Alumni News

Latest News

Geoffrey Williams '91 with New York Polyphony

Over the course of his career, Geoffrey Williams ‘91 has become an early music specialist and recently released a new CD as a member of New York Polyphony, a male vocal quartet. New York Polyphony’s debut CD, I sing the birth was released internationally and has been highly acclaimed.

"One of the season's best is New York Polyphony's I sing the birth, an anthology of ancient and modern Christmas music all of good quality and sung with expert musicianship and fine vocal resource...." Gramophone Magazine

For more information Mr. Williams and New York Polyphony click here.

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ABS Alumni Association Awards

Anton Armstrong, Distinguished Alumnus Award and James Litton, Honorary Alumnus Award

The American Boychoir School Alumni Association was proud to honor two remarkable members of the ABS community at the Second Alumni Memorial Concert with The Honorary Alumnus Award and The Distinguished Alumnus Award. The awards were bestowed by Bertrand Navarrete ’90, President of the Alumni Association.

The Distinguished Alumnus Award is presented to an alumnus whose life's achievements embody the ideals of The American Boychoir School.  This man is seen as a role model for all alumni and of our current students, and has demonstrated, through his professional and personal accomplishments, what it means to be a dedicated member of The American Boychoir community.

Dr. Anton Armstrong ’71 was presented The Distinguished Alumnus Award by his classmate, Colin Jeschke ’73, Vice President of the Alumni Association. Dr. Armstrong was honored  for his outstanding leadership in the world of choral music. “I was totally surprised by the Distinguished Alumnus Award.” said Armstrong “It is tremendously gratifying to be the first ABS alum to be honored and one I will deeply prize.”

“It is tremendously gratifying to be the first ABS alum to be honored and one I will deeply prize.”

-Anton Armstrong ‘71

The Honorary Alumnus Award is given to a non-alumnus who has distinguished himself or herself by showing extraordinary dedication and service to the institution, reflecting a deep understanding of the value of the ABS experience. The recipient of this award is granted status as an Honorary Alumnus of The American Boychoir School, and becomes an honorary member of The American Boychoir School Alumni Association. 

ABS Resident Training Choir Director, Nathan Wadley ’91 presented The Honorary Alumnus Award to Dr. James Litton. Jim was honored for his 22 years of service and leadership to The American Boychoir School. “It is very meaningful for me to be honored along with Anton because while I was interim conductor of the American Boychoir in 1970, Anton was the Head Boy.” James Litton said. “I will cherish this award as my favorite recognition.”

As a former student of James Litton, Nathan said, “Presenting Dr. Litton with the first Honorary Alumnus Award was a true privilege.  I was able to recognize Jim, not only for his accomplishments, but for the great positive impact he has had on so many young men.  I may have given the presentation, but my words were echoed in the hearts and minds of all ABS alumni who sang under his direction.”

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Nominated for Pulitzer Prize in Music

Bowling Green, OH, February 5 - Wallace DePue (ABS '47), a well-known composer, and Professor Emeritus of composition at Bowling Green State University, has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in Music for his commissioned work, The Bird, Frog and Tree Club.

The work for which the nomination was made is a 35 minute composition for symphony orchestra and chorale, entitled The Bird, Frog and Tree Club, commissioned by, and composed for, the Hamilton/Fairfield Symphony Orchestra, Paul Stanberry, Conductor.

The Bird, Frog and Tree Club’s inaugural performance was on March 5, 2006, at the fifth American Masters Concert in Hamilton, Ohio. Previous honorees included H. Owen Reed, La Fiesta Mexicana, (2001), Robert Ward, The Crucible, a famous opera, (2002), Thomas Benjamin, The Alien Corn, a new opera, (2003), and James Niblock, Ruth, a new opera, in 2004. No concert took place in 2005.

In 2006, Wallace De Pue was honored as an American master for several compositions. Dr. De Pue’s son, Zachary, a member of the first violin section of the Philadelphia Orchestra, performed A Call From Home, for solo violin, and Serenade, for violin and piano. The Winton Woods High School Choir (Cincinnati), directed by David Bell, performed De Pue’s arrangement of Gimme That Old Time Religion, featuring tenor, John Lawson. The Bird, Frog and Tree Club, featuring Alison Acord, soprano (Miami University, faculty) was performed by the Hamilton/Fairfield Symphony Orchestra, Paul Stanberry, Conductor.

Composer Wallace De Pue also wrote the poetry for The Bird, Frog and Tree Club. This poem has been illustrated for internet access at aaus.net, along with a history of the composition. Click here for the illustrated poem.

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Stay Connected

Have a performance coming up?

Tell your brothers about it. We want to add your performances to our Alumni Calendar page on our website. Email us the name of the group or title of the performance, date, location, city and state and we will put it up on the web.

Click here to see what your fellow alumni are doing.

Are you interested in setting up a reciprocal link with our website?    

Please email us. We will email you our reciprocal link form and check out your website to make sure that it is family friendly. It is one more way to let your fellow alumni know what is going on in your world.

If either, send the information to development@americanboychoir.org

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