Black PR Wire Power Profiler on Dr. Walter Turnbull

Dr. Walter Turnbull is an individual who is dedicated to saving the lives of children. As a national leader in three areas of service- education, the arts, and inner-city youth programs- it is evident that his passion is to encourage his students to achieve their highest potential, in spite of their surroundings.

He is a man that came from humble beginnings, grew up during segregation in the Deep South, and became the mastermind behind the most successful primary educational program in the world for underprivileged youth, The Choir Academy of Harlem.

Born in Greenville, Mississippi and raised by his mother, Lena Green, Turnbull faced many challenges living during a time where blacks were discouraged from making much of themselves. "Spending my formative years in highly segregated Mississippi gave me a keen awareness of who I was, what the perceptions of black people were, and what we had to do for ourselves to save ourselves," says Turnbull. While in high school, Turnbull joined the choir and learned the fundamentals of punctuality, concentration, and the importance of practicing to achieve perfection. He graduated with honors in classical music and vocal performance from Tougaloo College, near Jackson, Mississippi, and set his sights on becoming an operatic tenor. Turnbull eventually moved to New York, earning both a master's and doctorate degree from the Manhattan School of Music.

"After graduate school, I taught in public school and found that music was the thing that kids flocked to," says Turnbull. "Music really helps kids turnaround academically, in fact, it was a useful tool in their development." Turnbull's love of music soon inspired him to start the Boys Choir of Harlem (BCH) in the basement of Ephesus Church in 1968. He incorporated the Choir as a nonprofit organization in 1974. As they grew in size, inadequate schooling and the mean streets of New York undermined the youths' progress. This revelation prompted Turnbull to start a co-educational, college preparatory school for grades four through twelve, which now has an enrollment of 500 boys and girls-The Choir Academy of Harlem.

Teachers and other staff members work very closely with students to ensure excellence in all aspects of learning, beyond their choral performances. "The children are encouraged to do their best and to be their best," Turnbull explains. "In fact, the Academy boasts a 98 percent graduation rate and 100 percent of our students are accepted into college. The Boys Choir of Harlem itself is dedicated to world-class music, and we are taking the standards and discipline from how boys' choirs were developed in the 14th century and applying it to the 21st century boys' choirs."

Today, the BCH has become a world-renowned cultural phenomenon. They have performed in concert halls around the world and appeared on Broadway, in the White House, at London's Albert Hall and Tokyo's Budokan, plus many more exciting venues. "I approach all performances as the ultimate performance, but certainly the major houses like Carnegie Hall and New York Philharmonic are important because it says something about the quality of our work," he says. Furthermore, Turnbull was named "One of the 15 Greatest Men on Earth" by McCall's Magazine. And in 1996, he received the National Medal of Arts from President Clinton, although 28 years after the founding of the Boys Choir of Harlem, Turnbull believes this honor was right on time. "Put it in perspective...the idea from the very beginning was to make world-class music. By that time, we were making world-class music...I was very honored, to say the least. Being with all the other people who've received that medal, it was just quite stunning."

In addition to his leadership duties with the Choir, Turnbull is an accomplished writer. Lifting Every Voice: Expecting the Most and Getting the Best From All of God's Children, is an autobiography that highlights the journey of his life starting from childhood to the establishment of the BCH. Within the book, he outlines eight keys to success for the BCH, and for his own life. "These are things that I think are important and things that we have found here at the Boys Choir that work." All of the keys listed are needed for any organization to prosper: Keep an open mind to constructive criticism; know the surroundings and act accordingly; trust your own judgments; be honest with others and yourself; be a team player; set goals and complete them; be prepared for the unexpected; and develop and appreciate high standards.

In 1989, Turnbull began the Girls' Choir of Harlem, which also performs throughout the country. Director Lorna Myers and associate director Priscilla Baskerville head the girls' program. Additionally, several BCH replica projects are underway in various cities including Detroit, San Francisco, Milwaukee, Chicago and Miami, each with advisory support from New York.

Despite Turnbull's efforts to take the Choir to the next level, he faces many challenges, like ensuring that parents are involved with their children's education, as well as fundraising. "People see the Boys Choir of Harlem on TV all the time, which implies that everything is okay," says Turnbull. "But in fact, we struggle financially from day to day." With over 150 performances last year alone, the BCH institution survives by putting into practice the one dream Turnbull has for every student under his charge: "That they can become successful and committed members of society."

Turnbull specializes in cultivating the love of music in children and turning their lives around. His programs have helped children achieve their creative potential, build self esteem, find positive role models, and develop a strong value system of discipline, preparing them to become confident and motivated adults.

For further information on how you can support The Choir Academy of Harlem, please contact their offices at 212-289-1815.