An International Award Winning Boys' Choir

Tradition Since 1976...

Founded in Elk River, Minnesota, in 1976, the Land of Lakes Choirboys has grown from a small group of 18 boys to an organization of six different choirs with over 120 boys each season. The Viking Choir tours nationally and internationally and is made up of our most experienced boys 9 - 14 years old. The Nordic Choir tours nationally and is made up of boys 8 - 14 years old. The Voyager Choir tours regionally and is made up of boys 8 - 12 years old. The Training Choir is made up of boys 8 - 12 yrs old. The Prep Choir is made up of boys 5 - 7 years old. The Alumni Choir is made up of choirboys who have experienced voice change and have graduated from the Choir.

The Viking Choir

The Land of Lakes Choirboys’ “Viking Choir” ranks as one of the world’s finest boy choirs, often spoken of in the same breath as the Vienna Boys’ Choir. Winner of two Silver Medals and two Gold Diplomas at the “World Choir Games” in Graz, Austria in July, 2008, where the Land of Lakes Choirboys were one of 450 choirs from 93 countries, of the “2006 Cruise Festival Overall Grand Championship Award”, and also of the 2004 International Trebby Award for “Best Boys’ Choir Album” with its CD “Steal Away”, the Viking Choir constantly amazes audiences and critics throughout the world, with the richness, clarity, depth and power of their singing.

This internationally-renowned choir has presented concerts throughout the United States and Hawaii, has undertaken twelve concert tours to Europe and two to New Zealand and Australia. In 1999 the Viking Choir received an invitation to open the International Bach Festival in Ratingen, Germany (becoming the only boys’ choir outside of Germany to have received the honor of opening this annual festival). Here the choir asserted its position as one of the premier boys’ choirs in the world by receiving a ten-minute ovation after a superb performance of a Bach Cantata.

The Land of Lakes Choirboys’ “Viking Choir” has made several appearances with orchestras. It has sung with the Minnesota Youth Symphonies in a performance of a Bach Cantata, with the Rochester Symphony Orchestra and Chorale in a performance of Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana”, with Tony Sandler in his Christmas Productions throughout the Twin Cities Metro Area, greater Minnesota and Wisconsin, and with the Minnesota Orchestra and Chorale in Doc Severinson’s Christmas Show at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, MN. The Minnesota Opera Company occasionally uses boys of the Land of Lakes Choirboys as soloists and chorus members for its opera productions.

The Viking Choir has also worked as a demonstration choir at vocal workshops in Minnesota, Maryland, New Zealand, Australia, and also for the Children’s Choir of the Saarbrücken Opera House, Germany.

Top Quality Musical Performance

Music critics from all around the world rave about the performances of the Land of Lakes Choirboys Viking Choir. Being the only boys’ choir outside of Germany to have received the honor of opening the International Bach Festival in Ratingen, Germany, in June 1999, with a full concert, the Land of Lakes Choirboys asserted its position as one of the finest boys’ choirs in the world by receiving a ten-minute ovation after a superb performance of a Bach Cantata. Perhaps the most talked-about aspects of the Viking Choir are its pure and hauntingly beautiful sound, its power, and flawless intonation. Back home in Minnesota the boys continue to awe and inspire audiences with their unique sound and vast repertoire ranging from the Baroque to modern-day hits. Here are some of the accolades accorded the Land of Lakes Choirboys:

"A truly amazing musical presentation."
-Dr. Rick Good, Professor of Music, Auburn University, AL

"The sheer beauty and crystalline clarity of the unchanged male voice were well-displayed. As true world-travelers and goodwill ambassadors, these are young boys of which all Minnesotans may be proud."
-Princeton Union-Eagle

“…Sounds of overwhelming purity and transparency...”
-Schlitzer Bote, Germany

“Pure intonation, impeccable enunciation, excellent vowel formation, wide dynamic range, effortless top notes, fantastic voice placement…the Land of Lakes Choirboys are outstanding. ”
-Schwäbische Post, Germany

“The Land of Lakes Choirboys sing with a thrilling Viennese sound…impeccable diction and tuning…”
-Strathearn Herald, Glasgow, Scotland

“It is completely without doubt that the Land of Lakes Choirboys from Minnesota count as one of the best boys’ choirs in the world…”
-Reichenhaller Tagblatt, Germany

Our Mission & Vision

The ‘Mission’ of the Land of Lakes Choirboys is “To enrich the lives of boys by teaching excellence in choral music and self-discipline, thus preserving the heritage of boy choirs”.

The ‘Vision’ is “To make the Land of Lakes Choirboys a world-renowned quality academic and musical training program that develops musical ability, individual character, and leadership skills for boys”.