The Over the Mountain Festival Chorus is a non-auditioned community choir open to all singers who love sacred choral music. You do not have to be able to read music; the only requirement is that you are able to match pitch, and are willing to spend the time necessary to learn the music by attending the required number of rehearsals and using the rehearsal aids that are provided as part of the registration fee.

This season’s repertoire is challenging and at the same time, fufilling to learn and perform. Learning this music will require a time commitment both in and outside our rehearsal time. The rehearsal tracks are provided to help you learn the notes, while the rehearsals are where we learn to make music together. Links to the mp3 rehearsal tracks will be provided, or a CD, if you so indicate when registering. Six all-singer rehearsals will be held prior to the concert weekend. Therefore, attendance at a minimum of four of these is required to sing in the 2026 Festival. Attendance for both rehearsals on concert weekend are mandatory. Please mark your calendar with this season's rehearsal dates:
 

September 20; October 11; November 1 & 22, 2025;

January 17 & 31, 2026

All rehearsals will be held at:

Riverchase United Methodist Church, 1953 Old Montgomery Hwy., Hoover, AL 35244

Rehearsal Schedule (9/20/25 • 11/1/25 • 1/31/26)

8:00 a.m. – Arrive and check-in

8:45 a.m. – Rehearsal begins

10:00 a.m. – Break

10:30 a.m. – Rehearsal resumes

11:30 a.m. – Rehearsal concludes

Rehearsal Schedule (10/11/25)

8:00 a.m. – Arrive and check-in

8:45 a.m. – Rehearsal begins

10:30 a.m. – Break

11:10 a.m. – Rehearsal resumes

12:40 p.m. – Rehearsal concludes

Rehearsal Schedule (11/22/25)

8:00 a.m. – Arrive and check-in

8:45 a.m. – Rehearsal begins

10:00 a.m. – Break

10:30 a.m. – Rehearsal resumes
11:30 a.m. – Rehearsal ends

11:40 a.m. – Lunch (lunch available for a moderate fee)

12:30 p.m. – Seminar with conductor

1:30 p.m. – Seminar concludes

Rehearsal Schedule (1/17/26)

8:00 a.m. – Arrive and check-in

8:45 a.m. – Rehearsal begins

10:00 a.m. – Abbreviated break

10:15 a.m. – Rehearsal resumes
11:00 a.m. – Lunch (lunch available for a moderate fee)

12:00 p.m. – Rehearsal resumes

1:30 p.m. – Rehearsal concludes

Over the Mountain Festivals is grateful for its partnership with Riverchase United Methodist Church in the use of their facilities.

Please note: Attendance at the two final rehearsals Friday and Saturday is required (unless providentially hindered) to participate in the Sunday concert. All activities held at Bluff Park UMC, 733 Valley Street, Birmingham, AL 35226.

Friday, February 13, 2026
5:30 p.m. - Dinner for Choral Director, out-of-town guests, and for singers by reservation
6:30 p.m. - Singers check in
6:45 p.m. - Rehearsal begins
9:00 p.m. - Rehearsal concludes

Saturday, February 14, 2026
8:30 a.m. - Singers arrive
8:45 a.m. - Rehearsal begins
10:15 a.m. - Break
10:40 a.m. - Rehearsal with orchestra (final time determined by orchestra availability)
12:45 p.m. - Rehearsal ends

Sunday, February 15, 2026
1:30 p.m. - Call time for all singers
1:45 p.m. - Group picture / announcements
2:00 p.m. - Choir Warm-up/rehearsal in loft

2:00 p.m. - Pre-concert lecture begins (30 minutes)

2:30 p.m. - Sanctuary doors open for patrons
2:30 p.m. - Choir dismissed to Choir Room

2:45 p.m. - Choir lineup for entrance
3:00 p.m. - Festival Concert begins
4:20 p.m. - Festival Concert ends followed by reception

Over the Mountain Festivals is grateful for its partnership with Bluff Park United Methodist Church in the use of their facilities for our concert weekend.

General Information
For the rehearsals and concert:

Please...no perfume, cologne, or scented hairspray.

For the concert:

No jewelry (necklaces or ear rings); place music in flat-black folder or three ring binder.

Concert dress: 
Men: Black pants, white dress shirt, black bow tie, black socks and shoes.
Women: Black pants, sleeved top, dress, or below-the-knee skirt, black shoes.

The registration fee includes your music and rehearsal aids for you to keep. The registration fee is $70. Payment should be made at the time of registration or shortly thereafter.

To inquire about available scholarships, please email Philip Capra at info@otmfestivals.org.

All singers should register online, both new and those who have sung with us before. Please read this entire page before registering.

You can easily make your payment online by clicking the PayPal button below. Remember, the registration amount covers basic costs and is not tax-deductible. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation beyond the registration fee to help us pay expenses such as musicians, venue costs, clinician fees, and administrative expenses. Any amount given over the registration fee will be acknowledged with a tax donation letter from the Festival, which is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

All rehearsal tracks will be made available as mp3 files. When registering, please indicate if you prefer a rehearsal CD.

Your online payment and/or donation may be made here by credit card, debit card or PayPal:

To dedicate your donation in memory or honor of someone, please email info@otmfestivals.org with details.

While online registrations are more accurate and faster to process, if you would rather mail us a hard copy instead, use this form:

Please do not register by mail if you have already registered online, nor online if you have already submitted by mail.

If submitting a paper form, please send check and completed form to:

Over the Mountain Festivals, Inc.
P.O. Box 360884
Birmingham, AL 35236