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.
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!
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
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!
