I've spent time on both the Chorister and Volunteer side of the organization over the past twenty years. As a boy, my experiences were formative towards developing my professional acumen that I still lean on today, even though I've ended up quite far from the arts in my own career. As a volunteer, the organization is thoughtful about my needs and responsive to my comments, which I always like to see.
Overall, it's been a great organization to work with over the years, and I hope to do so for years to come!
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This choir was a huge influence in my life as a boy participating in it. It shaped my character in ways that still follow me to this day, regardless of how different my path ended up from what I expected. The current organizational structure has welcomed me back in a volunteer capacity with open arms, happy to receive my expertise and working with myself an others for a stronger, healthier choir that will continue to build up choristers into the future people they can be.
There are two institutional organizations that had a tremendous influence on me for seeking excellence and high achievement. One of those was the Phoenix Boys Choir. As an alumnus of the choir, I cherish the early youth experiences practicing and perfecting the performance of choral music, learning artistic professionalism, and interacting and traveling with peers domestically and abroad as performing ambassadors of our community. I will always be grateful for my association with, and the music education and mentoring I received from and in, the Phoenix Boys Choir.
I may not be able to hit those high C's anymore, but my time in the Phoenix Boys Choir gave me far more than the opportunity to sing. Throughout my childhood, the choir was instrumental in instilling and developing the values I carry to this day such as time management, work ethic, comradery, and global citizenship. As one of our former members put it, we entered as boys, but we left as men.
The Phoenix Boys Choir is such a treasure - local, regional, national, and international - and has such a profound impact on everyone it touches that I have difficulty choosing one role that defines my relationship with it. Our son joined in 2019 and we immediately were taken by the passion, musicality, mission, beauty, dedication, and vision, not to mention the history and legacy, that the organization, along with its directors and staff, possess. I was lucky enough to be welcomed as a volunteer, and two years later, to join as a Board member.
It is not just gorgeous music that PBC produces, but also thoughtful, respectful, caring, worldly, and confident young men. It also acts just like a sports team: teaching teamwork; defining individual vs. group efforts; providing camaraderie and an outlet for both physical and also creative energies; and creating goals - not wins but rather a concert to delight.
As with many performing arts organizations, navigating through COVID has been difficult for PBC as we celebrate our 75th year in the Valley, but I remain confident that we have at least 75 more amazing and inspiring years ahead of us.
The Choir is a Phoenix institution. When I was asked to consider running for a position on the Board, I leapt at the opportunity. Being able to support and help guide the future of such a wonderful organization is a privilege. Seeing the positive impact of the Choir’s programs on the the boys and, in turn, the resulting impact out in their communities is priceless and field my enthusiasm for the Choir . I look forward to continuing to support the important work of this critical organization.
Love this amazing organization and its participants! Last year as we were driving past the building, my son Elias asked if he could join Phoenix Boys Choir mid-season. The entire staff was so welcoming and so considerate of him that he caught up with the repertoire in no time. The culture of this choir is something that is truly unique-the boys in the choir held to a very high standard musically and in addition are respectful and thoughtful, and truly care about each other and their reputation of being kind, responsible humans in a world where neither is highly valued. Phoenix Boys Choir is a refreshing organization of which we are proud supporters and participants.
PBC provided so much more than music. My boys learned responsibility, self-assurance, history, and a sense of adventure. They traveled the world, made new friends, and had the experience of a lifetime.
I have good friends/neighbors whose grandson joined the Phoenix Boys Choir about four years ago. It has been great fun watching the impact PBC has had on his life. He is a talented singer but didn't have any knowledge of reading music, or music theory -- PBC has developed his talent to the point where he qualified for the prestigious Tour Choir, and has had important solos that have given him a great deal of confidence and self-esteem. Maybe more importantly, he has made a number of very good friends and has a social group that he relies on and that has helped him feel a part of something important and has helped him thrive. The Artistic Director has become a very positive role model and influence on this young man.
This organization changes lives in amazing ways—it’s not just the singing! It’s character-building, encourages and demands community awareness, world knowledge about everything from cultural music to history to current struggles. It involves travel which always broadens one’s world when done in such a supported, beautiful way. Fantastic place to put your time, your focus, and your boys!
I have two children in the Phoenix Boys Choir for many years and they have grown in many ways due to the discipline and integrity of the people around them
I graduated from the Phoenix Boys Choir in 2003 and have continued with the organization for many years afterward as a singer, volunteer, and ,now, Board Member. The Phoenix Boys Choir taught me so many valuable life lessons beyond musical performance. I learned teamwork, leadership, time management skills, and much much more. While traveling with the choir, I learned at a young age to seek to understand other people and cultures. My time with the PBC is a highlight of my life!
