Oakland ~ Almost everyone in town has heard of local "American Idol" contender LaToya London. But few know about the young Oakland singers who have performed on a Grammy-winning album and traveled to gigs around the world, all before graduating from middle school. Although well-respected in the world of choral music, Oakland's Pacific Boychoir, based in the historic First Presbyterian Church in the middle of Broadway's Auto Row, has yet to receive wide recognition in its home town.

"In today's society, choral pieces aren't really the predominant form of music," said singer Timothy Hunt, who is going into the seventh grade at Montera Middle School.

"But some people, like me, find them really neat."

While choir music might not be as popular as the ballads on "American Idol," the Pacific Boychoir, founded six years ago, is finding acclaim as one of the leading groups in its field.

The group sang on the San Francisco Symphony's recording of Mahler's Third Symphony, which won the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Classical Album. The choir just released its own record of Baroque music, complete with authentic Baroque instruments and tunings, and performs at Oakland A's and San Francisco Giants games and other events.

Also, the choir is set to open a private school focusing on music in the fall.

The choir has 105 young singers from public and private schools in Oakland, Berkeley, San Leandro and elsewhere. Singers are from various ethnic and religious backgrounds, Managing Director Pam Weimer said.

"We're very much cut from the Oakland cloth," she said.

The boys sing in English and a number of other languages, including Latin. They even learned a couple of numbers in Czech for a trip this week to a music festival in Prague.

When the choir started, accomplished choral music singer and conductor Kevin Fox was named director at age 24.

Choir member Jacob Wilson, 11, said he joined after Fox came to recruit singers at Joaquin Miller Elementary in the Oakland hills. Wilson said he became especially interested when Fox mentioned the group would perform at professional sports events.

"That's what hooked me," he said.

Choir members leave today for the Czech Republic, and Wilson, who cited Mozart as his favorite composer, said the trip will be his first time out of the country.

"It's just a once-in-a-lifetime experience," Wilson said. "Because once your voice changes, no more boys choir."

Male singers can only perform the high notes required in choral music for a few years. Puberty is usually the end of the line for choir singers.

"These are just regular kids with scuffed knees and missing teeth, you know?" Weimer said. "Yet they come together, and the music they make is breathtaking."

The Oakland Tribune: Cityside
Leanne McLaughlin, Managing Editor
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