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History & Legacy

80 years of history

and enduring impact.

For eight decades, the Atlanta Boy Choir has held to one goal above all others: we welcome boys who join the Choir as students and guide them forward to become artists, leaders, and men of character. We continue this legacy today.

Our Story

Our Choir was built one rehearsal, one performance, one choirboy at a time.

The Atlanta Boy Choir has been a part of Atlanta, Georgia's cultural fabric since 1946. What began as a small ensemble has grown into one of the most decorated youth choral organizations in the country: a Grammy-award winning, internationally touring, and home to more than 5,000 alumni around the world. Our music repertoire includes major classical works, sacred music and spirituals, secular, modern and popular works. This is our Choir story.

1946 to 1959

The Founding Years

A citywide ensemble of young voices becomes an institution. The Exchange Club funds the first scholarships. The Choir stands before President Eisenhower at the White House, and in 1959 is incorporated as an independent nonprofit.

1946 The Atlanta Boy Choir is Founded
The Atlanta Boy Choir gives its first concert on April 4 at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium, described in the Atlanta Constitution as "Atlanta's first effort to bring together the vocal talents of young boys throughout the city." The ensemble draws boys from elementary schools across the Atlanta Public Schools system under the direction of Ruth Weegand, Director of Elementary School Music for the City of Atlanta, and the sponsorship of the Atlanta Exchange Club. Among the early choristers: Alfred Uhry, who would go on to win the Pulitzer Prize and the Academy Award for the film, Driving Miss Daisy.
1947 A Near-Capacity Crowd at the Erlanger Theater
The Choir performs for a near-capacity audience at the Erlanger Theater. The ensemble numbered 200 boys between the ages of 10 and 12, drawn from the 5th and 6th grades of Atlanta Public Schools.
1948 First Municipal Auditorium Performance
The Choir performs at Atlanta's Municipal Auditorium on March 29. Later that year, the Exchange Club awards six members scholarships to fund a full year of private study on the instrument of their choice.
1952 George D. Crawford Takes the Podium
Following Ruth Weegand's retirement, George D. Crawford, Minister of Music at Kirkwood Baptist Church, reestablishes the Choir outside the school system. The ensemble rehearses first at the Atlanta YMCA, then at Peachtree Road Christian Church, building a more formalized training structure that would support its emergence onto national stages.
1958 Eastern Tour and a White House Performance
Under the direction of George D. Crawford, the Choir tours Richmond, Williamsburg, Jersey City, New York City, West Point, and Washington, D.C. The tour culminates in a performance at the White House for President Dwight D. Eisenhower and First Lady Mamie Eisenhower, the Choir's first appearance for a sitting President. Mrs. Eisenhower gives the "Choir Moms" a personal tour of the White House living quarters, and the boys present the President with a certificate naming his grandson, David Eisenhower, as an honorary member of the Atlanta Boy Choir. That summer, Fletcher Wolfe assumes leadership of the Choir.
1959 Incorporation as an Independent Nonprofit
The Atlanta Boy Choir incorporates with the State of Georgia as the Atlanta Boy Choir, Inc. and receives 501(c)(3) designation from the U.S. Federal Government. Fletcher Wolfe, who had been leading the Choir since the previous summer, is formally named Director, beginning what would become the longest directorship in the Choir's history.
1960 to 1979

International Reach

The Atlanta Boy Choir steps onto world stages. A 10-concert U.S. State Department tour of Mexico. A 14-day European tour through Germany, France, Austria, Denmark, and the United Kingdom. A Carnegie Hall debut. And the honor of singing at a Presidential Inauguration.

