THE MISSISSIPPI BOYCHOIR
The Mississippi Boychoir founded in 1995 by Margaret Ewing Thomas, has been directed since 2010 by Lelon Thompson. Caryn Womack serves as Assistant Director, responsible for the Training Choir. The Mississippi Boychoir was the State's first – and remains the only – incorporated independent boychoir with IRS non-profit status. The choir is funded in part by Mississippi Arts Commission, National Endowment for the Arts, corporations, foundations and individuals.
The 34 member choir is made up of talented young men from age 6 to 18. After audition, they are accepted regardless of regardless of economic status, ethnicity or previous vocal training and who have passed an audition.
Members of the choir pay $800 annually to cover tuition and cost of supplies. Scholarships are available to needy boys. The actual expense of the Mississippi Boychoir per boy is approximately $2500.
The boys attend weekly rehearsals in Jackson and Hattiesburg and an intensive music camp twice each year. They are offered superior music educational training and are provided training in leadership, responsibility, teamwork, self-discipline and social skills.
Since 1995, more than 200,000 have heard the choir at home and across the nation and abroad.
OUR VISION
To make a positive long-term difference in the lives of its members by developing their musical talents as well as providing training in leadership, responsibility, teamwork, self-discipline, and social skills.
A FEW OF OUR SUCCESS STORIES IN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT:
Elementary School Principal, "It is a treat for our students to be able to hear music that is so beautifully presented by boys of their own age...This type of concert broadens their appreciation of classical and other forms of music and makes the music more accessible because young people are the performers."
Charter member Mark Murphy, "I thank God daily for the growing opportunity I had with the Boychoir and for the knowledge as well as values [it] instilled in me.
Aaron Conerly and Dylan Snyder. They both left Mississippi Boychoir for New York. Aaron played the young Simba in Disney's Broadway production of The Lion King. Dylan played the young Tarzan In Disney's Broadway production of Tarzan, was Timmy Maplewood in the move, Life During Wartime, and played characters in all three of The Orphans' Home Cycle plays.
Mississippi Boychoir alumni demonstrate the truth of its vision. Their shared refrain is, "This experience changed my life."
Academics - A wealth of research has proven the outcome of studying music--higher academic grades and college scholarships. More immediately, the pay-off is translated into fun for our boys and young men who need an outlet for their talents, who need friends with similar talents and whose talents need to be recognized by their communities.
Diversity - The choir's composition mirrors the area . In the last few years the choir has included Caucasians, African Americans, Hispanic and Chinese.
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