Keystone State Boychoir

For Immediate Release
Media Contact:  Leanne Clancy at Lclancy@greenestreetfriends.org or 484-410-9664

Bobby Hill,  one of Ebony Magazine’s 2015 Power 100, to perform at Dec 2nd LA Gala

(Philadelphia, PA: November 29, 2015) Keystone State Boychoir’s Bobby Hill, who impressed Pope Francis and the world with his last minute, stunning a cappella solo in Philadelphia this past September, has been named one of Ebony Magazine’s Power 100. Bobby is being honored alongside artists including Prince, John Legend, Janet Jackson and Viola Davis as one of 2015’s “Heroes of the Black Community.” Recognized under “The Future of Everything” category in the magazine’s December edition, Bobby is sharing the limelight with – among other young African American superstars – Jaden and Willow Smith.

“I’ve had some awesome opportunities in the last few months,” says Bobby. “But this one might be the best of all – especially if I get to meet John Legend!”

Bobby and his fellow inspirational figures in the fields of technology, entertainment, and politics will be recognized at Ebony’s 70th Anniversary Gala on December 2nd. The red carpet affair will be held at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1945, Ebony is the number one monthly magazine and source for an authoritative perspective on African-American culture and social issues. Bobby is sure to be a standout at the event, as he has been asked to perform on the evening’s program.

“As African Americans, this is a profound honor – not only for our son, but for our entire family,” says proud mom Karla Hill.

From the moment Bobby walked off the stage after his now legendary papal performance, accolades began pouring in from every continent – even Antarctica, where the Keystone State Boychoir , of which Bobby has been a member for 7 years, made history in 2009 as the first choir to perform on “the 7th continent.” Sometimes as a soloist, and sometimes as the “second boy in from the right, third row,” Bobby has been on a performance whirlwind, singing everywhere from local prisons to five star hotels in Jakarta, Indonesia. Andrew Lloyd Webber himself called Bobby’s rendition of his Pie Jesu for the pope “absolutely stunning.” Webber, one of the most successful musical theatre writers of our time (Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats, Evita, Phantom of the Opera, School of Rock) has offered to accompany Bobby on the piece at a soon-to-be-announced event scheduled for early 2016. Among other upcoming appearances, Bobby will make his solo debut with The Philadelphia Orchestra at its annual Academy Ball Gala on January 23rd, 2016.

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REQUEST TO COVER TODAY 11/29/2015:

Bobby Hill’s appearance at St. Francis the Oratory with the Keystone State Boychoir.  3pm concert: 2319 Green St., Philadelphia, PA 19130

REQUEST TO COVER TOMORROW 11/30/2015:

Bobby Hill’s appearance at Lankaneau Hospital Tree Lighting, 6pm program: 100 Lancaster Ave, Wynnewood, PA 19096

MEDIA RESOURCES:

(Media can visit our Media Resource page for background information, high resolution photos, and more)

PUBLICATION QUALITY PHOTOS:

Bobby Hill (center) singing with Keystone State Boychoir.
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Bobby Hill (front center) singing with Keystone State Boychoir.
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14 year-old singing sensation Bobby Hill will rush from airport on Sunday, direct from international solo debut in Indonesia, to Bucks County concert to sing Bernstein solo

Bobby Hill singing with Keystone State Boychoir

Bobby Hill, veteran member of Keystone State Boychoir (KSB) who impressed Pope Francis and the world with his unscheduled, a cappella rendition of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Pie Jesu at the Festival of Families, will land at Philadelphia International Airport on Sunday morning (10:45am, Delta Flight #4002, Terminal D) and will make a mad dash to sing the famous boy solo in the second movement of Leonard Bernstein’s beloved Chichester Psalms. The piece is one of several songs featuring KSB on a program being presented by Bucks County Choral Society under the direction of Dr. Thomas Lloyd.  The concert will take place Sunday, Oct. 25 at 4:00 pm at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 5175 Cold Spring Creamery Rd, Doylestown, PA 18902.

This past Monday, October 19, Bobby flew with his father Jerry and KSB music director Steve Fisher to Jakarta, Indonesia after a five star hotel there offered to bring him over to sing at the wedding anniversary of a prominent Indonesian businessman and his wife. “I never thought in a million years I would be “the wedding singer” halfway around the world,” says Bobby. “But then again, I never thought I’d perform for the Pope either. The singing was fun, but the best part was definitely the hotel. I had my own room, and I didn’t even have to pay for room service.” “I know I’m biased, but my boy knocked it out of the park,” says Jerry. “When he sang the Ave Maria, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house, including mine.”

