Music Department Mission Statement (adopted 2001)
The mission of All Saints Church is to provide the ministry of music to glorify God and to inspire people in worship and spiritual growth.
To provide choristers with a professional opportunity for music education and performance in a nurturing environment that fosters commitment and fellowship.
To maintain a commitment to the rich and celebrated tradition of music at All Saints Church and to a dynamic music program that responds to the ever-changing identity and spiritual needs of the parish community.

The combined choirs on Easter Day 2007 ~ click photo for full size

The combined choirs of boys, girls and adults, December 3, 2006

Choir of Girls and Adults, October 2006

Choir of Boys and Men, October 2006

Choir Scholarship Program
All Saints Church participates in a reciprocal choir scholarship program with the Pakachoag Community Music School in Auburn. Boys or girls in the All Saints Choirs who study music at this school are eligible for tuition assistance in exchange for their choir service, instead of the choir stipend. For complete information about this program including an application form, please click here.   For more information about Pakachoag Community Music School, please visit their website here http://www.pakmusic.org

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The Choirs at All Saints
The Men & Boys Choir has been a part of All Saints Church for well over a century.. Founded in 1868, it is the oldest choir of its kind in continuous existence in the United States. The Choir carries on a centuries-old tradition, performing all styles of music. The full Choir consists of treble boys and alto, tenor, and bass men who sing weekly services at All Saints Church. The group also performs at special services and concerts. These choirs have achieved considerable fame since their inception through their many concerts, recordings and appearances at two World's Fairs, representing the city of Worcester. They have been heard in Mechanics Hall and the Higgins Armory Museum. These choirs have also had singing engagements in New York City, Washington D.C., Montreal and England.

St. Cecilia Choir for Girls
The Saint Cecilia Choir was founded in 1878 to provide a parallel experience for the girls of the parish and community. This choir, with an average age higher than that of the Boys Choir, is also the oldest of its kind in the United States of America.

Training ("Novice") Choir
These choirs, for boys or girls at least 7 1/2 years old, rehearse and learn the fundamentals of music reading and liturgy. The singers graduate to the full Boy or Girl choirs when ready.

Adult Choir
The adults who sing with the Boys and Girls Choirs rehearse on Thursday evenings, 6:15 to 8:15 p.m. New members are welcome by audition whenever vacancies occur.

The All Saints Choirs sing on a flexible rotation of girls singing one week, boys the next, alongside our dedicated adults, at the 10:30 Sunday service. This has proven quite popular with families wishing to maintain church activities elsewhere, or to schedule other weekend activities. Once a month, the boys or girls from the parish and from the training choir also provide special music at the 9:00 a.m. service.

The Episcopal Tradition
The All Saints choirs are affiliated with The Royal School of Church Music in England and fully participate in its strenuous training activities for choristers.
The weekly offering for the All Saints choirs is a 10:30 a.m. Sunday service and an occasional 5:00 p.m. Sunday Evensong. The choirs are open to any boy or girl, regardless of race, creed, or religious affiliation. If a boy or girl is already a member of another church, we encourage him/her to maintain that membership. Religious education, unless specifically requested, is required only of boys and girls who are members of All Saints Church. Knowledge of the procedures of Christian worship in the Episcopal tradition is expected for each boy or girl to fulfill his/her role as a chorister. While this will enrich their experience and knowledge, in no way are choristers required to accept the doctrine of the Episcopal Church. Respect for the beliefs of one's neighbor is of paramount importance. We will be happy to discuss All Saints Church membership with you and your family, but only if you so desire.

Choral Training
The Director of Music of All Saints Church, along with assistants in the music program, will train your children to become professional young musicians. These choirs expect a high level of commitment and reward them for their efforts. All boys and girls are paid a wage as in a regular job for their service to the choir. Compensation is based on the number of times a chorister rehearses and performs with the choir and on his/her rank in the choir. Choir rank is determined by a chorister's level of training and proficiency. Little or no musical experience is necessary for children to join the choirs of All Saints, but each will be expected to grow in ability through time and training. With every advance in rank, choristers receive a raise in pay. The boys and girls will be joined in most of the choral offerings by trained professional adult singers (altos, tenors and basses).

Auditions
The All Saints choirs for boys and girls are open by audition to children between the ages of 7 1/2 and 12, with no experience necessary. Boys and girls 12 years and older should have had some musical experience. The choir is open to new members at any time.

For more information or to set up an audition appointment, please call:
Peter Stoltzfus Berton, Organist and Choir Director
All Saints Church
508-752-3766 x17
E-mail: peter@allsaintsw.org

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