Music Notes
A symphony of up to 150 tenors and bass voices echo in unison from members of the Birmingham Boys Choir each year, much to the entertainment of intrigued audiences. Whether it be the organization’s annual Spring and Christmas concerts, which often welcome well over a thousand people in attendance, or offering performances when touring across the globe, the experience fostered through this special group is so much more than just that.
Officially incorporated in November of 1973, the Birmingham Boys Choir grew to be one of the largest boys’ choirs in North America under the leadership of music director Ken Berg, welcoming aspiring talents all the way from third graders to high school seniors to lend their angelic young voices to the cause. Along with his wife, Susan, Berg leads his choristers with 12 underlying life lessons meant to shape them into successful young men. “If you want to have good, strong men as your bankers and pastors and politicians, then raise those boys that way,” Berg said, adding, “We have ten years to be able to invest in not just the musical direction of a boy’s life, but also their heart and spirit. It’s a very heavy responsibility that we take very seriously.”
Younger boys can simply audition for the group, always undergoing a probationary period to determine their intentions with the choir. Any high schooler wishing to participate also needs a recommendation from an active chorister. The choristers rehearse for an hour and a half once a week for 13 weeks across a variety of satellite locations. The choristers choose the satellite location and time that works best for their family. Four weeks before their bi-annual main concert performances at the end of each semester, everyone converges together in perfect harmony, ready to sing for the masses. “Those two concerts are free and open to the public,” Berg said. “They are our gift to our community because we represent our city, and we want our city to know and recognize the value of what we do.”
Although the Birmingham Boys Choir’s mission focuses on the development of youth through music, camaraderie, and more, other areas the organization takes part in are volunteering, fundraising, and missions work. Between rehearsals last fall, members of the choir offered their capable hands to the Meals to Missions Foundation, putting together more than 10,000 meals for people in need. Additionally, the choristers are set to entertain patrons attending the Taste of Birmingham event on February 24, 2026, at The Club. This is the choir’s main fundraiser of the year that includes delicious foods from Birmingham’s top restaurants competing for the coveted Iron Skillet Award. For more information on the Birmingham Boys Choir, including auditions, donations, and upcoming appearances, visit www.birminghamboyschoir.org.
-Nicholas Wetzel
In the video below, Ken Berg shares details about the Birmingham Boys Choir, how to get involved and more.
