Welcome to Saint Thomas Choir School

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I'm constantly reminded of how fortunate I am to have had the opportunity to attend St. Thomas and how my upbringing and character were enriched because of it.
— David Shaw

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The Choir School was founded in 1919 to house, nurture, and educate the boys who sing in the choir of Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue in New York City. Our students are engaging, bright, energetic boys who embrace life with a sense of hope, skill, and confidence.

Saint Thomas Choir School is the only church-related boarding choir school in the United States, and one of only three of its kind remaining in the world. We offer a challenging pre-preparatory curriculum, interscholastic sports, and musical training for boys in grades three through eight. Our graduates move on to competitive secondary schools across the country. The Choir School is committed to training and educating talented musicians without regard to religious, economic, or social background. Small class sizes ensure that each boy receives individualized instruction and attention.

In a recent article about the choir school in the New York Times, Corrina da Fonseca-Wollheim wrote:

"On a recent Tuesday morning, the British conductor Daniel Hyde led a group of choristers from the St. Thomas Choir School in Midtown Manhattan through a vocal warm-up of scales and liturgical parts sung in nonsense syllables.
    The boys, who ranged in age from 7 to 13, are part of the St. Thomas Choir of Men and Boys: the only such ensemble in the United States that has its own boarding school — much like Westminster Abbey in London — to link high musical standards to the preservation of a centuries-old tradition of Anglican liturgy. In residence at St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, the choristers typically sing upward of 20 hours a week, participating in services, weekday evensong and concerts.
     Dylan Cranston, a 13-year-old from Connecticut who will graduate at the end of this year, counts among the highlights of his time at St. Thomas a recent concert, a tribute to John Scott, in which he sang under the baton of Simon Rattle. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” he said."

Download the full NY Times piece  >

The Choir School is accredited by the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS), and belongs to the National Association of Independent Schools, the National Association of Episcopal Schools, and the Parents League of New York.