History

The Singing Angels was founded in 1964 by Bill Boehm with the dream of creating a program that would bring children of various ages and backgrounds together to learn and perform "good" music. The first group of charter members--80 strong, some as young as 5 years old--delighted audiences that Christmas season with their special brand of youthful charm. Discipline, a prime Angel requirement, extended to their posture on stage...hands at their sides, feet together, no distracting movement. (And these Angels didn’t have the benefit of a year in the Training or "Reserve" Chorus which was established in 1965 to help ease the transition from self-conscious babes to confident young performers.)

After that first holiday season, The Singing Angels were such a fresh entertainment idea that they were suddenly in demand all year round for every type of local program from church fund raisers to business conferences in downtown hotels. The Lakeside Summer Art Festival became an annual performance in 1965. The group’s first television special was made for Christmas 1967 at WEWS-TV and repeated in 1968. In 1969, the Angels had their first Command Performance at the White House. That Christmas, Wayne Newton introduced them to the nation on the Kraft Music Hall Special on NBC. The Singing Angels’ first international tour was to Romania in 1974.

The first rehearsal hall was in the Statler Hotel, followed by the old downtown Cleveland YMCA. In 1970, the Angels made the Cleveland Fire Training Academy their musical home. Today, they rehearse in the Cleveland Masonic Temple.

Throughout the group's history the Angels have entertained millions of people as they performed in over thirty-one foreign countries, starting with their first official tour to Romania.  Subsequent tours included China in 1983, where the Angels sang at the Great Wall of China.  In an era when United States visitors were strictly prohibited in the communist country the Angels were welcomed with open arms and treated as royalty. Russian Friendship Mission...trips to Ireland, Scotland, Poland and Spain...Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan...German, Italy, Taiwan...and the list goes on as the Angels' spirited songs span the world.  In July of 2000 the Angels were the sole representatives of the United States at the World Fair Expo 2000, held in Hanover, Germany.   The Singing Angels' signature song "Let There Be Peace On Earth" resounded in several pavilions hosted by other nations - The Singing Angels are truly Cleveland's "Good Will Ambassadors of Peace."

The Singing Angels have been featured on national and international television, have performed four times at the White House and have appeared in concert with a host of superstars, including Bob Hope, Kenny Rogers, Wayne Newton, Celine Dion, Eartha Kitt, Cathy Rigby, BJ Thomas, and the U.S. Army Band.. 

In the early days of The Singing Angels, Dr. Jerome Gross, surgeon, violinist and Director of The Cleveland Friends of Music, said, "The Singing Angels demonstrate Democracy in Action Through Music."  That was widely known as the first motto of The Singing Angels.  Although the sentiment still rings true today, in the mid-1990s, the motto was updated to "Make Music. Make Friends.  Make A Difference." 

And Make a Difference they do....the three hundred Singing Angels present over 100 programs annually, which include many community service programs that benefit local programs such as WDOK's Cleveland Feed-A-Family, the American Red Cross, and  Make A Wish Foundation.  The Singing Angels' annual December Caroling Crusades is a thirty-year tradition that consists of teams of Training Chorus members performing at more than forty area nursing homes free of charge.   Sharing their smiles and songs, our youngest Angels do.... Make A Difference.... for those in need.