Saint Thomas Choir School
Encyclopedia
Saint Thomas Choir School is a church-affiliated boarding choir school in Manhattan
, New York
. It was founded in 1919 and is supported by the nearby Saint Thomas Church, an Episcopal church
continuing the Anglican tradition of all-male choral ensembles. Other than Westminster Abbey Choir School
, it is the only Choir School which exclusively educates boy trebles of the choir
and where all boys are required to board at the school
.
The students, boys ranging from ages 8 to 14, reside and study at the Choir School, located in a 14-story building at 202 West 58th Street in midtown Manhattan
, between Broadway
and Seventh Avenue
, one block from Central Park South
. Since 2005, the school has also offered a summer residential Girl Chorister Course.
Students are admitted on a rolling basis
. The school schedules auditions three times a year for boys entering the third, fourth, and fifth grade. Third grade students must live within a proximity to New York that permits them to return home each weekend and return on Sunday evening; this restriction is eliminated for fourth and fifth graders.
Tuition for the 2010–2011 school year is about $13,000, with over 65% of the student's families receiving financial aid.
, an English born organist and composer, who had been appointed as the organist of Saint Thomas Church in 1913. It was formerly located in a four-story building at 123 West 55th Street; the school sold that building to Fisher Brothers, who combined it with other acquisitions and sold it to Harry B. Macklowe
, the developer of the Avenue of the Americas Plaza at 125 West 55th Street
.
In 1985, the Elysee Theater, which had been a television studio for ABC Entertainment
since 1955, was closed and demolished to make way for the school's new building. Prior to its use as a broadcast studio, the Elysee had been a theatre or a cinema since 1926, under various names that included the Golden Theatre, Cort's
58th Street Theatre, the Filmarte, the Fine Arts, and the Concert Theatre. By September 1987, the new Choir School building, designed by archtects Buttrick White & Burtis, opened its doors. The $18 million, 55000 square feet (5,109.7 m²) building was built on a lot about 75 feet (22.9 m) wide, using
red bricks with trim in limestone and gray-brick, and rising six stories "before stepping back in a tower with a gabled roof that houses the chapel." When it first opened, it housed 26 students, with tuition of $4,800 a year, though the majority of students attended on scholarship.
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. It was founded in 1919 and is supported by the nearby Saint Thomas Church, an Episcopal church
Episcopal Diocese of New York
The Episcopal Diocese of New York is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, encompassing the boroughs of Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island in New York City, and the New York state counties of Westchester, Rockland, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Sullivan, and...
continuing the Anglican tradition of all-male choral ensembles. Other than Westminster Abbey Choir School
Westminster Abbey Choir School
Westminster Abbey Choir School is a British boarding preparatory school and the only school in the United Kingdom exclusively for the education of boy choristers. It is located in Dean's Yard, by Westminster Abbey...
, it is the only Choir School which exclusively educates boy trebles of the choir
Choirboy
A choirboy is a boy member of a choir, also known as a treble.As a derisive slang term, it refers to a do-gooder or someone who is morally upright, in the same sense that "Boy Scout" refers to someone who is considered honorable or conscientious.- History :The use of choirboys in Christian...
and where all boys are required to board at the school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
.
The students, boys ranging from ages 8 to 14, reside and study at the Choir School, located in a 14-story building at 202 West 58th Street in midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan, or simply Midtown, is an area of Manhattan, New York City home to world-famous commercial zones such as Rockefeller Center, Broadway, and Times Square...
, between Broadway
Broadway (New York City)
Broadway is a prominent avenue in New York City, United States, which runs through the full length of the borough of Manhattan and continues northward through the Bronx borough before terminating in Westchester County, New York. It is the oldest north–south main thoroughfare in the city, dating to...
and Seventh Avenue
Seventh Avenue (Manhattan)
Seventh Avenue, known as Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard north of Central Park, is a thoroughfare on the West Side of the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It is southbound below Central Park and a two-way street north of the park....
, one block from Central Park South
Central Park South
Central Park South is the portion of 59th Street that forms the southern border of Central Park in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It runs from Columbus Circle at Eighth Avenue on the west to Grand Army Plaza at Fifth Avenue on the east...
. Since 2005, the school has also offered a summer residential Girl Chorister Course.
Student life
Students simultaneously participate in both a rigorous liturgical music program at Saint Thomas Church and a full range of academic subjects including English, science, history, mathematics, Latin, French, music theory, and theology. The school also engages in an athletic program, competing against local private schools in soccer, basketball, and softball.Students are admitted on a rolling basis
Rolling admission
Rolling admission is a policy used by many colleges to admit freshmen to undergraduate programs. Many law schools in the United States also have rolling admissions policies. Under rolling admission, candidates are invited to submit their applications to the university anytime within a large window...
