Pacific Boychoir to regale Viet Nam
They’re coming: The Grammy Award-winning Pacific Boychoir will perform in Viet Nam and Singapore between July 9 and 21. — Photo courtesy of Hoi An Centre for Culture and Sports
HA NOI (VNS) — The Grammy Award-winning Pacific Boychoir will travel to Viet Nam and Singapore to perform at notable venues and institutions from July 9 to 21, according to a press release from the organiser Classical Movements.
The choir will begin their performance in HCM City. From there, they will move to the cities of Hoi An in the central and Ha Noi in the north, before leaving for Singapore.
Known for their rich sound, the boys’ choir is preparing a diverse and exciting repertoire that ranges from Haydn’s Gloria and Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus to The Beatles’ Here Comes the Sun and Paul Simon’s Bridge Over Troubled Water, arranged by Kirby Shaw.
Also known for their spiritual songs and approach to American classics, the choir will be singing George Gershwin’s I Got Rhythm, arranged by Mark Hayes, and an arrangement of Ol’ Time Religion/When the Saints Go Marching In, arranged by Keith McKutchen and Everett McCorvey.
The choir will also learn two traditional Vietnamese songs Trong Com and Bac Kim Thang, which will both be performed with the locally renowned Sol Art Choir of Ha Noi.
The performance at HCM City’s Conservatory Concert Hall on July 12 will be followed by the performance at the Hoi An Sculpture Garden in central Hoi An City two days later.
Their final performance will take place at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore, on July 19. Entry is free for all performances except the one in Ha Noi–tickets for which can be booked online at ticketvn.com.
In addition, the choir will participate in an outreach event organised by the United States Embassy at Vinh Phuc Social Services Center outside Ha Noi. The event will include a performance, a tour of the facility and time to play with the local children.
Founded in 1998, the Pacific Boychoir Academy of California manages over 175 boys in seven choirs. In its short history, the academy has become known as one of the top boys’ choirs in the world, known for its rich sound, musicianship, phrasing, and talented soloists.
The academy, directed by Kevin Fox, has performed at America’s Got Talent shows, Kronos Quartet’s 40th birthday party, Nelson Mandela’s memorial service in Washington DC, Russian music with Dmitri Hvorostovsky, and with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, among many other occasions. —VNS