The Singing Angels

Proudly rooted in Cleveland, Ohio, The Singing Angels is a non-profit organization dedicated to youth developing the highest level of artistic achievement in the performing arts.

The Angels have visited over 30 countries on three continents. Thousands of young people have become youth ambassadors, star performers and stronger citizens as a result of their Angels training.

History

The Singing Angels was founded in 1964 by Bill Boehm with the dream of creating a program that would bring children of various ages and backgrounds together to learn and perform "good" music. The first group of charter members--80 strong, some as young as 5 years old--delighted audiences that Christmas season with their special brand of youthful charm. Discipline, a prime Angel requirement, extended to their posture on stage...hands at their sides, feet together, no distracting movement. (These Angels didn’t have the benefit of a year in the Training or "Reserve" Chorus which was established in 1965 to help ease the transition from self-conscious babes to confident young performers.)

After that first holiday season, The Singing Angels were such a fresh entertainment idea that they were suddenly in demand all year round for every type of local program from church fund raisers to business conferences in downtown hotels. The Lakeside Summer Art Festival became an annual performance in 1965. The group’s first television special was made for Christmas 1967 at WEWS-TV and repeated in 1968. In 1969, the Angels had their first Command Performance at the White House. That Christmas, Wayne Newton introduced them to the nation on the Kraft Music Hall Special on NBC. The Singing Angels’ first international tour was to Romania in 1974.

The first rehearsal hall was in the Statler Hotel, followed by the old downtown Cleveland YMCA. In 1970, the Angels made the Cleveland Fire Training Academy their musical home. Today, they rehearse in the Cleveland Masonic Temple.

Throughout the group's history the Angels have entertained millions of people as they performed in over twenty-nine foreign countries, starting with their first official tour to Romania. Subsequent tours included China in 1983, where the Angels sang at the Great Wall of China. In an era when United States visitors were strictly prohibited in the communist country the Angels were welcomed with open arms and treated as royalty. Russian Friendship Mission...trips to Ireland, Scotland, Poland and Spain...Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan...Germany, Italy, Taiwan...and the list goes on as the Angels' spirited songs span the world. In July 2000 the Angels were the sole representatives of the United States at the World Fair Expo 2000, held in Hanover, Germany. The Singing Angels' signature song "Let There Be Peace On Earth" resounded in several pavilions hosted by other nations - The Singing Angels are truly Cleveland's "Good Will Ambassadors of Peace."

The Singing Angels have been featured on national and international television, have performed four times at the White House and have appeared in concert with a host of superstars, including Bob Hope, Kenny Rogers, Wayne Newton, Celine Dion, and most recently The Barenaked Ladies.

In the early days of The Singing Angels, Dr. Jerome Gross, surgeon, violinist and Director of The Cleveland Friends of Music, said, "The Singing Angels demonstrate Democracy in Action Through Music." That was widely known as the first motto of The Singing Angels. Although the sentiment still rings true today, in the mid-1990s, the motto was updated to "Make Music. Make Friends. Make A Difference."

And make a difference they do....the three hundred Singing Angels present over 100 programs annually, which include many community service programs that benefit local programs such as WDOK's Cleveland Feed-A-Family, the American Red Cross, and Make-A-Wish Foundation. The Singing Angels' annual December Caroling Crusades is a thirty-year tradition that consists of teams of Training Chorus members performing at more than forty area nursing homes free of charge. Sharing their smiles and songs, our youngest Angels do.... Make A Difference.... for those in need.

The Singing Angels present two annual self-produced concerts, the Spring Benefit Concert and a holiday show. The major productions, currently held at the historically renovated theatres of Playhouse Square in Cleveland, Ohio, feature a lively repertoire of Broadway show tunes, patriotic songs, spirituals, contemporary pop, and barbershop harmony. The Angels' concerts are performed with skill and vitality, complete with precise choreography.