1962 10-Concert Goodwill Tour of Mexico
Under the direction of Fletcher Wolfe, the Choir completes a 10-concert U.S. State Department goodwill tour of Mexico, opening every performance with the Mexican National Anthem sung in Spanish. The tour included a performance at the Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City with the Mexican National Symphony, and an outdoor concert in Puebla for an unexpected crowd of nearly 5,000 people. Following the Mexico tour, Wolfe departs Atlanta to train as a singer in New York City and at Fontainebleau, France, where he studies with the legendary composer and teacher Nadia Boulanger. Don Robinson, Director of Music Education in the Fulton County School system, leads the Choir during Wolfe's absence.
1964 First European Tour
The Choir embarks on a landmark 14-day tour of Europe, with concerts in London, Paris, Vienna, Heidelberg, Frankfurt, East and West Berlin, and Copenhagen, establishing a tradition of nearly annual international touring that would continue for decades. Fletcher Wolfe returns to Atlanta in the fall and resumes direction of the Choir, a role he would hold continuously for the next 37 years.
1965 New York Town Hall Debut
The Choir presents its first New York concert at Town Hall in December, a formative step into the American classical music establishment.
1977 Presidential Inauguration and Italian Festival Invitation
The Choir performs at the Presidential Inauguration of Jimmy Carter and receives a certificate from the President. That same year, the Italian government extends an invitation to a month-long music festival, broadening the Choir's European reputation.
1979 National Holocaust Memorial at the U.S. Capitol
The Choir performs alongside President Carter and Elie Wiesel in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda for the National Holocaust Memorial Service, one of the most solemn and significant performances in the Choir's history.
1980 to 1999

The Grammy Years

Grammy nominations and a Grammy Award. A closer relationship with conductor, Robert Shaw and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. The first of at least eight performances at the Vatican. Concerts in Terezin honoring Holocaust memory. And a deepening bond with Coretta Scott King and the King legacy. Atlanta Boy Choir's artistic profile reaches its peak.

1981 Grammy Nomination and First Vatican Performance
The Atlanta Boy Choir's performance on the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's recording of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana earns a Grammy nomination, the Choir's first. Robert Shaw, who served on the ABC Board of Directors and called on the Choir whenever a boy choir was needed for a major choral work, conducted the recording. That same year, the Choir performs for Pope John Paul II at the Vatican for the first time after receiving a personal invitation during a tour of Italy. The Pope greets the boys and counselors and blesses them after they sing, beginning a relationship with the Vatican that would span decades.
1986 First Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration
The Choir performs at Atlanta's first Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration, beginning a close and enduring relationship with Coretta Scott King and the King family. The Atlanta Boy Choir would go on to perform annually at the Georgia State Capitol in connection with the King legacy, a tradition that continues to the present day.
1989 Grammy Award
The Atlanta Boy Choir earns a Grammy Award for its performance on the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's recording of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem, conducted by Robert Shaw. The award, received in 1990, represents the highest artistic recognition in the Choir's history and the second Grammy nomination resulting from the Choir's partnership with Shaw and the ASO.
1991 First Russia Tour
The Choir tours Russia for the first time in the closing years of the Soviet era, performing for audiences in Moscow and Leningrad.
1992 Return to Russia, St. Petersburg
The Choir returns to Russia for performances in St. Petersburg.
1994 Classics for All Seasons Recording
The Choir performs in the recording, Classics for All Seasons, a compilation featuring multiple composers and conductors.
1995 Recording with Robert Shaw
The Choir performs The Power & The Majesty: Essential Choral Classics, conducted by Robert Shaw. Mr. Shaw's relationship with the Atlanta Boy Choir spanned decades; he served on the ABC Board of Directors, mentored Fletcher Wolfe, and consistently turned to the Choir to perform major works requiring young voices.
1997 Pacific Northwest Tour
The Choir tours the Pacific Northwest with stops in Seattle, Victoria, and Vancouver, a concert itinerary spanning the United States and Canada.
1990s Concerts at Terezin
The Choir performs at least three concerts at the former Theresienstadt (Terezin) concentration camp in the Czech Republic, performing Charles Davidson's song cycle, I Never Saw Another Butterfly, a Holocaust-inspired work based on the experiences of children imprisoned at Terezin. These performances, alongside the 1979 U.S. Capitol Rotunda service, reflect the Choir's sustained engagement with Holocaust remembrance.
2000 to 2015

Into the New Century

A transition of leadership after four decades. A return to Italy. A performance in the Sistine Chapel for Pope Benedict XVI. At least eight visits to the Vatican across two papacies, and the continuation of a tradition of international performance spanning more than half a century.