My donations to the Phoenix Boys Choir have been meaningful and well spent because the tremendous impact of the program is obvious. I've spoken with many choristers, alumni and parents who share stories about the transformative experiences the choir offered them or their sons. As a result, they were better prepared for life and more productive members of our community.
The 75th Season is a celebration of all the Phoenix Boys choir has been and all it hopes to be. The PBC is constantly thinking about how to serve youth. How to connect and celebrate with the community as well as the choral world at large. I would recommend this organization for any young boy, teen or man who loves to sing.
Our son joined the choir last year and has thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Over the years he has had the opportunity to try various activities but I never saw him truly inspired by anything until I saw him perform with the choir. He seemed to come alive and traveling with the choir did indeed teach him some important life skills. We look forward to several more years with the choir. It is an amazing organization-- it is so much more than singing!
My son thrives at PBC! He has made friends, traveled to amazing places and above all gotten a high quality music education. With choir and band being cut from his public school, we are incredibly thankful to this organization. They provide music education outreach to so many of our Phoenix area schools.
My godson, now with Town Choir, was in Cadet Choir before that. At the 2021 Christmas concert I was struck deeply by the sight of alumni of the choir of several generations, standing shoulder to shoulder with the boys of the current choir, united in song. There was a visible bond, and it was plain how the boys had young men and older men to look up to, to see "how I will be some day" as an alumnus of this venerable musical organization. The boys could see what kind of men the program builds, and that they, too, will be such men someday, standing shoulder to shoulder with an upcoming generation. Music does so many things, and one of the most powerful things it does is bring people together on common ground. That's what I was privileged to see at that concert, and why I am proud to support the Phoenix Boys Choir.
My son has been a part of the Phoenix Boys Choir for just over a year. He's gone from little cadet to now a town chorister. His confidence has grown so much in just this short time and it has opened his mind to so many avenues he didn't realize he could excel in. He Loves music, musical instruments and just singing in general. He appreciates the sound of combined voices and harmonies. He's 10 and has the most beautiful appreciation and that makes this mom and dad happy and so proud. Thank you PBC
Being the mom of an alumnus myself, my son’s experience with the Phoenix Boys Choir has been nothing short of life-changing. Being with them for so many years taught my son valuable musical and social skills that he continues to reference to this day. They have opened his eyes to the world through the choir’s annual tours to other states and nations. We are very proud of the PBC, and highly recommend this incredible organization for the young talented boys in your lives.
Our desert is lucky to have the Phoenix Boys Choir. The organization is composed of highly valuable trained musicans who are passionate about educating our young boys. Our family is blessed to count them as our son’s teachers and educators. They are great role models.
My son loves the Phoenix Boys Choir and I do too! They teach them more than just music. They teach them character skills that will help them in the future! I also like that they offer music classes for 4-6 year olds! My youngest wouldn’t have music if it weren’t for these classes. I am so glad that we found them!
This organization makes such a difference to my son’s wellbeing during this pandemic era. He is surrounded by a lovely group of boys, with similar interests, in a safe and joyful environment— what could be better?!
The Phoenix Boys Choir changed our life! My son found his love of music in second grade. In middle school he found his love of travel visiting 9 countries over two years. This this year he wad selected for the Brophy Honors Chorale and will be performing at Carnegie Hall.
This is all due to the wonderful conductors at PBC!
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My son has been with the Phoenix Boys Choir for seven years rising through the ranks from the youngest Training Choir, touring Europe twice with the Tour Choir and now joining the Maters Choir. In Third Grade he informed me choir was his chosen after school activity and we haven’t been disappointed. During COVID the choir has taken an even more prominent part of our life. He looked forward to the weekly virtual rehearsals and was proud of his performance in “Sing On”. It was also his choir friends he looked forward to playing video games with each day during isolation. The friends he and I have made through the choir have enriched both of our lives.
Has helped our son build confidence, learn leadership skills and create lifelong friends all while receiving an amazing education in choral music and theory. It is no wonder it has been around for 74 years!!
I had a great experience as a Phoenix Boys Choir member. I made great friends, learned so much traveling on tour and learned skills that I now that I'm a high school graduate, realize are critical in life. Thank you Phoenix Boys Choir for such a meaningful education.
