MUSIC
The Advent offers meaningful worship opportunities through modern and traditional sacred music. The Cathedral Choir and our Band uniquely express the Advent’s musical diversity in our Sunday services. Concerts and other events enrich our community in many ways, enriching our heart for the city of Birmingham.
Cathedral
Choir
The Cathedral Choir is composed of auditioned adults who sing the 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. services in the Nave each Sunday and all major services of the church year. Additionally the choir presents Evensong services and concerts as part of the Cathedral Music Series. The Choir has recorded eight albums, many of which are available in the Advent Bookstore, and the most recent of which is available on all streaming platforms. In July 2022, the Cathedral Choir will sing in residency at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London.
Advent Band
Cathedral Ringers
The Cathedral Ringers, a youth and adult handbell choir, presents service music about seven times each year, and has performed concerts as part of the Midday Music series. Rehearsals are 5:30-7:00 p.m. each Thursday from September to May. Occasional special appearances and workshops with well-known clinicians have been a part of past schedules. The Cathedral owns a five octave set of Malmark handbells. If you have basic music-reading ability and are interested in ringing with the group, please email Kennedy@CathedralAdvent.com. For more information about our handbell choir, please contact Betsy@CathedralAdvent.com.
Instruments
The Advent owns a variety of modern musical instruments and pianos. Additional instruments include note bells, organs, and a harpsichord. The Grieb-Williams organ, built by the M.P. Moller Company in 1988, is located in the Nave and includes a playback system, 6,056 pipes controlled by a four-manual drawknob console which can be moved to the center of the chancel for recitals. The Crawford and Virginia Johnson Carillon, including the Mattison Memorial Bell, was installed in the Tower in 2003. The 15 cast bronze bells by Paccard Foundry, France, peal and play hymns throughout the week. In 2019, the Advent received a generous donation of a 1976 William Hyman french-double harpsichord. For more information about Advent instruments, contact Kennedy@CathedralAdvent.com.
Concerts & Auditions
The Advent hosts a variety of concerts and other special music programs throughout the year. Follow the social media pages listed above for information about upcoming events, download our choir concert brochure, and follow AdventBirmingham.org/News for updates throughout the year.
Adults interested in joining our music ministries may contact Mallory@CathedralAdvent.com (Advent Band), or Betsy@CathedralAdvent.com (Cathedral Choir, Cathedral Ringers).