History

S. Norman Park founded the Dayton Boys Choir, Inc. in 1943. Mr. Park, assisted by his wife Mickey organized the Choir and directed it for twenty-three years. At the time he founded the choir, Mr. Park was supervisor of music for the Dayton Public Schools. His vision was to provide an outlet for the vocal talents of young gentlemen from the Dayton, Ohio area. As a Rotarian, Mr. Park was able to secure the support of the Rotary Club of Dayton to sponsor the newly formed choir, which was known as the Dayton Rotary Boys Choir. During his years of leadership, the choir made numerous tours in the U.S. and abroad and gained national and international fame. The beneficial influence Mr. Park and Mickey had on the lives of the choir members is immeasurable. Their personal sacrifices and enthusiastic leadership will always be remembered and appreciated.

Paul C. Magill was called upon to direct the choir in 1967, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the choir. He brought to the choir a fine educational background coupled with many outstanding talents as a musician and leader of young people. Under Mr. Magill's direction the choir continued to maintain its rich heritage of musical excellence, while offering young men the opportunity to grow in personal development.

John Heisey became director of the choir in 1971. Mr. Heisey is a former choir member, and brought special insight to both the performing and directing sides of choir life. He has been active in musical and theatrical groups in tile Dayton area. Mr. Heisey is retired from the Dayton City School where he was a music teacher. Mr. Heisey currently resides in the Dayton area and continues his involvement with music and performing.

When a new sponsor was needed in 1986, Mrs. Mary Mikesell Mapp stepped forward. She remembers the year's her father spent as a choir director at Shiloh church and felt that sponsorship of the Dayton Boys choir was an appropriate tribute to her parents, Daniel and Martha Mikesell. Her continued support is vital to the life of the choir and is greatly appreciated.

Thomas Witakowski and Terrence K. Grimes directed the choir for the 1988-1990 seasons, and continued to develop the singing abilities and musical perceptions of its members.

Daniel Greene, professor of the Vocal Studies and Choral Programs at Sinclair Community College, became the 6th director of the Dayton Boys Choir with the 1991 season. Under Mr. Greene's excellent guidance, the Dayton Boys Choir grew in size and artistic ability while continuing the trademark traditions of discipline and mutual respect. Mr. Greene brought to the choir a diverse performing background that included national and international experience. The Dayton Boys Choir's stage presence became a trademark of the group during Mr. Greene's tenure as Director.

A highlight of the 1994 50th Anniversary Celebration was the formation of the Dayton Boys Choir Alumni Association. The goal of this group is to bring together former choir members who share a special feeling about having belonged to the choir and who want to support its growth and remember its traditions. The DBC Alums have hosted the boys at various social activities, have solicited operating and special funding for the choir, and hold many positions of importance within the group.

We added a wonderful Music Camp in 1995, which has become a permanent part of the DBC summer activities. In 1996 we hosted the 2nd Annual All Ohio Boys Choir Festival, which included choirs, from four (4) other Ohio communities. Also in 1996 we performed with the Dayton Opera's performance of Puccini's TOSCA and Dayton Philharmonic's Christmas production of HODIE, a contemporary production of the Messiah.

Our tour was to "AMERICAFEST" International Festival of singing men and boys in St. Cloud. Minnesota. Over 450 boys representing, 18 choirs, and 8 countries performed over a weeklong festival. Dayton Boys Choir totaled 33 members in 1997, and continued with our tradition of SATB (soprano, alto, tenor & bass) voicing. 1997 also included a very active and supportive Parents Organization.

Our 1997 tour to Disney World in Orlando, Florida, with a stop in Atlanta, was the last tour under the direction of Daniel Greene, who moved on to pursue a doctorate degree in musical performance. Toni Merrill was selected as Music Director and his first official duty was to direct Annual Summer Camp. Tom's goals for the choir include adding a training choir, pursuing a more professional image for the DBC, and obtaining more broad-based funding to support future growth.

The 1999 season was very busy for the choir. Several "private" concerts were performed for specific people and functions, including a birthday party and a wedding! Spring Concert highlighted our "cool" tenor and bass section with a finale' that brought audiences to their feet. Tour included stops in Louisville, St. Louis and Indianapolis. We were lucky to perform in the new church of two of our members who were moving out there after the tour. The community welcomed us as one of their own with a standing room only crowd for our concert. Six Flags Over St. Louis was especially fun and our three-star dining experience is still being talked about! Camp brought us new boys and new music, as the sopranos and altos began to get ready for Carmen for the Dayton Opera. We closed the last of the 1900's with memories of lots of fun and lots of hard work.

Our 2000 season began with the selection of Dr. James Tipps as the Music Director of the Dayton Boys Choir. He is very optimistic about the future of the Dayton Boys Choir. The choir is one of Dayton's oldest musical organizations and has had a positive impact on the lives of hundreds of young men. The end of our 2002 season included a tour to Niagara Falls and a summer camp. At the summer camp, Daniel Greene worked as one of our camp instructors, along with Steven Rickards from the Indianapolis Children's Choir. Dr. Tipps subsequently resigned to pursue other opportunities.

In September of 2002, Daniel Greene returned as Director of the group. During the 2002 season, the Choir participated in many events, including opening for The Texas Boys Choir and the grand opening celebration at the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center. We participated in the annual All Ohio Boy Choir Festival in Cleveland, Ohio and took a tour to Washington D.C. The boys sang on the steps of the Capitol Building and took a tour of the White House. We performed at chuches and a nursing home in the D.C. area. In August, 2003, we hosted a residential camp at Camp Rolling Hills in Pleasant Hill, Ohio. We had 25 boys at camp and had alumni from the choir join us as counselors. It was a great experience for all.

The start of the 2003-2004 season brought us many new boys and we started the year with a perfomance at a wedding in September. The performances for 2003-2004 included performance at a 50 year Army Reunion, a wedding anniversary, and numerous holiday performances, as well as the Dayton Public Schools Reading Jamboree. We also participated in the annual Dayton Boys & Girls Club dinner where the guest speaker was Nancy Cartwright. The DBC will be hosting the 9th Annual All Ohio Boy Choir Festival and celebrating our 60th Spring Concert in May 2004. The boys will then take off to Orlando in June for their annual tour where we will shared the magic of the DBC with Disney and the Orlando area. In August, we will again hold a residential camp for 5 days to the boys of the DBC. Auditions are bringing more boys to the choir and camp and we are looking forward to growth and our next season.

Although, admittedly, there are more activities to compete with now than in earlier years, there are still many boys who have the desire to pursue the standard of excellence to which the Dayton Boy's Choir has always aspired. Professor Greene is confident that we will be able to increase the size of the group through building a relationship with area music educators continuing to work hard in publicity and audience development, as well as establishing a training choir.