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Founded in 2014 as a soprano line of children for an adult church choir, the Choir School of Newport County provides rigorous musical training while forming lives of character and service through the joy and discipline of intergenerational choral music.  

In singing classical music, children learn about teamwork and things that go well beyond music, according to Peter Berton, the founding executive director of the Choir School of Newport County who also serves as chapel organist of St. George’s School. “There is a theory called the ‘Mozart effect’—that classical music such as Mozart and Bach in its contrapuntal integrity activates the brain and fosters deeper learning, particularly in mathematics.  A neural phenomenon occurs when you sing quality complicated music well. Learning the skills, the notes, the breathing, the pitch, the vocal demands, and the complexity of your part. It’s not passive - you're in it.”

The choristers start at age 7; the Choir School also has a training division for ages four to seven that gets them started before they need to read words —rhythm, music notation, and teamwork. Rehearsals are three hours per week, including a dinner.

Every four years, the choir conducts a major educational tour—they have performed in England and in Argentina. “This is life changing—they love taking their show on the road to a totally new audience. Performer reaction to the audience reaction is powerful.”

Messiah at the Mansion is performed in December every year at Rosecliff, to a sell-out audience. They also sing at the Newport Folk Festival—last year they collaborated with Allison Russell. “It was amazing, like singing backup for a rock band.”

“We have a strong base of generous supporters, but we want to have the means to flourish and sustain this vision. Only an endowment can do this. We had a 'friendraising' tea one year ago with Dr. Barry Rose OBE, where Daniel Kertzner, senior philanthropic advisor at the Rhode Island Foundation, spoke about endowment possibilities at the Foundation.” Their goal was to raise $100,000 to begin an endowment fund and they achieved that; their ultimate aim for sustainability for this Fund is to reach $2 million.

Reflecting on the communal aspect of the choir, Peter concluded, “Singing together is a powerful experience that puts you in a positive state of mind and strengthens connections.”