It has been a whirlwind for Bobby since he was thrust – literally – onto the international stage. “There was an unexpected transition and the Festival of Families producers didn’t want the Holy Father sitting there looking at a set change,” says Fisher. “I’m so glad they asked if I had any ideas. We’ve known for some time at KSB that Bobby’s voice was special and deserved to be heard by a larger audience. We never imagined just how large it would become – and it continues to grow. With not only his talent, but his cool under pressure, as well as his poise in meeting the pontiff, it’s no wonder Bobby captivated millions of hearts around the globe. Everywhere he goes, whether here in Philly, or New York, or Jakarta, people stop to ask for a selfie.”

Accolades and offers for Bobby, as well as KSB, to sing have poured in from every continent – even Antarctica, where the Keystone State Boychoir made history in 2009 as the first choir to perform there.  Andrew Lloyd Webber himself has called Bobby’s performance for the Pope “absolutely stunning.” Webber, one of the most successful musical theatre writers of our time (Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats, Evita, Phantom of the Opera, School of Rock) has offered to accompany Bobby and KSB on the piece at a soon-to-be-announced NYC event.

Just two weeks before the Pope’s arrival in Philadelphia, KSB and sister choir Pennsylvania Girlchoir were asked to perform at the Festival of Families concert given in his honor. What no one could have predicted was that Bobby would get a once in a lifetime chance to sing a solo for perhaps the most well known, beloved person alive while millions watched around the globe. The event’s emcee, Mark Wahlberg, reacted to the solo by giving Bobby a bro hug, declaring “that is the voice of an angel.” The Hollywood star then went on to share what Bobby had whispered in his ear – “I loved you in Ted.”  This prompted a public mea culpa from Wahlberg directly to the Holy Father for making a movie “not appropriate for a boy that age.”

“Bobby’s been offered countless engagements over the last two weeks – from New York to LA, from scientific bases in Antarctica to luxury hotels in Indonesia,” adds Fisher. “Yet, he’s exactly the same today as he was before he walked out on that stage. He’s certainly enjoying the ride. Who wouldn’t? But he’s got a heart of gold and has really been quite awed and humbled by the experience. We’re all proud to know him. Now we just have to hope that 48 hours of flying in six days, a whole lot of jet lag, and quite a bit of room service won’t affect his singing. But we know from recent experience that Bobby can come through in a pinch.”

Tickets to the Sunday, October 25th concert are available on the Bucks County Choral Society’s website (buckschoral.org) or can be purchased at the door.

(Media can visit our Media Resource page for background information, high resolution photos, and more.)

Publication quality photos of Bobby Hill singing with Keystone State Boychoir:

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Bobby Hill singing with Keystone State Boychoir

Bobby Hill,  who stunned the world with his soprano voice at the Festival of Families in the presence of Pope Francis, will perform at two sites visited by the pontiff during his visit last month. Bobby will be joined by fellow members of the Keystone State Boychoir (KSB) and its sister choir, the Pennsylvania Girlchoir (PG).

On Saturday, October 10, 2015 at 7:00pm, Bobby and his fellow choristers will sing for inmates at the Riverside Correctional Facility, 8151 State Road, Philadelphia 19136. “When I saw the pope on TV visiting that prison, I thought it would be cool for my choir to sing for inmates since they need cheering up,” explains 14-year-old Hill.  “But I didn’t think it could ever happen. But then I never thought I would sing for the pope.  He was so nice and even gave me rosaries. So this is a way to thank him, by giving back.”

On Sunday, October 11, 2015 at 2:30pm at the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter & Paul, Bobby and the choirs will sing at the Children’s Sabbath, an annual ecumenical service focused on the needs of children in our city.  At 2:00pm, Bobby will have the opportunity to meet another celebrity, Sister Mary Scullion of Project HOME, at her now-famed grotto outside the Cathedral. Scullion will be the main speaker at the Children’s Sabbath, which is open to the public.  “I’m so pleased these talented young people have agreed to join me at this event,” says Sister. I was there to hear Bobby sing live that night, and along with the Holy Father and millions of others, was so moved by his singing.   His desire to fill the lives of the less fortunate with the joy of music is even more inspiring.

