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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]You don't mention whether your child is a boy or a girl.  This may be obvious, but the experience and commitment level is very different depending on if chorister is a boy or girl.  Because the boys age out of the program when their voices change, they can move on to participating fully in other sports and music groups at STA.  The girls are committing all the way through high school making sports and other extracurriculars much more difficult although not impossible.  Also your entire family's vacation schedule (Christmas and Easter) will revolve around the singing schedule for their entire secondary school career.  A truly amazing and unique opportunity but a longer (in terms of years) commitment for the girls[/quote]

I agree the commitment and experience is very different depending on whether you have a son or daughter in the program. It's a choir of pre-adolescent boys and older girls- not a bad mix for the boys.  But for the upper school girls much less appealing. The girls are supposed to commit all the way through 12th grade but there are so many other opportunities in upper school (plays,musicals, other singing groups, clubs) many want to quit by then.  There isn't a binding commitment to stay through 12th- other than losing the stipend.

It can be a great experience for a certain type of kid.  My DD is friends with several and their views on it are vastly different than those expressed by their parents. They sing to an empty ( or nearly empty) cathedral twice a week during evensong and then with a larger audience during church services most of the day every other Sunday - it's very spiritual and peaceful.  But not geared towards a child who enjoys the performance aspect of singing.  They sit a lot and stand but don't move around much.  This can be good discipline for young boys, but isn't great for older girls who spend all day sitting in class.  There are fewer girls than boys in each grade so the friendship dynamics can be difficult over the years for the girls.  The school does incorporate social skills into the chorister curriculum (they have their own classes for some subjects due to their chorister schedule) to try to address this.  My DDs friends also say the school is very accommodating of their time commitment and will let them take tests later and turn homework in late.  [/quote]

It's a wonderful program, and whether you are a boy or a girl, I would imagine it is an experience that will mold and define you in some way, shape or form, forever.  I must say PP, I was put off a bit by your post.  I know you are well meaning, but it was odd to me that you did not even have a child in the program, but still confidently make such a broad suggestion that the "commitment" is somehow lesser for a boy and his family is something I am sure a lot of boys, and their families, who have sacrificed in ways you cannot even imagine, would take issue with.  It is a huge commitment for anyone.  Period.  It is a fantastic experience for anyone.  Period.  All who participate, sacrifice in some way.  Period. [/quote]

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