Boys who are either in third grade, or have reached their eighth birthday are eligible for membership. We accept new boys up to grade seven. Boys may remain through their eighth grade year. (When a boy enters high school he may, upon successful audition,  join our men’s section of the choir.) Boys enter the choir as Probationers, a stage in which they may remain for several months before they actually sing in public worship. While in their probationary period, boys attend rehearsals but do not sing in church.

Singing Responsibilities

When a boy becomes a Novice, after his probationary period, he is called to sing in church at All Saints approximately twenty times during the choir year, which lasts from September through the first Sunday of June. Most of these singing engagements will fall on the first, third and sometimes, fifth Sunday of each month.

Concerts and Special Events

In the course of a choir season there will be several Special Events, these being concerts and services that fall at a time other than a Sunday morning. Most of these are on a Sunday afternoon at 5:00 PM. Our most celebrated program of the year is “Lessons and Carols,” on the Sunday immediately preceding Christmas day.

Rehearsals

There are two afternoon rehearsals each week for the boys of the choir. On Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons from 4:45 to 5:45, there is a rehearsal; you choose the best one for your schedule. On Thursday evenings beginning at 6:30 PM there is a rehearsal for all boys, lasting until 8:00. All boys attend the Thursday night rehearsal on a regular basis. An occasional absence due to school functions or a special sports event is permitted

Benefits of Choir Membership

  A boy singing in our choir will receive...

• Training in the skills of music performance
• An appreciation for the greatest music of the church
• Camaraderie with a group of fine young men
• A respect for the worship life of the church and growth in spirituality
• A small honorarium each month
• Recreational Activities
• Trips to other states and every four years, a trip to England!

Tours and Trips

As part of the choir program, a young boy will have the opportunity to go on various tours, both several-day journeys and one-day trips as we take our music to other places. In 1991, 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008 the Choir of Men and Boys went to Great Britain. We anticipate more trips like this in the coming years. These trips are considered a benefit for all boys in our choir, but no singer is required to go on them.

For members of other churches

Membership in the choir of Men and Boys is not limited to members of All Saints Church. Indeed, the majority of our boys are not members of this parish. No boy, or boy's family, is asked to join our church; we hope he will maintain active membership in his home church. Parents should understand that they need not be here on the Sunday mornings in which their son sings. Do understand, however, that your son is required to be here on Sundays of choir performance, and so this may effect his participation in events of his home church. Be assured that he will be participating in the rich worship life of this parish and he is welcome to attend Sunday School here. 

Membership for Teenagers and Men

The alto, tenor, and bass parts of our music are sung by singers older than eighth grade.  We sometimes have openings for men, high-school age and older. If you are interested in singing in this part of the choir, you may audition with the choirmaster.  Understand that, unlike the treble-boys, you already need to know how to read music and have singing skills.  We encourage men who love the classical music of the church and are experienced singers to audition. Men rehearse with the boys on Thursday evening, beginning at 7:00 pm, and have the same singing responsibilities outlined above (approximately twenty Sunday mornings and five or six occasional services on Sunday afternoons.)