Appleton Mayor Tim Hanna declared last Saturday Appleton Boychoir Day and we celebrated that official proclamation by attending a perfect display of beautiful music, international friendship and enviable posture.
Through welled up eyes, I searched the faces of a gorgeous combined Appleton Boychoir that included brand new members, alumni and mastersingers as they sang We Rise Again. The choice not only offered the singers an opportunity to demonstrate how powerful a combined choir can sound, it also lyrically traced the history of that admirable organization.
“We rise again in the faces of our children. We rise again in the voices of our song…”
Through four decades the Boychoir has taught young men how to sing and to find their voice, how to knot a tie and to command respect, how to stand up straight and to find comfort on a stage, how to harmonize and to be a friend, how to rise again in the voices of their song.
In honor of its 40th anniversary, the Boychoir hosted an elegant concert that included a world premiere performance of Morning Sea (complete with a surprise appearance by Greek composer Lina Tonia), and an alumni choir from around the world.
These lessons transcend the stage, of course, and boychoir members have gone on to become doctors, lawyers, television producers, directors, Grammy nominated artists and, in at least one case, a professional basketball player.
They also have traveled to all corners of the globe as pitch perfect American ambassadors fluent in the universal language of joy.
Congratulations to the Appleton Boychoir and thanks for all you’ve brought to our community and the world beyond.
