Figure 1.--The Berkshire Concert Choir is seen here with both the boy and adult members in 1968. The boys wear dasrk blazers with grey short pants, and dark kneesocks. Many American choirs opted for traditional English-looking blazers for the choir uniform, although usually with long pabnts.

The costumes worn by American choirs, especially the secular ones, tend to be much simpler than has been true of European choirs. Americans have generally not been as interested in uniforms for children as the Europeans. Most American children, for example, have not worn school uniforms, although that does appear to be changing in the 1990s. American choirs have often copied the non-liturgical costumes worn by British choirs in recent years. American choirs often have blazers with the choir crest. The American choirs, however, have generally not had the short pants and knee socks worn by British choirs and schoolboys, at least until the 1980s. American choirs have not copied the common uniforms worn by French (blue sweaters and short pants and white kneesocks) and German (sailor suits) choirs. Most American boy singers participate in church choirs, usually a children's choirs of boy boys and girls. Some talented boys may also sing in the adult choir. These choirs wear robes, but usually not the fancy ruffled collars worn by English boy choirs as well as some other Euroean choirs.

Styles

The costumes worn by American choirs, especially the secular ones, tend to be much simpler than has been true of European choirs. Americans have generally not been as interested in uniforms for children as the Europeans. Most American children, for example, have not worn school uniforms, although that does appear to be changing in the 1990s. American choirs have often copied the non-liturgical costumes worn by British choirs in recent years. American choirs have often sported the look of an English school uniform. Several choirs in the 1990s, however, adopted a new look of more trendy styles. American choirs have not copied the common uniforms worn by French (blue sweaters and short pants and white kneesocks) and German (sailor suits) choirs.

Garments

American choirs often have blazers with the choir crest. The American choirs, however, have generally not had the short pants and knee socks worn by British choirs and schoolboys, at least until the 1980s.

Church Choirs