We have been members of the Phoenix Boys Choir for seven years. Our oldest son joined the Training Choir when he was seven years old and his younger brother joined when he turned seven. I have loved watching our boys develop musically through rehearsals and theory lessons. Learning songs in different languages and learning the context for those songs has contributed to their cultural awareness. They have developed college-level skills through their involvement in the Choir.
Perhaps more importantly, the Choir has instilled in them a sense of global awareness, community involvement, respect for others, and leadership. Raising money for and traveling on tour nationally and internationally positively impacted their maturity, resilience, and confidence. And I love that the Choir offers scholarships and makes sure that boys without means are able to participate.
The friendships that the boys have made in the Choir run deep. The consistency of Choir involvement and singing throughout the pandemic meant a lot to our family. It kept the boys engaged and was healing.
Finally, the administrative and artistic staff, as well as the Board members, care very deeply about the Choir and it shows. They always consider carefully how their decisions and actions will impact the boys and their families and they model the core values of respect for others, community involvement, and leadership that they instill in the boys. As a member and a donor, I have no doubt that the Choir uses each donation thoughtfully and well. Every dollar is spent wisely and with thoughts toward the future.
I have the utmost confidence in the Choir and what it has done for our family. We are grateful for what our involvement has meant to our family.
Our grandsons have been singing with the PBC for many years, starting with the Cadets on through the Young Men’s Ensemble. We have loved watching them grow musically and, just as importantly, they have developed confidence, self-discipline, a sense of responsibility and community. The PBC has become like extended family. My husband and I have sung with our choir for 30 years. We travel to Phoenix from California to see the PBC perform. We are grateful that we could view them online when Covid kept us at home these many months. We are looking forward to when we can see them once again in person in Phoenix.
Being in the Choir was such a formative experience for me. I received a great musical education, traveled the world and learned about other cultures, and creating strong, lasting friendships.
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I graduated from the Phoenix Boys Choir in 2003 and have continued with the organization for many years afterward as a singer, volunteer, and ,now, Board Member. The Phoenix Boys Choir taught me so many valuable life lessons beyond musical performance. I learned teamwork, leadership, time management skills, and much much more. While traveling with the choir, I learned at a young age to seek to understand other people and cultures. My time with the PBC is a highlight of my life!
What an amazing organization!! My grandson was shy and an introvert to the point it affected his social and peer interactions. PBC changed everything for him! The camaraderie between all the boys no matter the age or group level is so special and the development of his voice and stage presence has flowed over to other aspects of his life...he will always be a PBC member! Thank you!!
“I was shy, until I discovered how much I love to sing”, “Mom, I think it was such an honor to sing the National Anthem for NASCAR”...those are my son’s words. This is his third year and loves to belong to this amazing organization. PBC has been wonderful for all of our kids, beyond expectations, no obstacles can stop them. They are pioneers that go up and beyond to continue supporting our kids not only musically but focused in the education of the whole person.
For ever grateful.
My son loves boy's choir this year he had the opportunity to go to camp and made wonderful new friends. He has grown out of his shell and boys choir has helped alot.
I was a member of the choir from 2nd-10th grade. It gave me chances I never would have had without being a member. I hung out with friends, traveled the world, and learned a ton of life lessons. Yes, it is an amazing choir. Consistently ranking one of the top boys choirs in the world in terms of music quality. However, that is just a small part of being in the choir.
When our family first moved to Arizona in 1989, we began our 14-year association with PBC as our three sons all entered the choir and enjoyed tenures in tour choir. All three of our boys, now in their 30s identify their time with the Boys Choir as a defining experience in their lives, helping them become citizens of the world. As parents, we appreciated the formation this experience provided to our sons - musically, culturally, experientially, and personally. We have remained in touch with the choir since our boys graduated and are proud of what the PBC represents in our Phoenix community and the positive impact it has.
I am the mother of two sons who have gone through all phases of the Phoenix Boys Choir, both my husband and I have been active volunteers for many years, and I have been on the Board of Trustees for 8 years. Our family has been part of the Phoenix Boys Choir 'family' for 20 years - yes, it is truly a family. Our sons have gained so much from being part of the Choir and it truly changed their lives. Not only did they learn music and performance skills, but they learned how to be responsible, dedicated, respectful, disciplined, caring, and globally aware citizens. They have had the privilege of representing Phoenix and Arizona as they traveled across the US and to Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Canada, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Slovakia. The skills and the experiences they developed from being part of the Phoenix Boys Choir was instrumental in the men that they are now. It was definitely the best thing we ever did for our boys! Please consider giving your son a gift that will forever change his life. Become part of the Phoenix Boys Choir family, you will never regret it.
