Choir School of Delaware

The Choir School of Delaware, historically known as the Cathedral Choir School of Delaware, is a renowned institution with a rich legacy that extends beyond 130 years. It is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to serving at-risk students under the age of 18 from the greater Wilmington area through a comprehensive and multifaceted after-school program. The school's mission is to engage and support Wilmington’s youth and families through music and mentoring, providing professional musical training, academic support, leadership, language skills, and college-bound mentoring within an intergenerational environment. The Choir School of Delaware was established in 1883 in conjunction with the opening of the Cathedral Church of St. John’s at Concord and Market Streets in the Brandywine Village of Wilmington. Initially, the choir was an all-boys ensemble, but in 1973, it expanded to include girls, reflecting a more inclusive approach to musical education. A pivotal moment in the school's history occurred in 1990 when the Cathedral Dean and Director of Music sought a solution to the challenge posed by noisy neighborhood children in the Cathedral green after school. They invited these children to form a choir and began offering voice and piano lessons to interested students. This initiative marked the beginning of the school's transformation into a comprehensive after-school program. In 2005, the Choir School of Delaware was nationally recognized as the best after-school program in the nation with the Coming Up Taller award, which was presented by then-First Lady Laura Bush at the White House. That same year, the choir embarked on an international tour, performing at prestigious venues such as Exeter Cathedral, Truro Cathedral, and Buckfast Abbey in England. The school continued to expand its programs in 2007 by establishing a Mentoring Academy, where volunteer mentors began to work with individual students to support them in areas such as math, reading, and study skills. The choir also had the opportunity to tour New York City in 2008, performing at iconic churches including St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. A significant transition occurred in 2012 when the Cathedral Church of St. John closed its doors, prompting the Choir School to lease space on the second floor of the Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew. In 2017, the Choir School returned to its historic location at the Cathedral Church of St. John, bringing the organization full circle. The Choir School of Delaware's programs are holistic and multifaceted, engaging youth and families through professional-level lessons in piano, voice, and musicianship, academic tutoring, leadership development, enrichment, health and wellness programs, and opportunities for public performance and travel. The school prides itself on its intergenerational professional environment and its significant impact on the community, with 100% of its students graduating high school with a GPA of at least 2.0. The organization is supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on DelawareScene.com. With a dedicated management team and a network of volunteers, the Choir School of Delaware continues to make a difference in the lives of its students, fostering a love for music, education, and community service.