Over The Mountain Festivals exists to foster and perpetuate the singing of sacred choral music and provide training and encouragement to directors of small choirs and choristers, both adults and children, to the glory of God, the edification of participants and the enjoyment of the greater Birmingham, Alabama community and beyond.

Begun in 2008 as an idea of a small group of individuals who believe in the importance and value of sacred choral music to singers and the community, OTM Festivals was brought to fruition by the work of an all-volunteer planning committee along with support of friends and sponsors.

The first festival, Festival '09, was held Valentine's Day, February 14, 2009, at Bluff Park United Methodist Church in Birmingham. James Brown, Director of Music at Independent Presbyterian Church in Memphis, Tennessee, was the inaugural Guest Clinician.

Choristers of many backgrounds and abilities come together to bring about a Festival. Here's a list of choirs represented at past Festivals, all from Alabama unless otherwise noted:

Airview Baptist Church
Alabama Civic Chorale
Alabama Symphony Orchestra Chorus
Altadena Valley Presbyterian Church
Auburn United Methodist Church
Birmingham Concert Chorale
Briarwood Presbyterian Church
Cahaba Park Church
Canterbury United Methodist Church
Cathedral Church of the Advent
Center Point First United Methodist Church
Christ Church—Pensacola, FL
Christ the King Anglican Church
Church of Brook Hills
Church of the Highlands
Colla Voce
Covenant Presbyterian Church
Dawson Memorial Baptist Church
East Cobb Presbyterian—Marietta, GA
Evangel Presbyterian Church
Faith Presbyterian Church
Independent Presbyterian Church—Memphis, TN
Junior League Chorus
Lake Crest Presbyterian
Liberty Crossing United Methodist Church
Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church
Opelika Art Association
Pickwick United Methodist Church—Counce, TN
Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church
Redeemer Presbyterian
Riverchase Baptist Church
Samford University
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
St. Mark United Methodist Church
St. Matthew Anglican
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Sursum Corda
Third Presbyterian Church
Trinity Presbyterian Church
Trinity United Methodist Church
Vidalia Community Chorus—Vidalia, GA
Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church

 

The future plans of the Festivals depend largely on you! The desire is to provide opportunities for choristers in choirs of smaller churches that are nomally not available with their limited resources. Some future festivals might include these opportunities:

· Men's Chorus Festival
· African American Spiritual Festival
· Children's Choir Camps
· Community Hymn Festival
· Handbell Festival

If you have a suggestion for a future Festival or would like to become involved, please click the "Contact" button above and let us hear from you!