Keystone State Boychoir

After a long lay over in Santiago, we had a short flight to Antofagasta, a port city in Northern Chile and the starting point for our ventures into the Atacama Desert.  In Chile, Antofagasta is known as, “La Perla del Norte” or the The Pearl of the North, for its historical and economic importance.

We were met warmly by our homestay families at the “Antofagasta International School,” a beautiful, brightly-decorated campus, seemingly situated on the very edge of the desert. The choir sang briefly for their homestay families before they went home for the evening. The slide show at the bottom of the blog shows the boys with their homestay families, and a link to a full screen version of the slide show can be found below the embedded slideshow.

Antofagasta Homestays at , Antofagasta, Chile on December 17, 2015. (Photo by E Bryan Crenshaw III).

Click here for a full screen slide show of the Antofagasta Homestay Reception.

Boy, what a haul! After an overnight flight from JFK to Santiago, we spent the day in the Santiago Airport. Nonetheless, there is never time to rest, and the boys spent the day rehearsing, much to the delight of the other passengers in the terminal.  In particular, the boys singing, “Si Vas para Chile,” enthralled the crowd.

The boys are in great spirits!

Click here to view the gallery as a full-screen slide show.

Members of Keystone State Boychoir (KSB) and Pennsylvania Girlchoir (PG) traveled to the Fox News studios in New York for an appearance on Fox and Friends on Monday, December 14.

Under the direction of Commonwealth Youthchoirs (CY) Founder and Artistic Director Steve Fisher, they chatted with the show’s hosts, and the ensemble with KSB member Bobby Hill sang “O Holy Night,” which Bobby just released as a single. The singers also did an “After the Show Show” segment where they talked about the choirs and the impact CY has on the community and sang “Deck the Halls.” Watch the two segments:

Holiday Concert on the Square

Pennsylvania Girlchoir & Keystone State Boychoir

with

• Abington Friends School Choir & William Penn Charter School Choir

• Fairmount Chamber Ensemble

featuring

• Holiday Favorites

• Excerpts from Concert Mass by Joseph Fitzmartin

Sunday, December 20,  2015 | 5:00 pm Church of the Holy Trinity | Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia

The online box office is open! CLICK HERE

Download and share the flyer! (pdf)

An unexpected performance for Pope Francis made 14-year-old Bobby Hill a celebrity overnight. But with the phone ringing off the hook, Hill and those around him are facing an implacable foe: Mother Nature.

KSB singer Bobby Hill is profiled by Philadelphia Magazine writer Victor Fiorillo (December 6, 2015):

Three months after unexpectedly sharing the stage with Pope Francis on the Parkway, Bobby Hill is still being recognized everywhere he goes.

Consider just this past week: On Monday, Bobby’s father took him shopping for a new suit, and whether they were at Joseph A. Bank at Liberty Place or the Boscov’s in Plymouth Meeting, people would point and whisper Isn’t that the kid who sang for the pope?

On Wednesday, in Beverly Hills, where the 14-year-old was honored at the Ebony Power 100 gala along with John Legend, Prince, and U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, music managers and agents shoved business cards in his face while members of the African-American power crowd snapped selfies with him.

And this Sunday afternoon, someone will no doubt recognize him as he walks the red carpet at the Broadway premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s School of Rock. Certainly Sir Andrew will know who he is — Hill is going as the legendary composer’s invited guest.

Bobby Hill’s newfound fame arose because the millions who saw him sing for Pope Francis — a performance that Hill didn’t even know would happen until five minutes before he walked out on stage — fell in love with his heavenly voice. But at 14 and on a collision course with puberty, will he still be an angelic soprano by the time he is to perform with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Academy Ball in January — or will his voice go all Peter Brady on him?

“He is supposed to sing with the Orchestra, yes,” says longtime mentor and instructor Steven Fisher, co-founder of the Keystone State Boychoir. “But I am worried that he is not going to make it. His voice is a ticking time bomb.”

Read more of the story: Bobby’s headaches, how the choir and Bobby ended up singing for Pope Francis, that “ticking time bomb” of Bobby’s voice, and Bobby’s future possibilities on PhillyMag.com

Bobby in hockey gear around age 9. (photograph courtesy of the Hill family)

Saturday, December 12,  2015 | 5:00 pm

This is the only performance to include the Trainers and Apprentices on the program – the Trainers and Apprentices, along with the PG Scholas and the FYI! Choirs have a command performance at World Cafe Live on Sunday.