. The school schedules auditions three times a year for boys entering the third, fourth, and fifth grade. Third grade students must live within a proximity to New York that permits them to return home each weekend and return on Sunday evening; this restriction is eliminated for fourth and fifth graders.
Tuition for the 2010–2011 school year is about $13,000, with over 65% of the student's families receiving financial aid.
Staff
The current headmaster is Charles Wallace. The school has had five Organists during its history:-
- Organist and Master of Choristers
- T. Tertius NobleT. Tertius NobleThomas Tertius Noble was an English-born organist and composer, resident in the United States for the latter part of his career...
, 1913-1940 - T. Frederick CandlynT. Frederick CandlynThomas Frederick Handel Candlyn was an English-born organist, composer and choirmaster who spent most of his professional career at two Episcopal Church congregations in New York....
, 1940-1954 - William SelfWilliam Self (organist)William Shuford Self was an American organist and choirmaster.William Self was born April 22, 1906 in Lenoir, North Carolina. He studied at The Peabody Institute and New England Conservatory, where he received the Diploma and Soloist Diploma...
, 1954-1971 - Gerre HancockGerre HancockGerre Edward Hancock is an American organist, improviser, and composer. Hancock is currently Professor of Organ and Sacred Music at the University of Texas, Austin.Dr...
, 1971-2004
- T. Tertius Noble
- Organist and Director of Music
- John ScottJohn Scott (organist)John Gavin Scott LVO is an English-born organist and choirmaster. He directed the Choir of St. Paul's Cathedral in London from 1990 to 2004. He now directs the Choir of Men and Boys of Saint Thomas Church on 53rd Street and Fifth Avenue in New York City...
, 2004-present
- John Scott
- Organist and Master of Choristers
History
The Choir School was founded in 1919 by T. Tertius NobleT. Tertius Noble
Thomas Tertius Noble was an English-born organist and composer, resident in the United States for the latter part of his career...
, an English born organist and composer, who had been appointed as the organist of Saint Thomas Church in 1913. It was formerly located in a four-story building at 123 West 55th Street; the school sold that building to Fisher Brothers, who combined it with other acquisitions and sold it to Harry B. Macklowe
Harry B. Macklowe
Harry B. Macklowe is a New York City real estate developer and investor.His firm, Macklowe Properties owns a number of New York landmarks including 400 Madison Ave., 540 Madison Ave. and Two Grand Central Tower....
, the developer of the Avenue of the Americas Plaza at 125 West 55th Street
125 West 55th Street
125 West 55th Street, also known as Avenue of the Americas Plaza, is a 23-story, office building located on 55th Street between the Avenue of the Americas and Seventh Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City...
.
In 1985, the Elysee Theater, which had been a television studio for ABC Entertainment
ABC Entertainment
ABC Entertainment is a network production company owned by ABC that was created in 1982.The company was previously known as ABC Television Network Productions, ABC Circle Films, and ABC Productions...
since 1955, was closed and demolished to make way for the school's new building. Prior to its use as a broadcast studio, the Elysee had been a theatre or a cinema since 1926, under various names that included the Golden Theatre, Cort's
John Cort (impresario)
John Cort was an American impresario; his Cort Circuit was one of the first national theater circuits. Along with John Considine and Alexander Pantages, Cort was one of the Seattle-based entrepreneurs who parlayed their success in the years following the Klondike Gold Rush into an impact on...
58th Street Theatre, the Filmarte, the Fine Arts, and the Concert Theatre. By September 1987, the new Choir School building, designed by archtects Buttrick White & Burtis, opened its doors. The $18 million, 55000 square feet (5,109.7 m²) building was built on a lot about 75 feet (22.9 m) wide, using
red bricks with trim in limestone and gray-brick, and rising six stories "before stepping back in a tower with a gabled roof that houses the chapel." When it first opened, it housed 26 students, with tuition of $4,800 a year, though the majority of students attended on scholarship.
Notable alumni
- Gunther SchullerGunther SchullerGunther Schuller is an American composer, conductor, horn player, author, historian, and jazz musician.- Biography and works :...
, jazz and classical composer - Chris WyldeChris WyldeChris Wylde is the stage name of an American actor and comedian who was born on August 22, 1976 in Hackettstown, New Jersey as Christopher Scott Noll.-Early life:...
, actor - Steve SandvossSteve SandvossSteve Sandvoss is an American actor.-Career:Sandvoss's break as an actor came when he landed the role of a football star competing against Will Estes in the NBC drama series American Dreams. His other television roles include appearances on Dr...
, actor