EarRelevant Staff | 16 JUL 2024
ATLANTA, Georgia— The Senior Youth Choir of the Atlanta Music Project (AMP) has emerged as a category winner at the 2024 World Choir Games, the largest international choral festival and competition, held in Auckland, New Zealand, from July 10 through 20. The 2024 event featured 250 choirs and 11,000 participants from 42 countries and regions. It was AMP’s first appearance at the World Choir Games.
Under the direction of Atlanta-based composer and conductor B.E. Boykin, the AMP Senior Youth Choir competed in the O4 Youth Choirs category, open to mixed and equal-voice choirs with singers aged 12 to 25. The 38-member choir, with singers aged 14 to 20, bested seven other choirs from the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. The jury for the category included representatives from Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, and Italy.
The choir was honored with the Golden Diploma Level VI, scoring 26.39 out of a possible 30, the highest in its competition category and the second-highest overall score in The Open Competition.
The AMP Senior Youth Choir, led by B.E. Boykin, performing its competition program at Auckland Town Hall at the 2024 World Choir Games. (credit: Chontalle Musson)
The Choir’s repertoire included “Dies Irae” from Michael John Trotta’s Requiem, “Mata del Anima Sola” by Antonio Estévez, “Quiet Place” by Ralph Carmichael (arranged by Jerry Rubino), and “Elijah Rock,” a traditional spiritual arranged by Moses Hogan. In addition to the competition, the choir participated in two Friendship Concerts in Auckland, performing alongside youth choirs from Chinese Taipei, China, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
“My heartfelt congratulations to our conductor, B.E. Boykin, and the Atlanta Music Project Senior Youth Choir,” said Aisha Moody, Co-Founder and Chief Program Officer of AMP. “This extraordinary international recognition signals a new era for the Atlanta Music Project. Our young singers have set a new bar for musical excellence for themselves and for future generations of AMP students.”
Dantes Rameau, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AMP, also praised the choir’s achievement. “Thanks to our generous donors and supporters, AMP’s young singers have been offered the opportunity to access musical opportunities of the highest renown, such as the World Choir Games. Through their own determination, their commitment to excellence, and their world-class artistry, they have stepped onto the international stage and earned the top prize. I could not be more proud of this group of outstanding young Atlantans.” ■
EXTERNAL LINKS:
- Atlanta Music Project: atlantamusicproject.org
- World Choir Games: interkultur.com/about/world-choir-games
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