I only just learned late last night that James Litton died on November 1.

Litton was well-known in Princeton and abroad for his long association with the American Boychoir, of which he served as music director from 1985 to 2001. Under his leadership, the choir performed more than 2,000 concerts in 12 countries and 49 states. He also broadened the choir’s palette by allowing singers with changing voices to remain.

Litton prepared the ensemble for performances with a number of the world’s leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony, the Boston Pops, the Chicago Symphony, the Israel Philharmonic, the National Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, and the Vienna Philharmonic. In addition, he made many recordings with the group, and oversaw its participation in television commercials, television shows, and movies.

After stepping down in Princeton, he became choirmaster at Washington National Cathedral. He was regarded as one of the country’s finest choral music directors, and his influence was wide, but close to home, he will always be associated in people’s memories with the American Boychoir.

At the time of his death, Litton was 87 years-old.

https://obits.nj.com/us/obituaries/trenton/name/james-litton-obituary?id=36990061