Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus

Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus

In 1939, Eduardo Caso, "the tenor of the American airwaves," came to Tucson to rest and recuperate from the tuberculosis, which had interrupted his career. An Englishman, singer and teacher, he carried to the West the dream of a boys choir rooted in the European tradition, but uniquely American in sound and repertoire. As Arizona's January sunshine restored his health, Caso gave back to Arizona, founding the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus. In 1945, TABC was incorporated as a nonprofit educational organization. As the fame of the Tucson Boys Chorus spread, activities expanded to include national radio broadcasts, concert tours of Arizona and the Southwest, and early television appearances.

After performing at the Chicago World's Fair in 1950, the boys were hailed by one reporter as "the finest walking advertisement a city ever had," and subsequent tours won hosts of admirers from coast to coast. Tucson's "Ambassadors in Levis" were gaining momentum. Singing ³Cowboys² enthrall European audiences In the summer of 1955, Caso and 30 of his young "cowboys" swept through Europe winning ovations with every appearance. Their horizons expanded to Australia in 1960 with similar results. In 1963, the American ambassadors brought their music to all of America, singing at the White House tree-lighting ceremony. The boys suffered the loss of their mentor in 1965 when Caso passed away suddenly, almost on the eve of a live appearance on NBC's Bell Telephone Hour. Like true professionals, the boys decided, "the show must go on." Led by University of Arizona doctoral student Jeffrey Haskell, they performed to rave reviews. Refusing to lose its spark with the loss of Caso, TABC flourished during the next 10 years under Haskell. After a decade as Director, Haskell resigned to pursue other interests.

In 1980, Dr. Julian Ackerley was named Director, bringing to the organization extensive teaching experience at all levels, including three degrees in music with emphasis on music education, choral direction and voice performance. Under Dr. Ackerley's leadership, TABC experienced a boom in membership and activities. During the 1989-90 season, TABC's historic 50th Anniversary was celebrated with an Alumni Reunion attended by more than 700 guests. That same year, the Chorus toured the Soviet Union, Germany, Austria and Poland. Notable activities continued through the 1990s. In 1991, the Chorus returned to sing at the White House, performing for President & Mrs. Bush on NBC's "Today Show". In April 1993, TABC embarked on a sojourn "down under" performing in Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii. European Tour includes a performance at the Vatican In the early 1990s, the Chorus released a recording titled, "Holiday Treasures". In 1996, the group was featured at the NFL Experience as part of Super Bowl XXX. They also traveled to Spain, France and Italy on European Tour '96, including a performance in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. In 1996, TABC was acknowledged for its long-term excellence by receiving Arizona's highest arts honor, The Governor's Arts Award for Arts in Education. In late November 1996, the Chorus traveled to New York to participate in the 70th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus celebrated its 60th anniversary during the 1999-2000 season. The year was marked by community-wide media coverage, including a television documentary and city, state and national proclamations. In a historic tour, 2001: Orient Odyssey, the Touring Chorus ventured to Thailand, Vietnam, China, South Korea and Taiwan. That same year, the Chorus was named and performed as National Anchor Choir for the prestigious international singing festival, AmericaFest, held at St. John's University in Minnesota. The strong traditions of the past and exciting opportunities of our modern society have paved the way for the Tucson Boys Chorus' continued success as a world-renowned professional touring group and an organization benefiting Tucson youth.

Discography

Inspiration

Send Me a Child (Music: Linda Chapman, Bonnie Heidenrich / Words: Bonnie Heidenrich)
Joyfully Sing (Linda Steen Spevacek)
The Wind Beneath My Wings (Larry Henley, Jeff Silbar, arr. Jeffrey Haskell)
Hero (Walter Afanasieff, Mariah Carey, arr. Carl Strommen)
Come Let's Be Merry (Music: James Mulholland, Words: anon, 17th C England)
Love in Any Language (Jon Mohr and John Mays)
The reattest Love of All (Music: Michael Maser, Words: Linda Creed, arr.Teena Chinn)
Over the Rainbow (Music: Harold Arlen, Words: E.Y. Harburg)
When You Wish Upon A Star (Music: Leigh Harline, Words: Ned Washington, arr. Jeffrey Haskell)
Let There Be Praise (Dick and Melodie Tunney, arr. Ed Lojeski)
We Are the Young (Mary Donnelly, arr. George L. O. Strid)
My Heart Will Go On (James Horner and Will Jennings (arr. Lisa Lemay)
That's When the Music Takes Me (Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield)