2001 Maestro Fletcher Wolfe Retires
After more than four decades of leadership, Fletcher Wolfe retires as Artistic Director. David White becomes the Choir's new director.
2006 Sistine Chapel Performance for Pope Benedict XVI
The Choir returns to Italy and performs for Pope Benedict XVI in the Sistine Chapel of St. Peter's Basilica, one of the most storied vocal venues in Western music history. The performance marks one of at least eight appearances at the Vatican across two papacies, a relationship that began with Pope John Paul II in 1981. The Choir also tours Poland, performing in Krakow, in honor of Pope John Paul II's beatification.
2009 A Transitional Year
David White departs to form the Georgia Boy Choir. Maestro Fletcher Wolfe returns to the Atlanta Boy Choir as Interim Artistic Director to steward the organization through the transition.
2014 Georgia State Capitol Tree Lighting
The Choir performs at the annual Georgia State Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting, a public-facing tradition that places the Choir at the heart of Atlanta's civic calendar.
2016 to 2026

A New Chapter Begins

A Marvel film score. A pandemic that forced the Choir into online rehearsals, then a return to choral season performances. A new Artistic Director after eight decades, and an 80th-anniversary tour that carries the Atlanta Boy Choir into its next chapter.

2016 Captain America: Civil War Recording
The Choir records Pie Jesu from Requiem in D minor by composer Gabriel Fauré. Set for a funeral scene in Marvel Studios' Captain America: Civil War, the recording introduces the Choir's sound to a global audience.
2017 Dr. Robert Henry Becomes Director
Following the 2017 Summer Tour, Dr. Robert Henry assumes the role of Artistic Director, a position he will hold through 2025.
2020 The Choir Sings Through a Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic suspends in-person rehearsals. Dr. Henry launches online rehearsals and begins the slow work of rebuilding choir membership, sustaining the institution through an unprecedented disruption.
2021 The Choir Resumes Rehearsals and Performances, Performs at the Georgia State Capitol, and Records America the Beautiful
The Choir resumes meeting in-person with weekly rehearsals held at All Saints' Episcopal Church.

The Choir opens the 2021 holiday season and performs at the Georgia State Capitol for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. The Choir gave holiday season performances, which included leading Advent service music at St. George's Episcopal Church, performing at the Lenbrook retirement community and an Evensong Service of Lessons and Carols at St. Luke's Episcopal Church.

The Choir records our music video, America the Beautiful: One Nation.
2022 The Choir Tours Savannah, and Performs at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit and Atlanta City Hall
The Choir returns to the road with a tour of Savannah, Georgia. Marking a return to the in-person performance life that had defined the ensemble for more than seven decades, the Choir begins their tour with a performance at Holy Trinity Parish Episcopal Church in Decatur. Continuing on tour, the Choir performs at Christ Church in Savannah.

During the holiday season, the Choir performs at the Georgia State Capitol for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, Monastery of the Holy Spirit, an Evensong service at Holy Trinity Parish Episcopal Church, a Christmas concert at Glenn Memorial UMC, and Atlanta City Hall for Mayor Andre Dickens.
2023 The Choir Tours Chattanooga, and Performs with The Atlanta Ballet and at the Georgia State Governor's Mansion
The Choir begins its 2023 tour and performs at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Atlanta. Continuing on tour to Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Choir performs at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

The Choir joins The Atlanta Ballet and accompanies the orchestra in performing vocal sections of The Nutcracker. Joining the Georgia Symphony Orchestra (GSO), GSO Chorus, and the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra Chorus, the Choir performs composer Carl Orff's Carmina Burana at the Bailey Performance Center in Marietta, Georgia. The Choir adds a second weekly rehearsal location at The Episcopal Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Marietta, Georgia.

During the holiday season, the Choir returns to the Georgia State Capitol to perform for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony. The Choir performs at the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Georgia State Governor's Mansion, and concludes the holiday season with its Christmas concert performance at the Northside Drive Baptist Church.
2024 The Choir Tours North Carolina and Performs with Cobb Performing Arts Center
The Choir tours North Carolina, including Charlotte, Asheville, and Biltmore Estates, and performs in St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church and Biltmore Castle.

