girls, are now auditioning new choristers for the 2022-2023 season. Any child entering grades 3-12 this fall is warmly welcomed. Both choirs are programs of Westrick Music Academy (WMA).
The 2022-2023 Season promises to be an innovative and exciting one for the choirs, with concerts planned throughout the East Coast collaborating with several well-known artists and ensembles under the direction of nationally-renowned youth choir leaders. The advanced choirs in each program will also embark on summer concert tours across the country and around the world, with Summer 2023’s tour locations to be announced soon. Recent tours have taken the choirs to Hawaii, Italy, New Orleans, Austria, Arizona, and Czech Republic.
In addition to these performance opportunities, Both PGC and PBC offer a first-class music education to the choristers who participate in all 10 of their ensembles. Each is specifically designed to be a rewarding experience, maintaining high standards of excellence while developing musical and vocal skills as part of a joyous learning environment. Singers who have trained with the choirs are regularly accepted into prestigious university music programs across the country. While most alums go on to successful careers outside of music, all benefit from the disciple, community, and empowerment that have been the hallmark of the choirs for more than 30 years.
A strong desire to learn, a musical ear, and an eagerness to share music with others are key to a successful audition. Despite the many musical opportunities PGC and PBC offer during the year, the auditions remain low-key and enjoyable and no music needs to be prepared in advance. This year, singers will be asked to introduce themselves, sing a Major scale and a familiar song like “Row, Row, Row Your Boat, or “Happy Birthday”. This will help our music directors better understand their current level of musical ability.
Interested singers have the option to audition live, in-person or via zoom, or to submit an audition video. Auditions for new choristers begin May 21 and are scheduled throughout the month of May and June, but interested singers are encouraged to apply early. To learn more about the process or to schedule an audition, visit WestrickMusic.org/auditions.
Westrick Music Academy provides opportunities to grow in a supportive, inclusive, and joyous environment through the experience of musical excellence. Formerly known as Princeton Girlchoir, Westrick Music Academy (WMA) is the umbrella organization that houses Princeton Girlchoir, Princeton Boychoir, and Music Education Programs. The Music Education Programs offered by WMA are designed to serve both members of the organization’s flagship choirs and those in the broader community.
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 develops boys into confident young men of character through inspired training in singing, music education, and leadership, who share their musical excellence within the community and beyond. Launched in Fall 2017, PBC has become the premier extracurricular vocal program for boys in the region. The choir 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, 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. Now in its fifth Anniversary season, the Boychoir regularly appears on concert stages throughout the Princeton area and beyond. They have appeared on NBC with Michael Bublé in his 2021 Christmas in the City special, at the Baltimore Boychoir Festival, the International Boy’s and Men’s Choral Festival in Arizona, and will make their international debut in Prague and Vienna in 2022.
