For Clifford Weekes of West Windsor and Fernando Malvar-Ruiz of Plainsboro, their involvement with the prestigious American Boychoir is a dream come true — albeit slightly different dreams.
Weekes, 12, boards at the American Boychoir School in Princeton and is in his second year as a student in the choir. “I started singing at the age of five, and I’ve always wanted to be a part of a professional choir,” he says.
The choir will perform two area concerts featuring Christmas and holiday music. In “Voices of Angels,” Saturday, December 18, at 8 p.m. at the Princeton University Chapel, the choir will perform traditional music interspersed with readings. (The choir recently released a CD, also titled “Voices of Angels,” comprised of selections from the concert.) “Winter Wonderland,” featuring some pop-infused Christmas tunes, will take place on Sunday, December 19, at Richardson Auditorium on the Princeton University campus. Tickets range from $20 to $30. Call 609-924-5858 for more information.
For Weekes, who was homeschooled by his parents before coming to the American Boychoir last year, the opportunity to be steeped in beautiful music is something to be savored. “I love the busy schedule and I love all the rehearsing,” he says. “I like all the pieces that we have done so far. I don’t really have any favorites.” His father works as a veternarian in West Windsor and he has two siblings, Amber and Grant.
Malvar-Ruiz, who is in his first year as the choir’s music director, finds the experience of working with the choir equally satisfying. “The first time I ever heard the choir perform was 10 years ago when I went with a friend of mine,” he says. “After the performance I said to my friend that I would love to be able to direct the choir one day. Now I am doing it.”
Born in Spain, Malvar-Ruiz grew up in Madrid where his father was the head of marketing for a cosmetics company and his mother worked as hospital technician. “Music was always a part of my life when I was growing up,” he says. “We would all sing, though not professionally, but in a homey way.”
After studying music at the conservatory in Madrid and then in Hungary he came to the United States and earned his masters degree in choral conducting from Ohio State University in 1996. He is currently pursuing his doctorate degree in musical arts at the University of Illinois.
“I think I was a born musician,” says Malvar-Ruiz, who served as associate music director with the choir for four years before being named music director. “Since the time I can remember there has always been music in my head, and I can still recall the first time I sat in front of a piano.” Aside from conducting, he also plays piano and violin.
Founded in Columbus, Ohio in 1937 and then relocated to its current location in Princeton in 1950, the American Boychoir has the reputation as one of the finest boychoirs in the world. Its members — boys in grades five through eight — come from across the country to pursue a rigorous academic and musical curriculum at the American Boychoir School, the only non-sectarian boys’ choir school in the country.
The choir performs about 120 times a year and is the most widely performing ensemble in the country. Recent performances include Mahler’s Eighth Symphony with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a series of Christmas concerts with the Philadelphia Orchestra. The schedule doesn’t slow down, even after the holidays. A winter tour in New England will be followed by a spring tour and some local performances. “It’s very busy, but it is wonderful,” says Malvar-Ruiz. “It enables you to do what you love — which is music and performing.”
Working with Clifford Weekes and the other students at the American Boychoir is a daily inspiration for Malvar-Ruiz. “I feel very blessed and am aware of the responsibility that comes with being music director,” he says. “It is a fantastic group of boys. The music-making is at the highest level, but apart from that, it is a blessing to work with these young men.”
— Jack Florek
The American Boychoir Holiday Concerts: “Voices of Angels,” an evening of traditional Christmas music, “Voices of Angels,” Saturday, December 18, at 8 p.m. at the Princeton Chapel; “Winter Wonderland,” featuring some pop-infused Christmas tunes, Sunday, December 19, at Richardson Auditorium on the Princeton University campus. Tickets range from $20 to $30. Call 609-924-5858 for more information.
