About Us

The iconic Philadelphia musical treasure . . .
Established in the 1960s, the Emmy-winning and Grammy-nominated Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale has toured the world, recorded with internationally renowned orchestras and soloists such as Luciano Pavarotti, appeared on national and international television, and received praise from critics and audiences worldwide. Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale is America’s preeminent boychoir and men’s chorale. It is known as America’s Ambassadors of Song® and ranks among the best boy choirs in the world.

Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the early roots of the Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale were set in the Philadelphia Public School system of the 1960’s. In 1968, Dr. Robert G. Hamilton took over the All Philadelphia Elementary School Boys Choir, founded by Dr. Carlton Jones Lake, and eventually made it an independent entity. Dr. Hamilton transformed the organization, through his passion for quality and his dedication to music, mentoring and to fostering goodwill around the world through music. Dr. Hamilton’s energy and vision guided the Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale to its prominence as an internationally renowned musical icon. Dr. Hamilton remained artistic director for 37 years.

Today, the Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale is under the direction of Jeffrey R. Smith, who is also an alumnus of both the Choir and the Chorale. Smith became Artistic Director and Conductor in 2004 and celebrated his 20th year as PBCC’s director during the 2024-2025 season.

One of the hallmarks of the Choir’s year is its annual goodwill tour. Under Dr. Hamilton’s leadership the Choir went on its first foreign tour to Mexico in 1968. Since that time, the Choir has represented Philadelphia and the United States in nearly 60 countries including Russia, China, England, France, Cuba, Ecuador, Kenya, Australia, India and many others. In 2025 the Choir will return to Africa for the first time in several decades, where it will spend 10 days in Ghana.

The choir has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Philadelphia Ballet, the Philly POPS, Opera Philadelphia, and the Curtis Institute.  Venues have included the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, and Carnegie Hall in New York City.

The Emmy-winning and Grammy-nominated Philadelphia Boys Choir has performed under the batons of Maestros Eugene Ormandy, Riccardo Muti, Zubin Mehta, Klaus Tennstedt, Wolfgang Sawallisch and Yannick Nézet-Séguin in concerts with the Philadelphia Orchestra. The Choir has appeared on Good Morning America, Saturday Night Live, The Today Show, and many other television programs. It is often featured to sing at Philadelphia Phillies and Philadelphia Eagles games.

Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale alumni have gone on to enjoy distinguished careers in music, theater and the arts. Some notable alumni include Benj Pasek – Broadway Composer; Justin Hopkins – Opera Singer (Bass); Dave Lieberman – Food Network Personality and Chef; James A. Pierce, III – Actor; Jeffrey Smith – PBCC Artistic Director; Shawn Stockman – of the R&B group Boyz II Men; Ukee Washington – KYW-TV News Anchor; and Lawrence Zazzo – Opera Singer (Countertenor).

In 2011, the Philadelphia Girls Choir was founded, and in 2024 the Commonwealth Youth Choir was established under the PBGC umbrella, as a combined force from the former Pennsylvania Girlchoir and Keystone State Boychoir.

For more information, please contact the Choir office at 215.222.3500, or info@phillyboyschoir.org

Our Ensembles

Prelude – Prelude is our all-gender beginning training choir where most singers begin their musical journey! Beginning at age 6 and going through ages 9 or 10, this training choir teaches the basics of music theory, healthy singing, and working collaboratively towards a common goal.

Cadets – Cadets is the Boys Choir’s advanced training program, where singers will hone their musical and vocal skills as they prepare to enter the Performing Choir. Our Cadets also perform briefly in our Winter and Spring concerts each year.

Performing Choir – PBCC’s Performing Choir is our premiere ensemble for boys, complete with the signature red blazer. The Performing Choir has traveled the world on international tours, sings regularly with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Philadelphia Ballet, Opera Philadelphia, and more. Performing Choir is joined by the Junior Chorale/Chorale to complement their treble voices, expanding the repertoire to include treble-only selections but also SATB music.

Junior Chorale/Chorale – Our Junior Chorale members are joined by adults in the Men’s Chorale to sing the tenor and bass sections in four-part music. Our Chorale members also serve as chaperones for performances and during travel/tours.

TTBB Ensemble – New this year! Members of the Junior Chorale will form a brand new TTBB ensemble, that will perform its own repertoire in addition to with the Chorale and Performing Choir. More information to come soon!

Our Directors

Jeffrey R. Smith – Artistic Director

An alumnus of Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale, Smith became Music Director in 2004 and has since led the choir on concert tours throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia.  Under his direction, the choir has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Philadelphia Ballet, Philly POPS, Opera Philadelphia, and the Curtis Institute. Venues have included the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, and Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York City.  Smith has led the group on local and national television including five consecutive annual appearances on “Good Morning America”.  Many political dignitaries have been an audience to the choir, including foreign ambassadors, presidents and prime ministers, and American ambassadors and presidents.

Smith is a 1999 summa cum laude graduate of Ithaca College with a Bachelor of Music in Composition. His original compositions and vocal/instrumental arrangements have been performed by various ensembles throughout the country, including the Toledo Symphony, York Theatre (NYC), Ocean City Pops and Philly POPS.  As a pianist in much demand, Smith has played with the Philadelphia Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, Philly POPS, and for several shows on and Off-Broadway.

Nathan Wadley, Co-Artistic Director, will co-direct the Cadets with Mr. Smith for the 2025-2026 season.

We are also thrilled to welcome Daniel Jackson, who will lead our new TTBB ensemble!