Bobby Hill singing with Keystone State Boychoir

Two weeks before the pope’s arrival, the Boychoir and Girlchoir were asked to perform at the Parkway concert given in his honor.  What no one knew, including the young singer himself until just five minutes before he walked on stage, was that Bobby would get a once in a lifetime chance to sing a solo for perhaps the most well known, beloved person alive. “There was an unexpected transition and the producers didn’t want the pope to be sitting there looking at a set change,” says Bobby’s choir director Steve Fisher.  “I’m so glad they asked. Bobby’s voice deserves to be heard.” With his talent, as well as his poise in meeting the Holy Father, Bobby has captivated millions of hearts around the globe.

After Bobby sang at the Festival of Families concert on September 26th, emcee Mark Wahlberg hugged Bobby, and then declared, “that is the voice of an angel.” The Hollywood star then went onto to share what  Bobby had whispered in his ear – “I loved you in Ted.”  This prompted a public mea culpa from Wahlberg directly to the Holy Father for making a movie “not appropriate for a boy that age.”

It has been a whirlwind for Bobby and his family since he was thrust – literally – onto the international stage. Accolades and offers have to sing have come in from every continent, including Antarctica, where the Keystone State Boychoir made history in 2009 as the first choir to perform there.  Andrew Lloyd Webber himself has called Bobby’s a cappella rendition of the famed composer’s Pie Jesu “absolutely stunning.”  Webber, one of the most successful musical theatre writers of our time (Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats, Evita, Phantom of the Opera, School of Rock) has offered to accompany Bobby on the piece at a soon-to-be-announced NYC event.

“I’m so proud of Bobby,” says Fisher.  “He’s been offered countless engagements over the last two weeks, and yet the event that has him the most excited is the prison concert. But that’s Bobby. He’s exactly the same today as he was before he walked out on that stage and inspired everyone. He’s a ham for sure.  You’d have to be to do what he did. But he’s got a heart of gold. We’re all proud to know him.”

For media inquiries, please contact Leanne Clancy at lclancy@greenestreetfriends.org.

click the images above to view and download a publication quality version

For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Leanne Clancy at Lclancy@greenestreetfriends.org or 484-410-9664

PALESTINIAN AND ISRAELI YOUTH CHORUS TO APPEAR AT KIMMEL JUNE 28

(Philadelphia, June 15, 2015) “Transcending conflict through song.” That’s the motto of the Jerusalem Youth Chorus (JYC), an ensemble of Palestinian and Israeli high school students from East and West Jerusalem who not only sing together, but regularly discuss the challenging issues facing their divided region in the hope of being forces for peace. On June 28-29, JYC will be hosted by Pennsylvania Girlchoir (PG) and Keystone State Boychoir (KSB) when it comes to Philadelphia on the final leg of its US Tour.

The visit will include a “dialogue workshop” whereby members of PG and KSB will learn from the members of JYC how to discuss difficult topics in a open, honest, and respectful manner. Rather than focusing on the issues of the Middle East, the workshop will focus on race issues in America. The hope is that the young people of PG and KSB can use the communication skills they develop to be agents of change and peace in their own communities.

The visit includes a joint performance with all three choirs at 7:00pm in the Perelman Theater at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday, June 28. The concert will also feature special guests the Al-Bustan Takht Ensemble. Tickets are on sale through the Kimmel Center Box Office at kimmelcenter.org. Premium seats can be obtained through “Peace in the Middle East” Sponsorships at cychoirs.org.

The Pennsylvania Girlchoir and Keystone State Boychoir organization serves over 650 young people between the ages of 4 and 18 throughout Philadelphia and the surrounding communities. Its singers are no strangers to the legacy of peace. KSB toured India with Gandhi’s grandson as well performed in Oslo at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony for Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi. Here at home, PG sang for Malala Yousafzai, Liberty Medal winner and the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner in history. The choirs have travelled the globe, as far north as Svalbard, Norway, the northernmost settlement in the world with a permanent civilian population, and as far south as Antarctica. They are the only choral organization in history to have sung on all seven continents.

(Media can visit our Media Resource page http://cychoirs.org/jyc-media for background information, high resolution photos, and more. Please contact Leanne Clancy at Lclancy@greenestreetfriends.org or 484-410-9664 for more information and details on media availabilities during the JYC visit.)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Mariangela Saavedra, msaavedra@cychoirs.org, 215.849.1762

WORLD PREMIERE OF NEW AMERICAN MUSICAL ON 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF CIVIL WAR’S END TO BENEFIT LOCAL YOUTH ARTS PROGRAMS

(Philadelphia – March 13, 2015) 150 years ago, on April 9, 1865, Generals Grant and Lee met at the Appomattox Court House to end the Civil War. On April 9, 2015, Mother B!, a “new old-fashioned American musical,” written in honor of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, will premiere at the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center (UDPAC) in concert version. The event will star Walnut Street Theatre favorite Denise Whelan, include a cast of 16 Philadelphia actors, and feature 200 singers from the Pennsylvania Girlchoir and the Keystone State Boychoir.

