| Summary: | Choral director Walter J. Turnbull was born in Greenville, Mississippi on July 19, 1944. After graduating with honors in classical music and vocal performance from Tougaloo College, Turnbull eventually settled in New York City aspiring to be an operatic tenor. But when he took a job teaching music in the basement of the Ephesus Church in Harlem, the choir, eventually named the Boys Choir of Harlem, moved quickly from church performances to public concerts and recitals. In 1986, Turnbull created the Choir Academy of Harlem, which expanded over the years becoming a college preparatory school serving over 500 students in grade 4 through 12. In 2003, Turnbull received an honorary doctorate of music degree for his lifelong commitment to music, both as an accomplished performer and as the founder of the Boys Choir of Harlem. He was also the recipient of the National Medal of Arts, among other awards. Turnbull passed away on March 23, 2007.
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