The prestigious London Boys Choir from Merchant Taylor School will perform in Salem Thursday, July 21 at 7:30 p.m. in Old Town Hall to celebrate the school’s founding 450 years ago. It is a free concert but they will be accepting donations which they will contribute to the Salem Farmers’ Market. Mayor Kimberley Driscoll will introduce the choir and welcome them to Salem.
The Choir of 48 boys (ages 11 – 18) are on a singing tour to celebrate the school’s founding in 1651 and are pleased to be able to sing in the historic seaport town of Salem. Salem’s Old Town Hall will be the venue for a this special free concert on the evening of Thursday, July 21.  “We are thrilled to have a choir of this caliber performing in downtown Salem,” stated Jennifer Bell, Salem Main Streets Manager and organizer of the Salem Farmers’ Market. “We are delighted they chose to perform on farmers’ market night and to offer all donations to the market,” Bell adds.
The school is one of the oldest in the UK, founded by the Merchant Taylors’ Guild of the 1500’s. It has a long, prestigious, and proud history. Over the centuries, Merchant Taylor choirs have frequently sung in St Paul’s, London and in many other Cathedrals and halls in the UK and Europe. The choir is lucky have had many excellent conductors over the years. Currently their conductor is Richard Hobson, a former Cathedral chorister, one of UK’s well-known organists and a former Council member of the British Institute of Organ Studies, and adviser on organs to the Diocese of London. He brings great knowledge and discipline to the choir.
In special celebration of the 450th anniversary of the founding of their school in 1651, they decided to tour in the USA. They are performing in St. John the Divine Cathedral, St Thomas Church, and at St Paul’s Chapel, Ground Zero in New York (they particularly requested Ground Zero in honor and respect of the tenth anniversary year of the attack on the twin towers). They chose Salem due to its long history - What better place than Salem: an historic place that was founded just a few years before their school. They will be performing both secular and sacred music both ancient and modern. You will be delighted by the variety of sound and selection of their performance. As they wanted to leave something of benefit to Salem, the concert is free but if you wish to make a donation at the concert the proceeds will be given to the Salem Farmers’ Market.
For more information about the choir and their tour contact:
Julia Bjarnason 416 497-2870, jmbjarnason@sympatico.ca on behalf of Merchant Taylors and Anne Cottrell Tours Inc.