The Phoenix Boys Choir is learning diverse forms of song and dance for their upcoming concert and tour to the east coast.
The choir’s concert “On the Road: Arizona to West Virginia” will be covering forms of music from Arizona to West Virginia, according to a news release from the choir.
The concert will take place May 14 at 7 p.m. at the Mesa Center for the Arts and May 15 at 3 p.m. at Willow Canyon High School in Surprise, according to a news release.
The music draws from diverse areas, according to artistic director and choir alumnus Herbert Washington. “The vision of the concert is to showcase the music of Arizona and not only the cowboy music and the western but going back to the Native Americans,” Washington said.
The concert and the tour will have music from Native American traditions, Mexican Folklorico dancing, and bluegrass music.
Washington explained the concert will open with Native American songs and dance that was taught to the children by Yellow Bird Productions.
Ken Duncan, a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe and the head of Yellow Bird Productions, taught the members of the choir traditional Apache songs and dances. “The director asked me to teach them sing-along songs,” Duncan said.
All of the songs hold symbolism but one of them was chosen for the choir to help heal from the difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic. “One of the songs was a re-awakening song,” Duncan said. “The Sunrise song is played when you overcome a traumatic experience and dark times. You would go out alone and sing it facing to the east. It’s to thank you”
Following this the music “transitions to Hispanic music that’s coming up through Mexico,” Washington said. The choir was taught traditional Mexican Folklorico dances by the Tradiciones Dance Company.
Following the Folklorico dances, the choir will transition to the east with the songs becoming bluegrass. The group was taught about bluegrass music by Roman Buffalo and the Loyal Order.
Yellow Bird Productions, the Tradiciones Dance Company, Roman Buffalo and the Loyal Order will perform alongside the choir at their performances on May 14 and 15.
Diversity and collaboration are important to the choir, according to Washington. “The way that we grow not only as people, but as artists is to collaborate,” Washington said.
This concert also serves to highlight one of the most important aspects of the Phoenix Boys Choir and that is the education it provides. The choir has been providing education since 1947.
The diverse teachers taught the members of the choir things about music, culture and history that they may not have known before. “The best part is having the rehearsals with the performers. They would cover the history of their music,” Washington said. He went on to explain how it impacts the boys “to be able to identify a mandolin at 7 years old says a lot.”
“The teaching here at the Phoenix Boys Choir is supplementary to the great work that is being done in schools,” Washington said.
The choir also brings in kinesthetic movements as parts of its teaching methods and games are played by the whole choir, Washington said.
The lessons the choir teaches stretch beyond just music with the choir working to provide life lessons and skills. The choir “focuses on the idea of character building, being global ambassadors, and serving the community with your voice,” according to Washington.
Washington explained that life skills range from complex to simple such as first impressions, eye contact, interviews, and dressing well.
The choir also serves as a place where boys can gather and make friends. This fact became important during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We needed a place where a boy can feel like it’s a family,” Washington said.
This familial and emotional aspect of the choir works to challenge societal norms around emotions in men. Washington explained “having a place where boys can be vulnerable and express themselves which society tells us naturally that we shouldn’t do that as guys.”
All of this works together to serve the boys, Washington’s own experiences in the band work as a great example of this. “If it wasn’t for the choir I probably would have had some major issues in my life.” He went on to say “I grew up in south Phoenix, I was quite alone often, from a family that had issues with drug and alcohol abuse.”
The choir provided him with people to spend time with and an outlet, while he participated in other activities. “I played sports but something about singing was different. I didn’t have to sit on a bench and I didn’t have to wait to get into the game. I could contribute like everyone else and at all times,” Washington said.
He continues to enjoy teaching the choir, with it has a positive impact. Ken Duncan also said he drew the same joy from teaching. “Working with kids gives me a sense of completeness,” he said.
The teaching they do works to encourage, according to Duncan. “As a teacher, I encourage all teachers to never limit their students to let them dance in whatever way they fall and try to guide in that energy flow. To always have an open mind,” Duncan said.
