According to the Rev. Frank E. Lioi, pastor of Auburn#'s St. Mary#'s Church, the upcoming performance of the American Boychoir may be the biggest event in Auburn next week.

The choir approached St. Mary's to inquire about hosting it as part of its December 2007 70th anniversary tour in the Northeast.

“Of course we do emphasize good music here - We formed a special committee called the cultural arts committee,” Lioi said.

In anticipation of the event#'s success, the church even canceled its Monday night bingo. Part of the reason for forming the new committee was that the 28 boys in the choir needed to be hosted two at a time in local homes. Fifteen volunteer homes are now lined up for the boys and St. Mary#'s is ready to provide a meal for them and a reception for after the performance.

There will be auditions for any boys who love to sing in third through seventh grades immediately after the performance. The auditions are for those interested in attending the American Boychoir School located in Princeton, N.J. No preparation is necessary for the auditions.

Similar to the Vienna Boys#, Choir, which is divided into four touring choirs, the American Boychoir is divided into three choirs in total. Respectively, they are a touring choir, a residence choir and a teaching choir.

Acoustics should be good for the holiday event, as Lioi says, “The church is fantastic for music.”

Conducting the heavenly treble voices will be Fernando Malvar-Ruiz. Selections from the choir's “Voices of Angels” program will be sung. The Voices of Angels program is billed by the choir as “a journey through time and tradition with music spanning centuries from around the globe.”

Members of the American Boychoir are boys from fourth through eighth grades. The choir performs and records regularly with world-renowned artists and ensembles such as the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, soprano Jessye Norman, pop singer Beyonce and jazz vocalist and conductor Bobby McFerrin.

Last September, the choir sang at the presidential prayer service in New York City, attended by President George Bush and the First Lady, Laura Bush, commemorating the fifth anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001.

First Niagara Bank is the corporate sponsor for the event.

If you go

What: Holiday concert by the American Boychoir

Where: St. Mary's Church, 15 Clark St., Auburn

When: 7 p.m. Monday

Cost: Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and $25 for families. Tickets are available in Auburn at Lewis Restaurant, 343 W. Genesee St.; Custom Engraving, 345 W. Genesee St.; Sam's Shoe Service, 20 E. Genesee St.; and the church office, 17 Clark St.

For details: Call 252-9545