The Choir performs at the 2024 Atlanta Police Department Memorial Service for Fallen Officers held at Cascade United Methodist Church in Atlanta. Concluding the year, the Choir performs holiday classics at the Cobb Performing Arts Center, and performs its Christmas concert at the Episcopal Church of St. Peter and St. Paul.
2025 S. Bryan Priddy Named Artistic Director
Joining the Georgia Symphony Orchestra, the Choir performs Requiem Americano by composer and GSO conductor, Timothy Verville.

The Choir celebrates its choral season with a choir community barbeque and performance with choirboys and ABC Alumni Men at the American Legion Post in Buckhead. The Choir performs a Christmas concert at the Episcopal Church of St. Peter and St. Paul. The Choir adds Saturday morning rehearsals at Northside Drive Baptist Church.

S. Bryan Priddy is appointed Artistic Director, bringing more than 40 years of experience training young singers, including prior tenures at the Texas Boys Choir and St. Michael's Choir School in Toronto, to lead the Atlanta Boy Choir into its next era.
2026 80th Anniversary and the 2026 Southeastern Heritage Tour
The Atlanta Boy Choir marks its 80th anniversary and, in June, embarks on a six-day 2026 Southeastern Heritage Tour tracing the civil rights corridor through Selma, Montgomery, Birmingham, Mobile, and Tuskegee.

The Choir welcomes Alumni Men to an alumni reunion held at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, Still Singing: An Evening with the Atlanta Boy Choir and Alumni.

A new chapter begins.

The Archive

Eight Decades in Pictures

From mid-century tours across Europe to recent performances at the Georgia State Capitol, a visual record of the Choir through the years.

A conductor stands on stage inside an ornate, golden-lit church or cathedral with grand columns, chandeliers, and red seats, facing an altar adorned with statues and religious decorations.
A choir of boys wearing matching red robes sings in front of a large display of red poinsettias, standing in rows on indoor steps with white railings.
A black and white photo of a choir of children in robes performing on stage with an orchestra. A conductor stands in front, directing both the choir and musicians. The background features tall, geometric acoustic panels.
A large choir dressed in red sings on a grand staircase in a decorated hall, surrounded by an audience and festive garlands, likely during a holiday event or ceremony.
A woman in a bright blue dress sings in front of a choir and musicians inside a church with stained glass windows and wooden interior. Several choir members wear black and some are dressed in red robes.
A group of boys in white polos and khaki shorts stand in front of four adults at night, smiling outdoors with city lights and string lights in the background.
A group of people in uniform pose in front of the Arch of Constantine and the Colosseum in Rome on a sunny day, with vintage cars and buildings visible in the background.
A choir dressed in red robes stands in a semicircle in a grand church with chandeliers, a gold altar, and large French flags displayed behind them. A conductor leads the choir on a checkered marble floor.
A group of boys in blazers pose outside a historic building with two men in suits, one holding a document. The setting features ornate architecture and street lamps, likely near the Houses of Parliament in London.
A choir of men dressed in black tuxedos sings in front of an altar inside a church, directed by a conductor. An audience is seated, watching the performance. The church features ornate decorations and religious statues.
A group of eleven smiling men pose together indoors in a warmly decorated room with wooden floors, ornate furniture, and a bust sculpture surrounded by flowers in the center.
A large choir group, including boys in matching red robes and adults in suits, poses for a photo inside an ornate church with marble columns and detailed religious artwork.
A choir of children in matching red robes sings on a grand staircase decorated with red wreaths, led by a conductor with white hair, while an audience watches from below.
A man in a suit smiles and shakes hands with a young person in a choir robe, as they present a document. Two other people stand in the background in front of abstract art. The photo is in black and white.
A choir dressed in red robes performs in a grand church with stained glass windows and a large white religious statue behind them. A harpist is positioned in front, and the conductor stands facing the choir.
A joyous choir and orchestra perform in a grand church with stained glass windows. The conductor stands at the center with raised arms, while singers in black and red robes and a soloist in blue stand around him.
A man in white religious robes and a cross warmly greets smiling children in matching red choir gowns, standing together in several rows.
A group of choir boys in white robes walk down the steps of a large building with tall columns, followed by adults and more children.
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