In truly a sad moment for the boys, New York City and all who have heard their wonderful performances, the Boys Choir of Harlem is no more.
Listening to the beauty they gave us helps mitigate the personal and corporate tragedy of the scandals that brought the choir down. And, while listening to their music alone cannot repair the lasting damage that abuse caused for the affected children, their music can, however, restore a sense of hope and open horizons. Indeed, the experience of hearing and performing with the Boys Choir of Harlem was, for many, a transcendent moment, propelling them out of the desert of their daily lives.
This transcendence is the core of the artistic experience and all children should be able to experience it. The Boys Choir is going the way of many arts programs in this country as we set them aside in favor of more glamorous and what we deem to be more useful pursuits. Yet the arts can create more change in behavior, more ability to reason and imagine and generate greater self-confidence than the frenetic pursuit of sport or a wide-eyed fascination with celebrity, gadgetry or political sophistry.
It’s a sad end for the Boys Choir of Harlem. Let’s hope that it does not herald a funeral for the arts in our cities.
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