Keystone State Boychoir
Encyclopedia
The Keystone State Boychoir is a boys' choir
in Pennsylvania
. The group performs a wide range of songs and has sung on all seven continents.
Major choral works that KSB has performed include Orff’s Carmina Burana, Handel’s Messiah, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Britten’s St. Nicolas, and Fauré’s Requiem. The Philadelphia Inquirer review declared KSB’s 2003 performance in Bach's St. Matthew Passion with the Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia at Verizon Hall to be “excellent.”
KSB has sung with the Philadelphia Orchestra
, the Opera Company of Philadelphia
, and the Philadelphia Singers, and in such venues as the Perelman Theater at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
, the Academy of Music
, and the Mann Center for the Performing Arts
. KSB has performed internationally at the Manaus Opera House in Brazil, the Hanoi Opera House in Vietnam, the Petronas Philharmonik Hall in Malaysia, La Madeline in France, Hall Bulgaria, and in venues throughout Alaska, Canada, South Africa, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, Monaco, Germany, Austria, and Chile. The Boychoir has been the guest choir for July 4 celebrations in the US Embassies of Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Vienna, and Sofia.
The Keystone State Boychoir and its sister-choir, the Pennsylvania Girlchoir, are members of the Commonwealth Youthchoirs, founded in 2001 by Joseph P. Fitzmartin and Steven M. Fisher. Under the leadership of Executive Director Susan S. Ashbaker, this non-profit organization offers choral music education and performance opportunities to young people from diverse backgrounds. The organization promotes leadership, character, and self-discipline.
On December 23, 2009, the Keystone State Boychoir became the first choir to sing in Antarctica when they performed for a holiday party at Frei Base, King George Island. As a result, they are also the first choir ever to sing on all seven continents.
Boys' choir
A boys' choir is a choir primarily made up of choirboys who have yet to begin puberty or are in the early to middle stages of puberty and so retain their more highly pitched childhood voice type...
in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. The group performs a wide range of songs and has sung on all seven continents.
History
Under the direction of Music Director Joseph P. Fitzmartin and Associate Music Director Steven M. Fisher, the Keystone State Boychoir (KSB) consists of more than 140 young men between the ages of 8 and 18, who perform songs from the classical to the contemporary.Major choral works that KSB has performed include Orff’s Carmina Burana, Handel’s Messiah, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Britten’s St. Nicolas, and Fauré’s Requiem. The Philadelphia Inquirer review declared KSB’s 2003 performance in Bach's St. Matthew Passion with the Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia at Verizon Hall to be “excellent.”
KSB has sung with the Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
, the Opera Company of Philadelphia
Opera Company of Philadelphia
The Opera Company of Philadelphia is an American opera company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is the city's only company producing grand opera. The organization produces four fully staged opera productions annually, encompassing works from the seventeenth through the 21st century...
, and the Philadelphia Singers, and in such venues as the Perelman Theater at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts is a large performing arts venue located on Broad Street, along the stretch known as the "Avenue of the Arts", in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is owned and operated by Kimmel Center, Inc., an organization which also manages the Academy of Music in...
, the Academy of Music
Academy of Music (Philadelphia)
The Academy of Music, also known as American Academy of Music, is a concert hall and opera house located at Broad and Locust Streets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1857 and is the oldest opera house in the United States that is still used for its original purpose...
, and the Mann Center for the Performing Arts
Mann Center for the Performing Arts
The Mann Center for The Performing Arts is a 14,000 seat summer musical venue located in Philadelphia's West Fairmount Park. The venue operates as both an indoor performance hall and an outdoor music venue...
. KSB has performed internationally at the Manaus Opera House in Brazil, the Hanoi Opera House in Vietnam, the Petronas Philharmonik Hall in Malaysia, La Madeline in France, Hall Bulgaria, and in venues throughout Alaska, Canada, South Africa, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, Monaco, Germany, Austria, and Chile. The Boychoir has been the guest choir for July 4 celebrations in the US Embassies of Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Vienna, and Sofia.
The Keystone State Boychoir and its sister-choir, the Pennsylvania Girlchoir, are members of the Commonwealth Youthchoirs, founded in 2001 by Joseph P. Fitzmartin and Steven M. Fisher. Under the leadership of Executive Director Susan S. Ashbaker, this non-profit organization offers choral music education and performance opportunities to young people from diverse backgrounds. The organization promotes leadership, character, and self-discipline.
On December 23, 2009, the Keystone State Boychoir became the first choir to sing in Antarctica when they performed for a holiday party at Frei Base, King George Island. As a result, they are also the first choir ever to sing on all seven continents.