Erik Freeland & Nathaniel Whitten

treble boy soprano

Erik Freeland & Nathaniel Whitten - USA

Erik Freeland has been a member of the Trinity Choir Boys for the past four years. Having attended the Friends Community School in West Chester during the earlier grades, Erik has proven himself to be an outstanding treble soloist, especially in the most recent years. He has achieved recognition not only as a soloist with the choir but also as a participant in community productions. He won the role of Lewis Leonowens in Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I, over hundreds of other applicants. He most recently played the part of Frederic in Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance at Westtown School.

Last Christmas he appeared as treble soloist for the performance of the Bach Magnificat, also at Westtown School. Erik has most recently been chosen from thousands of boys across the nation as a representative to the Americas Boychoir, an organization that travels and concertizes abroad each summer.

Erik is presently furthering his musical education with piano study. In spite of the many honors that have come his way, he remains a very natural unassuming twelve-year-old with a wonderful personality, and a truly professional approach to his work, making him a delightful boy with whom to work.

Nathaniel Whitten has been a member of the Trinity Choir Boys for six years. Presently enrolled at East Junior High School in West Chester, Nat received his elementary education at the Friends Community School. Nat possesses a remarkable gift for sight-singing as well as an almost perfect flawless ear for pitch, both contributing to his fine work as a chorister and treble soloist.

While with the choir Nat was chosen to sing the part of Amahl in the West Chester State College production of Menotti's opera Amahl and the Night Visitors. He also sang the part of Ham in Benjamin Britten's Noyes Fludde at Westtown School. In 1972 Nat was chosen to travel with the Americas Boychoir, singing in numerous European halls and auditoriums during the choirs annual summer concert tour. During the summer of 1974, Nat participated in the international musical eisteddfod in Llangollen, North Wales, receiving fine comments from the festival judges. Most recently, Nat was chosen as the recipient of the Gold Cross, an annual award given to the boy who best exemplifies the fine attributes of a choir boy.

Currently Nat is furthering his musical education with the study of organ and cello. Nat's enthusiasm for musical endeavor and his spirit of cooperation make working with this fourteen-year-old boy a unique pleasure.

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Discography

Erik Freeland and Nathaniel Whitten

Erik Freeland and Nathaniel Whitten with the Trinity Choir Boys (1975)
Recorded Pubs Co TCB 021575, LP
with choristers Erik Freeland & Nathaniel Whitten

1.   Sound the Trumpet (Purcell)
2.   An Earthly Tree a Heavenly Fruit (Byrd)
3.   Pie Jesu [Requiem] (Faure)
4.   The Cuckoo Song (Arne)
5.   The Silver Swan (Gibbons)
6.   The Snow Lay on the Ground (Sowerby)
7.   Shepherd, Shepherd Leave Decoying (Purcell)
8.   O'er Death [Cantata no 4] (Bach)
9.   Bless this House (Brahe)
10.   Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion [Messiah] (Handel)
11.   Hark Hark! The Lark (Schubert)
12.   Fine Knacks for Ladies (Dowland)
13.   The Holly and the Ivy (Gardner)

Tracks 1-6 - duets and solos by Erik Freeland, Tracks 7-13 - duets and solos by Nathaniel Whitten

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