The Boys Choir of Hampton Roads conducted by Julius E. McCullough with Mrs. Geraldine T. Boone as founder and accompanist, celebrating its 15th year with 14 performance and three full concerts, culminated its outstanding musical year by traveling to Dallas, Texas, July 29 through August 1, 2012, to attend and perform at the national convention of the National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc., (NANM), the country’s oldest organization dedicated to the preservation, encouragement and advocacy of all genres of the music of African Americans.  NANM, Inc., since its inception, has provided encouragement and support to thousands of African-American musicians, many of whom have become widely respected figures in music and have contributed significantly to American culture and music history. Such luminaries include Marian Anderson (first scholarship award recipient in 1919), William L. Dawson, Florence B. Price, Margaret Bonds, Warren George Wilson, James Frazier, Julia Perry, Grace Bumbry, Leon Bates, Joseph Joubert, Awadagin Pratt, and many, many others.  
 
 The Boys Choir traveled 2,780 miles from Virginia and back, through North Carolina, South 
"Lord, I Done Done"
THe NANM National Chorus
Julius Miller, Director
"We're The Men"
"City Called Heaven"
"Make Them Hear You"
THE BOYS CHOIR OF HAMPTON ROADS SINGS TRIUMPHANTLY IN DALLAS
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video performance
Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, to Dallas, Texas.  The trip, which was a virtual geography and history lesson, provided an opportunity for these young musicians to benefit from the attention of professional musicians and to enjoy the fellowship of other young aspiring musicians.  For the aspiring artist, here was the opportunity to be heard by peers and to see, even meet, recognized performers.
 
At the Convention’s Youth and Collegiate Concert, The Boys Choir performed "Make Them Hear You",  "City Called Heaven" with solo by Dontae Broadus and "We're The Men" before many of the greatest African-American Musicians in America.  These appreciative composers, conductors, pianists, singers, college professors, and supporters of the arts, who came from New York to California, gave our The Boys Choir thunderous applause and a standing ovation.
 
The eight young men of the 23 member Boys Choir also joined performers from Detroit, Michigan to comprise the combined National Chorus performing two selections. The Boys Choir members who performed so well and brought great recognition and honor to our community were: Devarr Brickhouse, David Whyte, Anthony Brooks, Dontae Broadus, Mike Alston, DaQuon Riddick, D’Andre Riddick, and Xavier Alexander.
 
Just for fun, the Boys got a chance to visit the J.R. Ewing ranch of the TV series, Dallas, to go swimming in the hotel pools in Alabama and Dallas and of course, no trip could be complete without the proverbial trip to the Mall.
 
 
The 2012-2013 season begins Thursday, September 13, 2012 with auditions on Thursday, August 23, 2012, 5:30pm and Saturday, August 25, 2012, 10am at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 913 Covenant Street, Norfolk, VA 23504.  For more information and to make appointment call: 757-553-7545.
You are encouraged to enroll your young man, age 7-17, in this wonderful life changing performing organization, fast becoming the Pride Of Hampton Roads.
 
The organization of the Boys Choir of Hampton Roads owe a debt of gratitude and thanks to the many generous members of our community who contributed generously to help raise the $14,000 necessary to make the trip possible.  Thank you for demonstrating that it does take a village to raise a child.
 
This trip was sponsored by TAM (Tidewater Area Musicians Branch of NANM), TAPs (Those Amazing Parents) and The Board of Directors of the Boys Choir.