The "Tales of the American Boychoir" Story

The American Boychoir.  Jayden is 3rd row, 3rd from left.

It was an ordinary day.  Sitting in the bleachers of Landis Run Inter- mediate School listening to the American Boy Choir sing.  Heavenly is probably the best word that can describe it.  A few weeks ago I saw a story in the local newspaper telling the community that the choir was making a stop in Lancaster, since one of the boys in the choir, Jayden Browne, was from Lancaster.  

Jayden's 6th grade yearbook photo.

Read a bit more and realized that I had taken the boy's photo quite a few times last year for the yearbook at Landis Run.  This year he would have moved to the Middle School, but it seems he had other plans.  His love and passion are music and being a member of the American Boychoir can only enhance his chances of continuing in the field of music in the future.  The choir is recognized as one of the finest musical ensembles in the country.  The choir is composed of boys from fourth through eighth grade and has performed throughout the world.  The choir is in its 76th year and has been invited to sing for every sitting U.S. President since John F. Kennedy.  

The American Boychoir performing for the 5th and 6th
grade classes at Landis Run Intermediate School.

The prestigious school, located in Princeton, has 42 boys from all over the world.  To be accepted into the choir was a major accomplish- ment for Jayden.  He is no stranger to music though, having listened to his dad play guitar at home as well as singing in the Children's Choir of Lancaster and the Popovksy Performance Choir.  Princeton is about two hours from Lancaster so Jayden does get to see his family more often that perhaps most boys in the choir.  

One chorister sings a solo for the Boychoir.

So far this year he has toured in South Korea as well as cities throughout the northeast and southern regions of the U.S. The tour he is on right now will take him, besides his concert this afternoon for his former school and a concert tonight at Manheim Township High School for the general public, across the American Midwest.  In June the boys travel to Normandy, France to commemorate the 79th anniversary of D-Day.  The choir also filmed the movie "Boychoir" starring Dustin Hoffman.  

Poster and note inside the entrance to
the Landis Run Intermediate School.

The boys will be featured in both the movie and the soundtrack.  What a thrill it must be for Jayden to see the world as well as get to sing as some of the biggest and most impressive venues there are.  As I watched the 32 boys on the risers, I started to feel some envy that I never had the chance to do that.  Singing in the St. James Boys as a young boy was fun and traveling to Philadelphia and other nearby cities to sing was thrilling, but singing in this choir would be the pinnacle of anyone's singing career as a youth.  Jayden has another year to sing with the choir if he chooses, but whether he sings again or not, the experiences he is gaining in his young life this year are unforgettable.  But, I can still think …. if only….!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.