The Boys Choir Concert schedule for tonight in Old Town Hall has been relocated to Rockafella’s Colonial Hall at 231 Essex Street. This venue is air conditioned and a lovely spot to enjoy a free summer evening concert. The prestigious London Boys Choir from Merchant Taylors’ School will perform in Rockafella’s Colonial Hall tonight Thursday, July 21 at 7:30 p.m. to celebrate the school’s founding 450 years ago. It is a free concert but they will be accepting donations which they will contribute to the Salem Farmers’ Market. Mayor Kimberley Driscoll will introduce the choir and welcome them to Salem.

The Choir of 48 boys (ages 11 – 18) are on a singing tour to celebrate the school’s founding in 1651 The school is one of the oldest in the UK, founded by the Merchant Taylors’ Guild of the 1500’s. It has a long, prestigious, and proud history.  Over the centuries, Merchant Taylor choirs have frequently sung in St Paul’s, London and in many other Cathedrals and halls in the UK and Europe. The choir is lucky have had many excellent conductors over the years. Currently their conductor is Richard Hobson, a former Cathedral chorister, one of UK’s well-known organists and a former Council member of the British Institute of Organ Studies, and adviser on organs to the Diocese of London. He brings great knowledge and discipline to the choir.  Their program will range from Bach to Duke Ellington.

Follow this link to read a recent story on the choir visit in the Salem News.

For more info on Merchant Taylors’ School visit: http://www.mtsn.org.uk/

Their program July 21 ranges from Benjamin Britten’s The Ballad of Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard Thomas to Bach’s  God is our hope and strength (from Cantata 129) to Duke Ellington’s It don’t Mean A Thing.