The La Crosse BoyChoir is a treble boys’ choir that brought the centuries-old tradition of European boys’ choral music to La Crosse, Wisconsin.
The La Crosse BoyChoir offers boys an active point of entrance into music and vocal training. Boys range from ages 7-14 and attend the many home, private, and public schools in more than 12 communities of the Seven Rivers Region.
Founded in 1974 by Daniel Johnson-Wilmot, now professor of music at Viterbo University, with the sanction of Viterbo University and the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, the University’s Fine Arts Center is still the rehearsal home to La Crosse BoyChoir to this day. Incorporating on 22 April 1975, an independent, volunteer board of directors governs the La Crosse BoyChoir.
Today, the La Crosse BoyChoir is comprised of three ensembles named after famous American composers, the (Norman) Dello Joio Choir, the (Aaron) Copland Choir, and the (Charles) Ives Choir. The ensembles rehearse once per week; and depending on the ensemble, for 45 minutes up to 2¼ hours, during the university’s academic year. The BoyChoir’s repertoire ranges from sacred to secular and from classical to modern.
The La Crosse BoyChoir performs several concerts each year and tours every two years, most recently traveling to Cincinnati, Ohio for the Queen City Children’s Choir Festival during the summer of 2010.
There have been three conductors in the history of the BoyChoir: Daniel Johnson-Wilmot (1974-2003), John M. Popke (2003-2004), and Judy Stafslien (2004-present).