The Texas Boys Choir will perform on Thursday, March 4, at 7 p.m. at Coastal Bend College in the Gertrude R. Jones Fine Arts Auditorium. The concert is free. The choir will perform at Coastal Bend College for Beeville schoolchildren on March 5 at10 a.m.

The Texas Boys Choir, led by S. Bryan Priddy, was founded in 1946 by George Bragg to provide any boy, regardless of socio-economic or ethnic background a structured environment for the development of a world-class performing choir of boys. Essential to this development is the artistic training in an accredited academic institution; experienced teachers instill the qualities of self-discipline, self-confidence, decorum, patriotism and leadership. Based in Fort Worth, the Texas Boys Choir performs locally, nationally and internationally. For the past 60 years, the choir has been a publicly supported professional nonprofit boys choir and an educational institution dedicated to fostering the talents of gifted young men. Texas Boys Choir continues to be an important part of the North Texas Arts Community.

The choir continues in the tradition of European church choirs, with boys beginning their vocal training at a young age. The choir further develops its vocal training through the use of the changing voices. The choir draws heavily on the sacred tradition of performing many works from the early Renaissance and Baroque periods. Also included in most performances are American favorites and music of other cultures and countries.

In addition to singing a wide variety of music, the Texas Boys Choir is unique in another very important way. Only a few boys choirs in the United States are trained while attending their own school. This, again, follows the early European tradition. Any student, male and female, regardless of race, religion, disability or income, who wishes to study the fine arts along with a challenging academic curriculum, can attend the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts. The school offers classes in music, visual arts, theater, dance, instrumental music and together completes the whole experience of performing and visual arts for each student.

The Texas Boys Choir is in need of a host families. If anyone is interested in housing at least two boys on Thursday evening (March 4) and giving them breakfast on Friday morning, contact Dr. Jim Lee at 354-2303 or 358-6337.