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This article needs references that appear in reliable third-party publications. Primary sources or sources affiliated with the subject are generally not sufficient for a Wikipedia article. Please add more appropriate citations from reliable sources. The Boys Choir of Harlem (also known as the Harlem Boys Choir) is a choir located in Harlem, New York City, United States. Founded in 1968 by Dr. Walter Turnbull at the Ephesus Seventh-day Adventist Church in Harlem, the choir has grown to be more than just a performing group. Drawn from children in the neighborhood, the majority of the choir's members are African American or Hispanic. In its early years, Rev. Frederick B. Williams gave them a base at the Church of the Intercession at 155th Street and Broadway. The choir established a professional school incorporating a regular academic curriculum, the Choir Academy of Harlem. It was supervised by the New York City Department of Education; at its peak, it had a student body of over 500 boys and girls. Because of staff scandals, the group lost use of the school facility in 2006. Performers receive rigorous voice training and perform many types of music, including classical, hip-hop, R&B, jazz, and gospel music. The choir is internationally known. Over 150,000 people see the choir live each year across the United States as well as in Canada, France, Japan, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Unlike its Austrian cousin, the Vienna Boys Choir, the Boys Choir of Harlem does not include only boys who have not reached puberty. The range of music performed is such that it requires both natural boy sopranos whose voices have not yet changed and more mature voices of teenagers who can sing tenor and bass roles. The choir has performed for Presidents at the White House, and dignitaries at the United Nations. It also performed live for the visits of international dignitaries such as Nelson Mandela of South Africa and Pope John Paul II. The choir was recorded for soundtracks of films, including Glory, Malcolm X, and many Spike Lee films. It performed on Chicago rapper Kanye West's song "Two Words". The boys' voices have also been part of albums with Michael Jackson, Kathleen Battle, Luciano Pavarotti, Quincy Jones, Kiss and more. The choir also performed "America the Beautiful" to open WrestleMania XX. Following the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, the choir was invited to sing "God Bless America" at the Cantor Fitzgerald memorial service in Central Park. This was filmed in the documentary In Memoriam: New York City 9/11/01. In 1995 they performed in The Wizard of Oz in Concert: Dreams Come True, a musical concert at Lincoln Center to benefit the Children's Defense Fund. The performance was originally broadcast on Turner Network Television (TNT), and issued on CD and video in 1996. The choir for many years enjoyed the sponsorship of the City of New York; former NYC Mayor David Dinkins authorized their free use of the Arthur Schomburg School on East 127th Street in Harlem. The choir director lost this support through a series of scandals. First, his lack of financial controls led to the program's running up a $5 million deficit. Second, in 2001, the choir's chief counselor reportedly abused a student. Dr. Turnbull failed to fire him or report the abuse to authorities. As a result, in early 2006 the city required Dr. Turnbull and other choir staff to leave their long-time home. The Choir has now relocated to the Metropolitan Community Methodist Church. Dr. Walter Turnbull died at age 62 on March 23, 2007 in a New York City hospital after having suffered a stroke.
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