Sunday, December 13, 2015 | 3:00 pm, 6:00 pm

The 6:00 pm concert will include the Jacketing of the Concert Choir Candidates.

All performances at First Presbyterian Church in Germantown, 35 West Chelten Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19144

The online box office is open!
CLICK HERE for the 5pm Concert on December 12th.
CLICK HERE for the 3pm Concert on December 13th.
CLICK HERE for the 6pm Concert on December 13th.

Download and share the flyer! (pdf)

The young soprano will perform at its Los Angeles gala this Wednesday.

Bobby Hill (front center) with Keystone State Boychoir

PhillyMag.com’s Sarah Jordan reported in the Ticket section on November 30, 2015:

Remember Bobby Hill? He’s the 14-year-old with the “voice of an angel” who wowed the world during Pope Francis’s papal visit with his last-minute a cappella performance of “Pie Jesu.” He’s a soloist with the Keystone State Boychoir and is having quite the autumn since that breakout performance. 

Selected as one of Ebony magazine’s 2015 Power 100, Hill is flying out to Los Angeles to sing at the magazine’s 70th Anniversary Gala this Wednesday, December 2nd at the Beverly Hilton. This Central High School student should have plenty to keep him from getting bored as he’ll be honored alongside Prince, Penn alum John Legend, Janet Jackson and Viola Davis.

Three weeks ago, he and 50 members of the Keystone State Boychoir auditioned at Queens College on November 14th for Simon Cowell’s America’s Got Talent. Steve Fisher, founder and artistic director of the choir, says that Cowell has followed Bobby’s story since the papal concert and has a soft spot for the sound of boy choirs.”We’re not through yet,” says Fisher, “but we didn’t have to wait in line. It’s really a screen test with one producer and a camera. Bobby sang four different pieces with the choir behind him. We’ll find out next month, if we go through to the next step.” That would entail flying 50 members of the choir out to Hollywood for a week to film the initial episodes for the season, which airs sometime this summer.

When asked to make a prediction about the ensemble heading to Tinselftown, Fisher says, “It’s hard to know. These shows are so quirky, but they’re always looking for a great narrative in addition to talent.”

“As a nonprofit celebrating its 15th year, we are always scrounging and being frugal,” says Fisher. “But they wanted as many boys there as possible. I asked how they’d have the budget to fly out 50 kids. They laughed and said, ‘This is Hollywood. If Simon wanted 100 boys there, that’s what he’d get.’”

While Hill waits for the results, he can rehearse for another upcoming special performance. He is scheduled to perform with the Philadelphia Orchestra at its Academy Ball in late January.

Read more on PhillyMag.com

Philly.com: Papal performer Bobby Hill honored by ‘Ebony’ magazine

Bobby Hill after performing for Pope Francis at Festival of Families (source: Philly.com)

Philly.com Entertainment blogger writes (Monday, November 30, 2015):

Central High School student Bobby Hill has been selected as one of Ebony magazine’s 2015 Power 100 honorees. The list spotlights “the heroes of the black community.”

The 14-year-old breakout star, who is a soloist with the Keystone State Boychoir, rose to prominence during Pope Francis’ Philadelphia visit when he sang an a cappella version of “Pie Jesu.” Hill’s once-in-a-lifetime papal performance was a last-minute affair, said Steve Fisher, founder and artistic director of the choir. Fisher was approached by a producer of the papal concert who asked if the choir could sing during a short set change. Instead, Fisher sent Hill out to sing alone.

Read more 0n Philly.com.

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.

###

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.
http://www.keystoneboychoir.org/wpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/LH2_0391-2.jpg

Bobby Hill (front center) singing with Keystone State Boychoir.
http://www.keystoneboychoir.org/wpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/LH2_0633-73.jpg

PG is throwing KSB a 15th Birthday Party…
and the whole CY family is invited!
Parents, Alumni, Singers and their siblings too!

Don’t miss all the old-school birthday FUN…!

• “Pin the bowtie on Fitz”

• Buy a chance to take a whack at “Steve Fisher” piñata!

• Musical Chairs – CY style!

• Heavy Hors d’oeuvres! Birthday Cake! Ice Cream!

• Drawing for $2,500 Raffle!

• Exciting surprise announcements*

*This is our fall fundraising event, the only one for this semester.
We ask that each family bring a check or credit card.
By the end of the night, we hope to have inspired you to make a gift
that will benefit all of our programs:
Pennsylvania Girlchoir, Keystone State Boychoir, Find Your Instrument!
and Good Mornin’ Music!

RSVP here!

Download and share the flyer (pdf)