Viener Sangerkanaben--Vienna Boys' Choir Organization


Figure 1.--The Vienna Choir Boys are actually organized into four different choirs of about 25 boys each.

The Vienna Choir Boys are a private organization divided into three destinct sections: the choir; the school and a boarding house. The modern choir is housed in the 16th-century Augarten Palace and provides the boys with a solid musical education. There are about 150 boys between the ages of 10 and 12, split up into four choirs. As the boys develop their talents they are assigned to one of four separate choirs. There are actually four choirs with 25 boys in each. The Vienna Choir boys are based in the beautiful Augartenpalais in Vienna. During their concert tours, the boys visit virtually all European countries, Asia, Australia, the United States, and Canada. They reportedly especialy like coming to the United States and Canada (I'm not sure why) and visit there almost every year.

Funding

The Vienna Choir Boys are a private organization. As the imperial Hapsburg choir, it was supported by the Emperor. After the fall of the Hapsburg monarchy, the choir had to support itself. Which it has done through the procedes from its choral tours. We are unsure if state, municipal, or church funding is also received.

Choral Organization

The Vienna Boys Choir is are housed in the Augarten Palace and provides the boys with a solid musical education. The choristers are divided into three destinct sections: the choir, the school, and a boarding house.

The Choir

There are about 150 boys between the ages of 10 and 12, split up into four choirs. As the boys develop their talents they are assigned to one of four separate choirs. There are actually four choirs with 25 boys in each. The actual name of those four choirs bear the name of famed composers: Bruckner, Mozart, Haydn and Schubert. Schubert was a member of Wiener Sängerknaben that he joined at age 11. On top of these groups forming the actual choir there is the Chorus Vivendi with elder boys whose voices have broken. They frequently sing together with the younger boy whenever bariton and bass voices are required.

The school

The actual school at Augarten is not only for boys of the choir, it includes a kindergarten level and a primary level where an initiation to music is given and girls are accepted in these two levels as well.

Boarding house


Augartenpalis

The Vienna Choir boys are based in the beautiful 16th century Augartenpalais in Vienna.

Concert Tours

The Vienna Choir Boys are noted for their globe-scanning tours. I'm am not sure just when the Choir began these tours. I think it was after World War I. We notice a trip to London where they visited with the London Lord Mayor's Players (1935). I think these trips were curtailed after the NAZI Anchluss (1938), but have little information on the Choir during the MAZI era. After the War, we hAve much more information on the Choir's tours. During their concert tours, the boys visit virtually all European countries, Asia, Australia, the United States, and Canada. They reportedly especialy like coming to the United States and Canada (I'm not sure why) and visit there almost every year.





HBC





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Created: December 23, 2001
Last updated: 8:13 PM 4/3/2006