Despite a financial crisis which has landed the American Boychoir School (ABS)  in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, classes at the choral academy began this week at the school’s new location in Hopewell. Some 32 boys are enrolled, including eight new students, at the Rambling Pines camp, according to a September 10 report to supporters of the organization by Rob D’Avanzo, the Chairman of ABS’ Board of Trustees. That figure is down from 50 students, as reported on the ABS website last spring.

“When I last wrote to you on June 11, it was to announce our plans to go forward with the work necessary to open ABS this fall under a ‘homestay’ model,” Mr. D’Avanzo said. “Over the course of the summer, we have completed that work. The staff has moved into our new facilities, the homestay structure is in place, scheduling of the tours is well underway, and classes will start on September 14.”

The 19 students who are not from the Princeton area are living with local families, but the long range goal is to return to a boarding school model. Founded in Columbus, Ohio in 1937 and moved to Princeton in 1950, the school for boys in grades four to eight was located on Lambert Drive until relocating to Plainsboro in 2013. The ABS choirs have performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic, among others. Boys spend a year in the Training Choir before being considered for the Concert Choir.

ABS filed for bankruptcy last April following several years of financial struggles. After announcing that $350,000 was needed to keep the school going until the end of a shortened school year, the choral academy exceeded its fundraising goal by some $9,000. Mr. D’Avanzo thanked local organizations for providing space in recent months so that activities could continue. The annual summer camp was held at The Hun School, and rehearsals took place at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton in preparation for a performance at the Tanglewood Music Festival on August 8.

Mr. D’Avanzo’s letter emphasizes that further fundraising is necessary to keep the school going. In order to reorganize under Chapter 11, ABS needs to demonstrate to the Court that the organization can operate successfully under a new plan. “That brings me to a critical appeal,” he said, adding that the 2015-2016 budget includes raising $950,000 of revenue from its Annual Fund. Many students require scholarship assistance, requiring over half a million dollars.

“You can be assured that the Board and the ABS staff have considered every possible cost-saving strategy consistent with prudent operation and the School’s mission: to succeed, achieving our $950,000 goal for the Annual Fund is essential.” More than $350,000 was raised “in a few short weeks” after the April filing for bankruptcy protection. “Simply put, to stay solvent on a month-by-month basis, we need to raise a significant portion of the $950,000 in the next three months — preferably sooner! We need to show the Court that we can operate our first semester without running a deficit. When we do that, we can start to put forward a formal plan for ABS’s reorganization and eventual emergence from Chapter 11.”

The school has four tours scheduled along with annual concerts and a series of performances with the Philadelphia Orchestra next March. The Annual Fund appeal will start later this moneh, but Mr. D’Avanzo urges supporters to dig into their pockets as soon as they can. “Please give, and give generously, so that we can report to all of you (and to the Court) about more fundraising successes and build momentum for our reorganization.”