The Vienna Boys’ Choir, which sings 300 times a year in front of almost half a million people, performed songs of peace, happiness, miracles and men at Holy Name of Jesus Church.

The College of Music hosted the choir on Sunday. The choir’s 41st concert of the year packed the church. The large number in attendance forced some audience members to stand in the back of the church, while some were left outside of church altogether.

When Emperor Maximilian I decreed in 1498 that there were to be six boys among his court musicians, he had unwittingly laid the foundations for the Wiener Säängerknaben, better known as the Vienna Boys’ Choir. Today, more than 500 years later, the Wiener Säängerknaben continues to sing Sunday services in the Imperial Chapel.

Each season they carry on the rich traditions of Vienna’s musical life as a living heritage that traces its roots to such figures such as Mozart, Haydn and Schubert.

The audience danced and clapped to the choir’s music. One audience member, Tim Fields, was particularly impressed by the children’s performance.

“They were better than the Peking Opera,” Fields said.

Chris Alderman, another audience member, agreed with Fields.

“They are real famous. They have beautiful voices, and they are the epiphany of boys’ choir. We want to hear their voices in church, and they are so disciplined. We love to hear them sing at this church,” said Alderman, who watched the choir from the back of the church.

Also in attendance was Jack Sullivan, who produced the first piece the boys sang.

“I taught the first piece, and I thought that they were going to sound like the usual opera sounds. But I didn’t expect them to sing in very high voices,” Sullivan said.

The performance not only stood out to the teacher and students but to parents and others who attended the church on Sunday night.

“They sing church music, but they are doing different complexes with their voices which is incredible to listen to and to be part of,” said Chet Pourciau, a member of the church and a fan of the Vienna Boys’ Choir.

Pearla Mutombo can be reached at [email protected].