Hailing from countries on four of the seven continents and ranging between the ages of 10 to 14, the boys have performed in places such as Carnegie Hall in New York and the Vatican.

When comparing U.S. choirs to those from different countries, Jonathon Reed, professor of music and associate director of choral programs at MSU, said he doesn’t see a difference in techniques, but a difference in traditions. He said the Vienna Boys’ Choir is based on a cathedral choir school, but they have become more of an entity within themselves.

“Most of the choirs in the US are either associated with communities or public or private schools,” Reed said. “In Europe, most of the great choirs were associated with the great cathedrals. In cathedral choirs, the very young boys sang soprano and alto, while the older boys sang bass and tenor. This still holds true today in England.”

Reed is familiar with directing children’s choirs. He has taught choirs of all ages, including elementary, middle, high school and college students, and sees a difference in his own teaching techniques.

“I think when you’re working with younger-aged kids, your focus is not only teaching the music they have to sing, but also teaching them music literacy: reading notes and rhythms so they become better musicians as they get older,” Reed said. “Kids at the university level know how to read music. They get music theory courses and sight-singing courses outside of the choir.”

Brendan Johnson, an international relations sophomore, has 13 years of choral experience and was a previous member of Professor Reed’s glee club. His training as a young boy was definitely different than here at MSU.

“The most important thing I learned as a boy in choir is how to breathe correctly,” Johnson said. “I also learned more nuanced skills like how to use different registers versus belting and proper singing stance and facial expressions.”

Later on in his singing career, Johnson said these skills were more finely tuned.

“Range expansion became a goal because come puberty, voice types (change) significantly,” Johnson said. “Things like multi-part choral singing become possible with older singers, which allows for more advanced repertoire.”

According to Reed, the Vienna Choir Boys is one of very few children’s choirs in the world that performs at an incredibly high level. He said the selection process and music education put this children’s choir up and above the average children’s choir.

“The (Vienna Boys’ Choir) have kids from Japan, US, Germany, Vienna, and they are taking the very best students from a worldwide pool, where your average school choir may have only a sample from 800 kids,” Reed said. “Music is also the focus of their education in Vienna: music theory, ear training, sight singing and comprehensive music education.”