Appomattox – April 9, 1865

Written by Philadelphia native Steven Fisher, Mother B! celebrates the remarkable story of Mary Ann Bickerdyke, aka “Mother B.” Remembered as “the Florence Nightingale of the Civil War,” Mother B’s indefatigable service earned her the profound respect of President Lincoln and General Grant, and the gratitude of the entire Union army. She witnessed over 19 battles and set up over 300 field hospitals with innovative approaches to hygiene and soldier care that helped bring medicine out of the dark ages. In doing so, she saved the lives of thousands of soldiers.

Mary Ann Bickerdyke (Mother B)

The musical revolves around Mother B’s friendship with “Little Albert,” a character inspired by the real-life Private Albert Cashier. Cashier was a tremendously brave, hard-fighting soldier who also had a secret: “he” was actually a “she.”  Born Jennie Hodgers, Private Cashier is the only documented female known to have fought the entire Civil War without being found out by authorities during the conflict. In the musical, Mother B discovers Little Albert and helps keep his secret safe. After the war, Albert’s secret is revealed. When the Illinois Soldier’s Home tries to deny him his rights as a veteran, Mother B takes up his cause.

Featuring a rousing, toe-tapping score in the style of the Golden Age musicals of the 1940s and a story that will make you smile, cry and cheer, Mother B! will transport the audience to an epic time that still fascinates, captivates and haunts us to this day. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Pennsylvania Girlchoir and the Keystone State Boychoir, as well as the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center.

Terry and Amy Nolen are honorary co-chairs of the event. They, along with Fisher (and actor/writer Tina Fey) are alumni of the award-winning youth theatre program Summer Stage, which is in residence at UDPAC. The Nolens went on to found one of the country’s most successful regional theatres, the Arden Theatre. Fisher went on to co-found Commonwealth Youthchoirs*. The organization serves over 600 young singers in four different programs, including the Boychoir and Girlchoir.

Fisher’s other musical works include Mandela, which has been developed in New York and in Johannesburg, and will receive a workshop later in 2015 starring Tony-nominee Norm Lewis. His family musical Isabelle and the Pretty-Ugly Spell received a rave review from the New York Times during its New York run and has enjoyed productions around the country.

For Mother B! tickets visit CYChoirs.org/UDPACtickets or call 610-622-1189.

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publication quality images of the Mother B! logo, Denise Whelan, a Civil War era photo of Mother B (source: National Park Service), and a photo of the choirs in concert can be downloaded in a single zip file: http://cychoirs.org/images/MotherBGraphics.zip

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*Commonwealth Youthchoirs (CY) nurtures in young people a profound love of singing with four different programs: Pennsylvania Girlchoir, Keystone State Boychoir, Good Mornin’ Music! and Find Your Instrument! Drawing from more than 125 schools, over 600 children from Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties and beyond are involved in CY programs. For more information, visit www.cychoirs.org.

“Here she comes…” Miss America Nina Davuluri was host for the Commonwealth Youthchoirs (CY) Gala on June 16, 2014 at Verizon Hall of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 300 S. Broad St., Philadelphia.  The grand event honor the 90th birthday of Grammy and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Ned Rorem. In addition, the Pennsylvania Girlchoir celebrates their 10th anniversary. Prominent Philadelphia lawyer Ajay Raju and and his wife Pamela were Honorary Co-Chairs.

There was a very special surprise in store for Miss America when she was be treated to a “Bollywood” style performance to honor her heritage and recreate a portion of her personal talent performance from the pageant (singers from Keystone State Boychoir toured India in January with Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi). Additional select repetoire from the India tour also were part of the performance.

Highlights of the Gala also included the honor for Rorem, a Pulitzer Prize winning American composer, who was celebrating his 90th birthday. While the composer was ill and not able to be physically at Verizon Hall, he was represented by his sister, who received the recognition in Rorem’s absence. In addition, Pennsylvania Girlchoir celebrated their 10th anniversary.

The concert featured more than 500 singers from all four of CY’s musical programs. In addition to Keystone State Boychoir and Pennsylvania Girlchoir – two distinguished ensembles with worldwide reputations, Find Your Instrument!, a music program at several Philadelphia public schools that otherwise would have no vocal music training and Good Mornin’ Music!, an early music education experience for children PreK through Grade 2, were also represented on stage.

