The Vienna Boys Choir performs at the Centre for the Arts later this month.

Research shows that singing is good for the brain and the heart, but no studies are needed to prove that listening to a pure voice – or 25 of them in harmony – can bring pure joy.

For centuries, the venerable Vienna Boys Choir has been doing just that, and more recently for crowds the world over. It’s a legacy that carries on when the cherubic choristers take to the Centre for the Arts stage on Saturday, March 28 at 7:30 p.m.

Their performance promises a broad musical mix, showcasing the range and versatility of the choir’s timeless and sparkling sound. Gregorian chants to modern gospel, music by great composers such as Strauss and choir alumnus Schubert, international folk songs, and a nod to that other famed Austrian city with numbers from The Sound of Music are just some of what to expect during their stop in Niagara.

Combined, it makes for a stirring show that will resonate with the audience, no matter who is in it.

“Singing is happiness and children singing, in particular boys, will bring a smile to anyone’s face,” wrote Tina Breckwoldt, the choir’s dramaturgist and spokeswoman, while recently on the road with the group in Korea. “Adults may have memories and children react to other children doing something well. Professional boys’ choirs usually sing difficult choral music, which is impressive in and of itself. People appreciate the technique involved, the training, the sound.

“With us, it is a fun blend of music, and hopefully, an infectious sense of joy coming from the music-making.”

That knack for providing audiences with truly ethereal ear candy has been the choir’s trademark since the middle ages – its history traces back to 1498 when Emperor Maximilian of Habsburg instructed Viennese court officials to establish an ensemble of 10 to 14 juvenile singers that could provide musical accompaniment for mass.

Today, the choir boasts 100 members between the ages of 10 and 14 from 30 nations who are divided into four touring groups. Every year, they perform 300 concerts before half a million people throughout Europe, Asia, North America and Australia.

Every audience is different: older or very young in Europe; teenaged girls in Asia; families in North America.

That variability attests to the awe and appreciation that people – no matter their age – continue to have for the skill and training required to keep the Vienna Boys Choir a perennial crowd pleaser.

Regardless of how the world has changed since the group’s beginnings six centuries ago, the choral group continues to be on key for its legion of fans, Breckwoldt explained.

“Boys’ choirs might be seen as traditional and possibly even old-fashioned,” she said. “Of course, we see singing as part of our education, as part of culture, and a very important part of self-expression. And that can never be old-fashioned, can it?”

Limited seats still available including discounted tickets for students and children.

For tickets and more information please visit the Box Office in Thistle, call extension 3257 or visit Arts.BrockU.ca