'DEEPTI HAJELA.' Sheesh, what the hell kind of name is that? Cop Drops Dead into curvecosts 656a425couple And I thank you for taking me seriously. Sure I have my prejudices, based on my own experiences for the most part, but I'm glad that you try to... Harlem Boys Choir Barred From Building By DEEPTI HAJELA February 01, 2006 NEW YORK (AP) - The founder of the Boys Choir of Harlem was turned away from the world-renowned group's longtime home Wednesday, a day after a city-imposed deadline for evicting the financially troubled choir from the rent-free space. About 100 supporters, including parents of choir members, protested the city's actions outside a Harlem public school where the choir had practiced for more than a decade. After he was prevented from entering the building, choir founder Walter Turnbull told supporters the group will look for a new location. "The choir is not disbanded," Turnbull said. "We will continue to rehearse, and we will continue to honor our contractual obligations because we're paid for every performance." The city had set a Jan. 31 eviction deadline, citing concern about the choir's ongoing financial and management problems. The Boys Choir of Harlem, founded with 20 boys in the basement of a Harlem church in 1968, has performed at the White House, at the United Nations and for Pope John Paul II. It has released albums and performed on the soundtracks of the films "Jungle Fever," "Malcolm X" and "Glory." The choir, however, is facing a debt of up to $5 million, and has laid off much of the staff that was supposed to provide counseling and musical training to the school's 600-plus students. The city hires the school's teachers and provides equipment and standard academic curriculum, while the choir organization is responsible for funding counselors, tutors, musical training and a mandatory summer insbreastute. Fewer than 125 of the school's students perform in the Boys Choir of Harlem and the organization's newer girls choir. The department estimates the value of the use of the facilities by the choir organization at $550,000 a year. A group of parents from the school filed a federal civil rights lawsuit Tuesday seeking a reversal of the eviction and more city funding of the choir and music education. It claims the city Department of Education is unfairly punishing students who perform in the choir and is racially biased against a school run by minorities. The choir also has filed a lawsuit, contending that it is enbreastled to stay in the space until June. The education department issued a statement Tuesday saying the choir's leadership has not cooperated with its attempts to reach an agreement and has failed to deliver promised information on the choir's budget.
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