CY was founded in 2001 by Joseph Fitzmartin and Steven Fisher as a non-profit organization to bring music to kids, ages 8-18, from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds. The singers represent all five Pennsylvania counties in the greater Philadelphia region, as well as New Jersey and Delaware. They are ambassadors for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania at home and abroad.

KSB and PG perform Jai Ho – with the Jai Ho dancers – while Miss America watches (left)

The choirs combine to perform at the 2014 Gala

Pennsylvania Girlchoir joined by PG alumni celebrate the choir’s 10th Anniversary singing their signature “Total Praise”

Ten new members of the Keystone State Boychoir (KSB) received their hard-earned green jackets on Mother’s Day, May 11, at their Spring Concert .

Nine of the new KSB jacket recipients after the Mother’s Day Concert

The boys worked hard over the last sixteen weeks to earn the coveted green jackets and were proud to don them for the first time during the concert with selections that both electrified and moved the audience.

The choir will tour in Australia this August, and recently returned from India. KSB is the only choir in the world to have toured all seven continents.  KSB brings together 180 boys, ages 8-18, under the direction of Joseph P. Fitzmartin and Steven M. Fisher. KSB has spread the gift of music far and wide. In 2009, KSB made history as the first choir to perform in Antarctica. In doing so, KSB became the first and only choir in the world to have toured all seven continents.Internationally, KSB has performed in the world’s major concert halls, including the Manaus Opera House in Brazil, the Petronas Philharmonik Hall in Malaysia, and the Hanoi Opera House in Vietnam, as well as in venues throughout Canada, Brazil, Chile, South Africa, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Australia, Monaco, France, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria and Norway. Major choral works that KSB has performed include Orff’s Carmina Burana, Handel’s Messiah, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Britten’s St. Nicolas, and the Fauré Requiem. The Philadelphia Inquirer review declared KSB’s performance in the Bach St. Matthew Passion “excellent.” KSB made its Broadway debut in New York at The Shubert Theater in 2012. Also in 2012, KSB traveled to Norway and performed in a ceremony in Oslo for Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi. In 2013, KSB embarked on a concert tour of India accompanied by Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. KSB has performed with Tony Award winners Norm Lewis and Brian Stokes Mitchell as well as with Carly Simon, the Philadelphia Orchestra and Opera Philadelphia. Today, KSB is counted among the finest, most successful community-based boychoir programs in the world.

In hopes of bringing healing and solace to the Newtown, Connecticut community, the Keystone State Boychoir (KSB) performed in concert at the Trinity Episcopal Church on June 23, 2013. Six months after the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School, where 26 adults and children were shot down, KSB sang to honor the victims and help bring healing to the community. KSB joined the Connecticut Choral Society, the New Jersey Choral Society and the Choir of Historic St. Malachy’s Church in New York City. Some of the families who lost loved ones were in attendance.

KSB was invited to sing by conductor Eric Dale Knapp after the choir’ recent performance of John Rutter’s Mass of the Children at Carnegie Hall. The choir departed from Philadelphia on Friday, June 21, to begin their tour in New York City. The Newtown performance is part of KSB’s summer tour that also includes a major performance at the historic Actors’ Chapel at St. Malachy’s Church in Times Square in New York City to perform Benjamin Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb there for choir and organ. The famous St. Malachy’s Church recently had a new pipe organ installed, and KSB’s performance is part of its inaugural season.

KSB’s concert in Newtown included selections of remembrance, peace and hope in addition to the Mass of the Children, including Kurt Bestor’s haunting Prayer of the Children. The shootings shattered the town and pierced the hearts of people throughout the world. The free concert was to help bring solace to the community there. Last summer, KSB traveled to Norway and performed for families who lost children in the 2011 summer camp mass shooting there.  As part of the Norway tour, KSB also performed in a ceremony in Oslo for Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi.

KSB has spread the gift of music far and wide and is the only choir in the world to have toured all seven continents. In 2009, KSB made history as the first choir to perform in Antarctica. Internationally, KSB has performed in the world’s major concert halls, including the Manaus Opera House in Brazil, the Petronas Philharmonik Hall in Malaysia, and the Hanoi Opera House in Vietnam, as well as in venues throughout Canada, Brazil, Chile, South Africa, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Australia, Monaco, France, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria and Norway.

For information about the Newtown concert go to http://www.ctchoralsociety.org.

Watch this video from Newtown, edited by Jeff Soffer: