Join Our Choir School

A series of workshops designed to deepen your understanding and appreciation of music

In this message, Ian Cunningham reflects on the exciting opportunities ahead for the All Saints Choir School. He shares his personal connection to the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) and highlights upcoming events and programs that will inspire and enrich choristers and their families.


From Ian Cunningham


I had hoped to share a few words at the Choir School Kickoff in August, but we decided that I could write a short message to the church and all those in the "Choir School Family."


When I first heard that All Saints was finally becoming associated with the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) and adopting the Voice for Life® curriculum, it was a dream come true.


I spent my first few years at All Saints evangelizing about RSCM, since Voice for Life® was the first pillar of my music education. I later attended the nation's largest RSCM choir residency—an intensive choir camp for young singers—eleven times. The course was held at King's College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Started in the 1990s, it took place yearly until 2019. I attended this choir residency five times as a chorister and then another six as a staff member. It was an integral part of my young adulthood, and I made lasting friendships and connections with vocalists, organists, and conductors from around the country during my time there.


The weeklong camp I attended at King's no longer exists, but some of the alumni formed a new one. In 2022, this new camp began: the RSCM Midwest America Summer Choral Residency at Indiana's University of Evansville. Its registration recently opened for July 21–27, 2025. I am joining the residential staff there this coming summer, and I hope, through this program, to finally introduce my children, Poppy and Soren, to some of the most notable musicians in the country. All of our All Saints Choir School choristers aged 10 and up will have that same incredible opportunity.


There is also a weekend event in Nashville on March 22–23, 2025, roughly halfway between here and Indianapolis, which would work well as a stepping stone for curious choristers and their families. The 26th Annual Cathedral Chorister Festival at Christ Church Cathedral is a two-day event that will allow choristers to work with musicians from across the nation. On Saturday, choristers will rehearse in preparation for a Sunday morning service and evensong the following day. We already have choristers signed up, and we would love for more to join.


All this is to say that Maggie and Brad, bringing us into the arms of this global community, is a gift! The free workshops provided by the Choir School are priceless. The special services the choirs sing—the upcoming Contemplative Evensong on February 5, the Lessons and Carols of Creation later this spring, the Service of Remembrance every November, and the yearly Advent Lessons and Carols in December—are gorgeous and memorable events.


The All Saints Choir School programs have always been something special for the Birmingham area, but all of these upcoming opportunities to sing, learn, and travel are a gateway to unforgettable experiences in the music world at large.


Attached at the bottom are a few highlights from some of my favorite years at RSCM's King's course, 2009 and 2011.


There aren't many visual or audio recordings, but here are a couple of resources:


VIDEO FROM 2013

AUDIO FILES



All of these opportunities are open to any young person. Our choirs and music programs are open to any child in the community, and any of our choristers have the opportunity to register for RSCM choral programs as well as the Nashville Choral Festival in March.


Ian Cunningham

___________________________



We thank Ian for his insight and passion for our Choir School and the opportunities available to our youth! To register for a choir in the All Saints Choir School, or to find our more about our choirs, check out our WEBPAGE. Contact Maggie Gill at mgill@allsaintsbhm.org to find out more, or to receive links to sign up for the following events that Ian spoke about:


March 22-23 will be the 26th Annual Cathedral Chorister Festival

Christ Church Cathedral, Nashville, TN

*Contact Maggie Gill (mgill@allsaintsbhm.org) by February 20 if you are interested in this event

Saturday, March 22, 2025 | Workshop and Rehearsal day 

Sunday, March 23, 2025 | 11:15 AM Holy Eucharist & 4:00 PM Choral Evensong (all participating choristers sing these two services)

Guest Director Maxine Thévenot, from the Cathedral in Albuquerque

*To see last year's Evensong from this event CLICK HERE


July 21-27, 2025 RSCM Midwest in Evansville, IN

This seven-day immersive choral experience is an RSCM America Summer Choral Residency for children age 10+ and adult singers.


More Announcements

December 16, 2025
All Saints is excited to announce that Ethan Armistead will be our newest seminarian. After two years of prayer and discernment, Ethan has been named a postulant for Holy Orders. He will begin seminary this fall. Ethan has listened closely for where God is leading. His message is below:  Last week I attended the Bishops Advisory Commission on Ministry. Bishop Curry has informed me that I was made a postulant for Holy Orders. I am so grateful, and delighted to announce that I will be attending seminary in the Fall! I have been in a process through the Church for about two years now, discerning my call to priesthood. I have kept a listening heart, and a posture of dependency on the Lord. A group of wise and amazing individuals helped me discern this call. Brad Landry, Bryson Waldo, Susanna Whitsett, Marisa Mitchell, Trent Ponder, and the late Joseph Slane. This group listened to me, gave wisdom, and helped me discern what this call God has put on my life means. Going to seminary means so much to me. I am able to obey what God has called me to do. I look forward to spreading God’s love, and being a vessel for the Holy Spirit. To helping others, and being a faithful servant to a good, and gracious God. Thank you All Saints!
graphic showing Christmas eve and christmas day service times
November 20, 2025
Celebrate the joy and spirit of Advent with All Saints! We’re offering a variety of opportunities to get involved. From heartwarming programs to wonderful worship services, there’s something for everyone. Join us in sharing the light of Christ's birth.
November 19, 2025
Fiddlesticks Music hosted its largest single-day outreach event to date—a joyful Singalong Concert for families in our program and the wider community. Despite the rain, we gathered in the Great Hall, where 163 attendees filled the space with music, laughter, and connection. Families spread out on blankets, singing along to a live music concert designed especially for children ages 0–5. The atmosphere was electric with joy; parents, caregivers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends all joined in, creating a beautiful tapestry of voices and generations.The sense of community in the room was palpable. All ages and abilities were welcomed and celebrated. It was a moment of pure musical magic. Participants also had the opportunity to connect with staff and learn more about the All Saints Choir School and other All Saints programming for children and families. These conversations helped deepen relationships and open doors for continued musical and spiritual growth. Thank you to everyone who helped make this event so lovely and unforgettable. Here's to many more moments of shared music and joy!
A group of children are sitting on the floor.
November 16, 2025
Registration is OPEN for our next session at Fiddlesticks Music! Session Length and Dates: Winter 2026 (10 - week) January 11 - March 21. Tuition is $185. Remember that scholarships and payment plans are available, and All Saints members receive 20% off. We also have need-based scholarship options. Register here: https://www.fiddlesticks-music.com/register.aspx Learn more or to register for the session today: www.fiddlesticks-music.com .
A person is holding a cell phone with a scam stamp on it.
September 28, 2025
Alert! To be clear, All Saints' Clergy, Vestry, Warden's or staff will NEVER ask for money or gift cards from you! If you receive any communication asking for money in any form at all, it is a SCAM! Or if you get texts asking for a private conversation, it is a scam! These scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, so it’s important to approach texts and emails with caution. One quick way to spot a scammer is to check the email address it came from. No matter the name, look at the email address. Emails from All Saints staff will always end with "@allsaintsbhm.org" (i.e. office@allsaintsbhm.org). Never reply to, click on, or enter any information if you receive one of these suspicious EMAIL/TEXT messages. Most schemes involve scammers mimicking church staff, typically posing as someone in a position of authority asking you for money transfers or gift cards. Many times, the scammers will manipulate the email address, name, or even the area code of phone numbers, so that it appears to be coming from someone you know. Even if the email or text seems legitimate, if a request seems even remotely “off” or is asking for anything from you, don’t act on it until you confirm it with a phone call ( 205-879-8651 ) or face-to-face conversation with someone at All Saints. Some general suggestions: Check sender details carefully. Any suspicious emails or text message should be investigated before replying. Pay attention to the message content, including attachments and URLs. When in doubt, call: If there are questions about any email, do not reply. Instead, call our office - 205-879-8651 Label it spam: If your email service has the ability, report the email as spam. Here’s how you can report these scams: Report Phishing Attacks: the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team has an Incident Reporting page to report email phishing, as well as an email to forward them to, at https://www.us-cert.gov/report-phishing . Forward all emails to the Anti Phishing Working group at phishing-report@us-cert.gov . Report text scams to through the Federal Trade Commission’s Complaint Assistant which helps the FTC detect patterns of fraud and abuse.
September 16, 2025
Join us for a Series on Zoom, “Transformed Prayer, Persons, Theology, and World." This is every Tuesday at 7:00pm , the Rev. Ed Bacon leads a weekly online gathering on Zoom, all about Contemplative Christianity. The series explores how this tradition offers discernment for moral action and an alternative to viewing God as outside us, revealing instead the God who is within us as One. To request Zoom information, email bwallace@allsaintsbhm.org
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