The Maryland State Boychoir is pleased to announce the 9th Annual Baltimore Boychoir Festival. This year's Festival will be held on Friday, May 16 and Saturday, May 17 and features Bob Chilcott as Guest Director. This Festival draws over 300 talented young men from across the United States together for two days, allowing them the opportunity to strengthen their skills, celebrate their art, and deepen their sense of community. The intent of such a festival is to bring together young men who have one thing in common—a love of singing.

Guest Director Bob Chilcott is one of the most active composers and choral conductors in Britain today.  He has been involved in choral music most of his life—he was a chorister in the choir of King's College, Cambridge and sang the Pie Jesu on the renowned 1967 King's recording of Faure's Requiem, conducted by Sir David Willcocks.  He returned to King's as a Choral Scholar, and between 1985 and 1997 was a member of the British vocal group The King's Singers.

As a conductor, Bob has worked extensively with choirs and festivals throughout the world.  For seven years, he was conductor of the Chorus at the Royal College of Music in London.  He is Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Singers, with whom he works regularly in studio recordings and concerts.  Twice he has been featured conductor for the youth project at Festival 500 in Newfoundland, and has conducted at festivals throughout Canada and the United States, including The World of Children's Choirs in Vancouver, the Niagra and Toronto International Choral Festivals.  He has been a featured conductor for the Japan Choral Association, and in 2004 was the first foreign conductor to conduct at the Song Festival in Talinn, Estonia.

Last year's event featured Dr. Randy Stroope, widely known as conductor, lecturer, and composer, as the Guest Director.