This recording is a collection of contemporary songs of enlightenment. A mixture of classical compositions and popular songs which matches the pure sound of young male voices with some of America's most inspiring songs, including "The Wind Beneath My Wings" arranged by Jeffrey Haskell, "Come Let's Be Merry" by James Mulholland, "Over the Rainbow" and "Let There Be Praise" arranged by Ed Lojeski. These songs come with a message of hope and enlightenment.

7277 CD $15.98

Heaven Hath A Song

Gloria - A Choral Fanfare (Julian Ackerly)
O. Praise God in His Holiness (Cecil Armstrong Gibbs)
Panis angelicus (Cesar Franck)
Erhore mich, wenn ich rufe (Heinrich Schutz)
O Domine esu Christe (Francisco Guerrero)
Cantata: Liebster, meie Seele saget (Dietrich Buxtehude)
O Domine Jesu Christe (Claudio Monteverdi)
An die Musik (Franz Schubert)
All People Clap Your Hands (Thomas Weelkes)
Exsultate justi in Domino (Brant Adams)
Laudate Pueri Dominum (Felix Mendelssoh)
Dixit Dominus (II mvt.) (Baldassare Galuppi)
Jesu, the Very Thought of Thee (Richard Proulx)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, BWV 147 (Johann Sebastian Bach)

On this recording the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus sings sacred music from the Renaissance through the twentieth century. This CD includes many great pieces such as, "Panis Angelicus" by Cesar Frank, "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring" by J.S. Bach and "Erhore mich, wenn ich rufe" by Heinrich Schutz. Led by Julian Ackerley, the choir is accompanied by Douglas Bush on organ, Lisa Lemay on piano and the Southwest String Quartet. This recording features some truly heavenly songs.

7278CD $15.98

Holiday Tresures

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Eddie Pola, George Wyle)
Candlelight Carol (John RUtter)
God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen (Trad)
Shehechanyu (Trad Hebrew Prayer)
Hanukkah Song (Yiddish Folksong)
Christ Is Born Today (Krby Shaw)
Agnus Dei (from MIssa Brevis in C minor) (Imant Raminsh)
Do You Hear What I Hear (Noel Regney, Gloria Shayne)
Fum, Fum, Fum (Trad Spanish Carol)
The Christmas Song (Mel Torme, Robert Wells)
White Christmas (Irving Berlin)
There Is No Christmas Like A Home Christmas (Mickey J. Addy, Carl Sigman)
Home for the Holidays (Al Stillman)
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Hugh Martin, Ralph Blaine)
Jingle Bells (J. Pierpont)
We Wish You A Merry Christmas (Trad English Carol)

This recording features the sounds of the holiday season as expressed through the beautiful voices of the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus. It includes some of America's most loved holiday songs. This highly acclaimed choir sings "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" by Eddie Pola and George Wyle, John Rutter's "Candlelight Carol," "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and many more. You will enjoy listening to these holiday treasures.

7279 CD $15.98

Choral - Home | Mens Choral | Womens Choral | Mixed Choirs | Early Music
Childrens Choir | Boys Choirs | Girls Choirs | Choral arrangements | Choral Christmas | Director's resources
African | English | Canadian | Bulgarian | Estonian | Hungarian | Scandinavian | Russian | Latin American
Spirituals | Madrigals | Budget Choral titles | DVDs | Complete choral list

RSS Feed - Choral New Releases

For More of The Primarily A Cappella On-Line Catalog

Site Map | A Cappella News | RSS news feeds

To find a specific song on any recording (or to find recordings by group name or CD title),
pick the search method and type the item you are searching for here: