Our History & Mission
The Saint Thomas Choir School was founded in 1919 at the request of Dr. T. Tertius Noble, organist and choirmaster of Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue. Dr. Noble had previously been the organist and choirmaster at York Minster in England, where all of his boy singers were students at their choir school.
When the rector and vestry of Saint Thomas called Dr. Noble to New York in 1913, Dr. Noble accepted the position with the understanding that a Choir School would be necessary to achieve the musical standard desired for the parish. A new school opened in 1919 on 55th Street with 21 boys.
The school remained at that site, with periodic renovations and additions, until 1987, when it relocated to its current location, a purpose-built fifteen-story building on 58th Street that houses the choristers and full-time faculty. In 1996, the school expanded to include third grade.
Beginning in September 2025, STCS is partnering with Professional Children's School (PCS) to offer an unparalleled, music-centered education in the heart of Manhattan. The boy choristers continue to live at the Choir School, immersing themselves in intensive musical training in a caring and familial environment. Complementing their musical and spiritual formation, the boy choristers will be formally enrolled at PCS, an institution with a longstanding tradition of academic excellence and a deep commitment to supporting the performing arts. At PCS, the boys will join a vibrant community of peers dedicated to excellence across various artistic and sporting disciplines, further enriching their educational experience. An average day will include several hours at PCS for core academics, with remaining time based at STCS engaged in chorister life, which will include continued studies in Latin, health, theology, and music theory, as well as weekly private music lessons, sports, and recreational activities.
