As seen on CBS News Boston and WHDH!
The Boy Choristers of Saint Paul’s Choir School, Harvard Square recently returned from Italy on a twelve-day choir tour. They sang in the country’s greatest and largest basilicas, culminating in a personal invitation to sing for Pope Francis at the General Audience from the Prefecture of the Papal Household. Six of the boys rode through the crowds of St. Peter’s Square with Pope Francis on the famous “Popemobile.”
They performed with the Sistine Chapel Choir at the Basilica of Saints Ambrose and Carlo al Corso. Other stops on the tour included Saint Peter’s Basilica, and the magnificent Basilicas of Saint Mary Major and Saint Mark’s in Venice. The students walked in the footsteps of Vivaldi, Monteverdi, and Palestrina – great Italian composers, choristers, and choirmasters that came before them.
"I felt like the pope was radiating with kindness and love for all of the people in the audience." Quentin Hashemi, Grade 6 to WHDH 7 News
The choir tour is part of a year-long celebration of the school’s 60th Anniversary. It comes on the heels of a third commercial album “Gabriel Fauré & Other Masterworks” with DeMontfort Records produced by Grammy Award-winner Brad Michel. The Boys of Saint Paul’s Choir School received rave reviews from performances of Stravinsky’s “Persephoné” with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, as well as a domestic tour to Washington D.C. in January where they collaborated with the Washington National Cathedral, Georgetown University, Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, and St. Peter’s on Capitol Hill.
You know, at first, you don’t really recognize it. But then you’re like ‘Oh my goodness, this is the representative of Jesus and the predecessor of St. Peter. Baltazar Etcheverry, Grade 5 to WHDH 7 News
Founded in 1963 by Dr. Theodore Marier, the choir has enjoyed long-time collaborations with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Lyric Opera, Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Boston Pops. They produced three commercial CD recordings including the Billboard chart-topping “Christmas in Harvard Square,” which reached #1 on the Traditional Classical Charts. Other appearances include Fenway Park, Good Morning America, and a special on WGBH.
Saint Paul’s Choir School is the only all-boys Catholic Choir School in the U.S, educating boys in grades 3-8 in the Cathedral school tradition. The boys are immersed in intensive musical training, rigorous academics, and a solid faith formation. Its small class sizes, nurturing faculty, and committed families have helped to make the school thrive over the last 60 years. Saint Paul’s Choir School is now accepting applications for the 2023-24 school year.
Contact: Kara Clark, Associate for Music and Performance Activities
617-309-0343
PHOTOS: Eric Manougian Silver Coast Media