The All American Boys Chorus

Chorus Program

Our Chorus Program currently has 110 boys enrolled, participating in afterschool and weekend music lessons and rehearsals, peer-to-peer mentoring, concert tours, and summer camp. Chorus members come from over 26 cities throughout Southern California and stay in the Chorus for an average of four and a half years. While young men may enter our programs with a simple interest in music, they soon learn that musical ability requires discipline, dedication, and teamwork. Training and Teamwork Boys enrolled in the Chorus Program progress through three levels – White, Blue, and Red – named after the shirt color the boys wear. To progress to the next level, boys work with other Chorus members to master specific musical skills. As they progress, they increase their musical skills and see firsthand the value and rewards of practice and hard work. To reach the final level, boys must memorize our repertoire of 40 songs, performing each song for a veteran member of the Chorus.

Music Reading Program

A key component of our overall music education curriculum—our Music Reading Program incorporates a professional staff to teach the sight-reading, writing, and comprehension of the language of music. Susan Martin is the head of the Program. She gained her B.Ed (Hons) in Music with the University of Liverpool in 1989. Susan has taught in schools in England and Australia. She authored a music education program based on the Kodaly methodology and has written several sets of curricula for the Education Department of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. In the U.S., she has written curricula for the “Class Act” Concerts given by the Pacific Symphony Orchestra.  The curriculum is divided into four levels taught by four credentialed instructors. Classes take place on Saturday mornings from September through June. Students are tested prior to each level of instruction and again at the conclusion of each level. In the first year alone, the typical student in each level increases his knowledge of music theory, rhythms, and sight-singing by 75%, with the most advanced Level 4 graduates achieving a proficiency that would allow them to actively participate in a freshman college choral program.