Achievements

Concert Tours

*2008 China
*2007 New England, New York
*2006 Italy, Greece, Turkey
*2005 Seattle and the Pacific Northwest
*2004 England & France
*2003 Hollywood
*2002 Let Freedom Sing Tour
*2001 Cruise, Western Caribbean
*2000 Germany, Poland, Lithuania
*1999 South East Tour USA
*1998 Spain, France
*1997 Germany, Austria, Italy, Czech Republic
*1996 Canada
*1995 England, Netherlands, Belgium, France
*1994 American Southwest
*1993 Ireland, Scotland
*1992 Russia
*1991 USA Air Force Bases (Ohio & D.C.)
*1990 Puerto Rico
*1989 Poland, Spain
*1988 Canada, Florida (Disney World)
*1987 Malaysia, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan
*1985 Canada
*1984 Germany, Austria, Hungary
*1983 China, Japan
*1982 Mexico
*1981 Wales, England
*1980 Germany, Italy, Austria
*1978 Japan, Taiwan, Israel
*1976 USA tour
*1974 Romania
*1972 Canada

Recordings

2005 "Somewhere in My Memory - 40 Years of Holidays with the Singing Angels"

2004 "Walking on Sunshine"

2001 "God Bless the USA"

2000 "Happiness"

1998 "We Wish You the Merriest"

1993 "And The Angels Sing"

1987 "Getting Ready for Christmas"

1984 "Make Someone Happy"

1983 "Jolly, Holly Days"

1981 "Christmas in the Air"

1981 "Get Happy"

1980 "Children of the World"

1979 "Great Day"

1977 "Finally It’s Christmas"

1976 "Sing America"

1974 "Tenth Anniversary"

1973 "Christmas Is Christmas All Over The World" (single)

1972 "Bill Boehm’s Singing Angels"

Supporting Act for the "Stars"

2007 Neil Zaza's One Silent Night, Palace Theatre, Cleveland Ohio

2006 The 5 Browns, Cain Park, Cleveland, Ohio

2006 – 2000 US Air Force Band, Lake Farm Park, Ohio

2005 Barenaked Ladies, Palace Theater, Cleveland, Ohio

2003 Nancy Sinatra, Egyptian Theatre, Hollywood, California

1997 Celine Dion, Gund Arena, Cleveland, Ohio

1994 Peabo Bryson, Roberta Flack, Cleveland, Ohio

1993 Kenny Rogers Christmas Show, Cleveland, Ohio

1991 Audrey Hepburn, UNICEF, Cleveland, Ohio

1988 Frank Patterson, Cleveland, Ohio

1988 Four Lads, Music Hall, Cleveland, Ohio

1985 Roger Williams, International Capital Goods Fair, Cleveland, Ohio

1983 Bob Hope, The Breakaway, Akron, Ohio

1978 President Gerald Ford, Front Row Theatre, Cleveland, Ohio

1974 Bob Hope, Pine Knob Pavilion, Pontiac, Michigan

1974 Bob Hope, Melody Fair Tent Theatre, Buffalo, New York

1972, 1970 Wayne Newton, MusiCarnival, Cleveland, Ohio

Command Performances

2006, 1997, 1980 The Vatican

2002 The Pentagon

2006, 1990, 1981, 1977, 1969 USA, The White House

1990, 1986, 1975, 1969 Cleveland Mayor’s Inaugurations

1983 Great Hall of the People, China

1974 Romania, President Nicolae Ceausescu

1973 President Inaugural Float, Washington, D.C.

1971 Governor’s Inauguration, Columbus, OH

1971 Super Sesquicentennial Celebration, Cleveland, OH

Major International/National Media Coverage

2003 Breakfast with the Beatles, KLSX, Los Angeles

1993 BBC Radio, Ireland

1989 Polish National TV

1987 Southeast Asia, Cable TV

1985 "Looking East" TV, Orient tour

1983 Walt Disney, Cable TV ; China, National TV; Japan, NHK-TV 1982 Mexico

1981 United Kingdom

1980 Italy

1978 Japan, NHK-TV; EMMY, regional, "Singing Angels Orient Tour"

1977 Bronze Award, International Film/TV Festival, NY, "And The Angels Sing"; EMMY, regional, "And The Angels Sing"

1976 Distinguished Award, Freedom Foundation of Valley Forge; USA "Sing America" with Bob Hope

1974 Bob Hope Christmas Special, NBC

1971 Half-time Browns/Colts playoff game, NBC

1970 EMMY, regional, "Songs of Christmas"

1969 Kraft Music Hall Christmas Special, with Wayne Newton

External links

* [http://www.singingangels.org The Singing Angels Website]