New York's Saint Thomas Choir School Establishes Third Grade Class

The Saint Thomas Choir School, operating continuously since 1919 as a boarding school to educate boy choristers serving the music program of Saint Thomas Church, has announced plans to add a third grade class, beginning in September. The school currently serves 32 boys in grades four through eight in a residential setting offering a full range of academic, athletic and extracurricular programs.


“It is a fact that boy soprano voices are changing at a younger age, and to train and support a full complement of those voices, we must attract singers earlier than in the past,” said John Scott, Organist and Director of Music at Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue. “Choir schools in the U.K. have been boarding third grade boys for years in response to this change, and we believe the addition of younger choristers at Saint Thomas will strengthen and support our music program as well as provide attractive educational opportunities for boys from the New York City area.”



According to Headmaster Charles F. Wallace, third grade students will join the School’s fourth graders under the direction of Steve Kelly, a current Saint Thomas faculty member with experience in teaching combined third and fourth grade classes at other schools.


Unlike their older classmates who live at the School seven nights a week, third grade students will board for only four nights, returning to their families and homes in the New York metropolitan area for the weekend.



“Boys in third grade will benefit by the same high standards of academic and musical education as do the older boys, but their musical responsibilities and the amount of time dedicated to rehearsals and performing would be modified to age-appropriate levels,” Father Wallace said. “We believe that by beginning their musical training and living-learning experience here at an earlier age, boys will derive a deeper and broader life experience at the Choir School and will be able to participate as full members of the Choir for a longer period of time.”



Scholarship support is available and testing, interviews and an audition are required. For information regarding Choir School admissions, contact Ruth Cobb at 212-247-3311, est. 324, or [email protected].



The only school of its kind in North America, Saint Thomas Choir School is accredited by the New York State Association of Independent Schools and holds membership in numerous school associations. A challenging pre-preparatory curriculum is taught by seven full-time teachers in an average class of eight. Each graduate is thoroughly prepared academically and socially to take full advantage of the many opportunities that await a boy with such a distinctive education.