Our son has participated in the Phoenix Boys Choir for six years, making his way up from the youngest training choir to the traveling tour choir. He has received a broad musical education including a wide span of musical genres, sight reading, music history, theory, and musicianship. Perhaps even better, though, he has developed a strong sense of global citizenship and local community. The choir has provided our son with opportunities for world travel, cultural appreciation, character development, and friendship. The Phoenix Boys Choir does more than encourage young musicians—it develops young men who are equipped to contribute in meaningful ways to their local communities and our world.
Additionally, we cannot say enough about the Phoenix Boys Choir during this global pandemic. The choir got up and running almost immediately with virtual rehearsals. It has provided a much-needed constant for our son with regular rehearsals and theory lessons, social gatherings, and a sense of community. The choir leadership has gone above and beyond in caring for the boys, not only as young musicians, but also as young people needing a sense of normalcy, security, and belonging during these difficult times.
-Steve Brown & Molly Pont-Brown, parents
My son has been in the choir for five years and has loved the unity among his choir brothers. He has been taught by the best how to sing as well as international world views and ways of life. We are truly blessed to be a part of this organization.
From the time he was singing and demonstrating a sense of rhythm in his high chair, 10 year old Collin has continued to make music in the classroom, church choir and Town Choir of the Phoenix Boys Choir. In the sudden loss of his mother at age 5, his grandparents saw in the Phoenix Boys Choir the opportunity to polish his talents in a safe, nurturing environment. In these past four years, he has relished the brotherhood of his fellow choristers, delighted in the varying concert venues, risen to a level of confidence in himself and respect for others that was imparted in the bi-weekly rehearsals he attends. This is his joy....these are his friends and through this organization he is finding his footing in the world.
It's been such a delight over the last few years to enjoy the performances of the Choir. I became aware of the Choir thru a family friend's sons, and I'm so glad that I did. This is a group of talented individuals, well worth watching perform even if you don't know any of the performers, and at the price, it's a bargain! Treat yourself and go see a performance.
I had two boys in the Phoenix Boys Choir. From their first rehearsals to their final concert the overall growth and maturity in them compared to their peers was noticeable to everyone around them. From learning complex music to touring the world, this was the experience of a lifetime.
My son is 7 years old and we have been attending Boys Choir for 7 months only. This has been truly incredible experience where he made many new friends and learn so much about music in such a short time. I seen him developing more confidence, kindness, self-development, independence and respect for others. So thankful for everything Phoenix Boys Choir has done for Adam and our family especially during quarantine. We feel very connected and supported by teachers and staff.
The Choir has taught my son. how to be a positive influence in our community. He has learned how to carry himself in public. He has learned to have confidence in public speaking, and how to be humble all at the same time. The Music education, has helped him achieve straight A's in school for the past 3 years. Since being apart of the Choir, and the opportunities that my son has had. He has great focus at the age of 12 of what he wants in his future, and how to get there. THANK YOU to everyone at The Phoenix Boys Choir.
I have the unique privilege of being a parent to two choir boys, a long time active volunteer and then eventually a board member and currently the Board Chair. When my oldest son auditioned in the spring of 2015 I had no idea where this journey would take us. I am not a Phoenix native, therefor the history and even the knowledge regarding the legacy of the Phoenix Boys Choir was not something I was aware of or understood at the time. Today I know this organization has transformed the lives of young men for 72 years. The Phoenix Boys Choir has sent boys around the globe to learn other cultures and languages. They have taught them to see, hear and appreciate the differences that exist in our world. Our Artistic Director Herbert Washington was a choir boy once upon a time. He came back to help shape the lives of boys the way he was the recipient of that guidance and experience. Our Executive Director Mitra Khazai joined our organization In October of 2019. The combination of the two of them during the current world crises has been a gift on all levels. They are innovative, thoughtful and hard working. This organization transforms lives, I am proud and honored to be a part of its legacy. I hope you and others will join us on our journey either through joining, donating, or following our social media and sharing or when we can gather again attending a concert.
My grandson has truly blossomed being a member of the Phoenix Boys Choir. He got to tour Europe, stay with host families, eat exotic food, experience vastly different cultures and learned to pack his own suitcase. At now 13, he is truly a world traveler and comports himself with confidence, kindness, respect for others, and has developed independence. None of this would have occurred with being a member of the Phoenix Boys Tour Choir.
The Phoenix Boys Choir made a huge difference in the trajectory of my son's life. He learned discipline, character and leadership while a choir member and during his tour experiences gained an appreciation for many different cultures and perspectives. I highly recommend this experience, it is life changing!