Features Editor

The All-American Boys Chorus is coming to Troy.

The internationally acclaimed chorus is expected to perform before a sold-out audience at

2:30 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 23 at the Claudia Crosby Theater on the campus of Troy State University.

The All-American Boys Chorus performance is the first in an outstanding calendar of events sponsored by the Troy Council on the Arts and Humanities for the 2001-2002 season.

Bobbie Swisher, publicity chairperson for the arts council, said the performance of the All-American Boys Chorus will be comparable to that of the Vienna Choir Boys in 1999.

"Although the Vienna Choir Boys might be better known, the All-American Boys Chorus is just as outstanding," she said. "In fact, the booking agent for the chorus guarantees that the boys will sing the crowd to its feet or they’ll return their fee."

The Vienna Choir Boys performance was a sell-out and continued requests for tickets indicated the theater could have sold out a second time.

"Those who attended the Vienna Choir Boys performance will certainly be in line for tickets for the All-American Boys Chorus," Swisher said. "And, probably ahead of them will be those who were unable to get tickets for the performance. The All-American Boys Chorus will be just as outstanding. No one who enjoys music will want to miss this performance. This is a rare opportunity."

The All-American Boys Chorus, headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif., will bring its troupe of singers to the Claudia Crosby Theater for a concert featuring their exciting "Salute to America and Her Music."

The 30-voice ensemble, whose members range in age from 9 to 14 years old, are veterans of concert tours in North America, Europe and the Orient.

"They will present audience favorites from American’s musical history," Swisher said. "Best of Broadway selections include ‘Tonight’ from West Side Story, ‘Ol’ Man River’ from Showboat and ‘Trombones’ from The Music Man.

There will also be medleys featuring the California sounds of The Beach Boys, toe-tapping tunes from the Roaring Twenties, swinging songs from the Big Band era and dynamic Dixieland melodies. A patriotic tribute will highlight the music of George M. Cohan and John Phillip Sousa and will include a stirring rendition of Lee Greenwood’s

"God Bless the USA."

"The selections by the All-American Boys Chorus will be familiar to almost everyone and young people and children will enjoy the music as much as adults," Swisher said. "This performance is family oriented and we believe ticket sales will be swift."

Tickets for the Sept. 23, Sunday afternoon performance are $15 for adults and $10 for students. Tickets are available at local banks and TSU’s School of Music by calling 670-3322.

"Many people were disappointed at not being able to get tickets for the Vienna Choir Boys, so we encourage everyone to get their tickets early because the concert by the All-American Boys Chorus is a performance no one will want to miss," Swisher said.