Vienna Boys Choir tickets on sale

(Photo submitted) The Spencer Area Concert Association will host the world-renowned Vienna Boys Choir on February 14, 2009. Tickets are on sale now at Arts on Grand.

Tickets for the Feb. 14 concert by the Vienna Boys Choir go on sale to the general public today at Arts on Grand in downtown Spencer. The concert, sponsored by the Spencer Area Concert Association, will take place at 8 p.m. in the Old High School Auditorium.

Founded in 1498 by the Austrian Emperor Maximilian I for his imperial chapel, the Vienna Boys Choir is one of the most famous musical ensembles in the world. Until 1918, the choir performed exclusively for the imperial court. Following the breakdown of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the end of World War I, the former court choir boys became a private institution, and their former imperial uniform was replaced by the sailor suit that was then fashionable for boys. Because there was not adequate funding for the boys' upkeep, they began to perform outside the chapel. The impact was amazing. Before long, they had performed in Berlin, Prague, and Zurich. They first visited the United States in 1932.

Today there are around 100 choristers between the ages of ten and fourteen, divided into four touring choirs. The four choirs give around 300 concerts and performances each year in front of almost half a million people. Each group spends nine to eleven weeks of the school year on tour. They visit virtually all European countries, and they are frequent guests in Asia, Australia, and the Americas.

The choir often performs in large churches and cathedrals, but for its Spencer concert it has chosen to perform in the historic Old High School Auditorium. With seating on the main floor and two balconies, there is not a bad seat in the house. The auditorium's acoustics are especially well suited to musical performances, and every seat offers an excellent view of the stage.

*Vienna Boys Choir Tickets for the general public are priced at $30 for adults and $15 for students. A special rate of $25 for adults and $12.50 for students is available for groups of 15 or more. Concert Association season ticket holders can still purchase their tickets at $20 for adults and $10 for students. All seats are reserved. Ticket order forms (including a seating chart) for all three pricing categories are available at Arts on Grand. Payment must be by cash or check. Tickets will be mailed out after Thanksgiving. For more information, phone Arts on Grand at 712-262-4307 or visit www.SpencerConcerts.com.