Boys Choir of Detroit
Reported by Erik Smith
Web produced by Rachel L. Miller

The Boys Choir of Detroit and the Girls Choir of Detroit perform. [Video]

Although they began the journey to the concert stage only few months ago, the Boys Choir of Detroit and the Girls Choir of Detroit are borrowing from a well-established and successful example.

What the Boys Choir of Harlem has achieved on the international stage, these young people hope to duplicate some day. It is a lofty goal, but it is the dream of Reverend John Boyd.

"This is the beginning of a new revolution, and it is a revolution that promotes the value of young people in the city of Detroit," Boyd says.

Auditions for the choirs were held last summer. Ever since it has been a weekly routine of after-school study, rehearsals, mentoring and nurturing six days a week. It's a demanding commitment of time and resources for both the young singers and their parents alike.

The children rehearse.

"The reason why we have such a rigorous rehearsal schedule is because we are training the children that anything that you are going to do well in life, you have to do a little bit of it each day," Boyd says.

"I guess you have to look at it like I really want this. I'm going to put my all into but I couldn't join the basketball team," a choir member says. "I already devoted myself to this choir."

The children range in age from about 8 to 12 with some exceptions, of course. Most are from the city, where Reverend Boyd believes the challenge to develop well-rounded citizens is really most critical.

"When we look at a child, we assess them as to where they are, and we say within ourselves and organizationally, where we can take them," Boyd says.

As the young people have already discovered, the choir is not just about singing. It's about discipline, it's about respect and improving skills, and manners and etiquette and self-esteem and working well with others. In fact, it's an academy of living arts without its own building.

The children hope to one day emulate the Harlem Boys Choir.

The choir is one of very few officially designated replication projects of the Harlem Boys Choir. In Detroit, they're taking the first baby steps on the long road already traveled by their New York predecessors.

"The choirs can be a very important part of the evidence of the case that we're building," Boyd says. "Don't give up on the city of Detroit. Don't give up on the citizens. Don't give up on the young people."

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