RSCM: Recent Episodes
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The Church Times Festival of Faith and Music, created in partnership with RSCM, returns this year as a one-day symposium at Southwark Cathedral, London. The aim has been to put together a day that celebrates church music in all its glory – one which will send you home encouraged, inspired and equipped with new, and practical ideas to try in your home parish.
As well as talks, including an Illustrated Lecture by Hugh Morris, a panel discussion, and a session on Music as Mission, there will be opportunities to join a Festival Eucharist and Evensong.
‘I am delighted that RSCM is partnering again with the Church Times to offer a second Festival of Faith and Music. It promises to be a really engaging, inspiring day and I am looking forward to being part of it. I hope many will want to join us as a source of encouragement, and enjoyment, as we celebrate the power of music in worship.’ Hugh Morris
Please note that there are a special prices for RSCM Members, Church Times subscribers and also Ordinands, full-time students and under 30s.
For full details and to book please click HERE which will take you the Hymns Ancient & Modern website.
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The RSCM is delighted to announce the recipients of its 2026 Honorary Awards. Each year the RSCM Council confers Honorary Awards on those who have made outstanding contributions to church music. This year’s awards will be presented at the RSCM’s annual Celebration Day in Salisbury Cathedral later this year.
The scope of these awards includes those who make contributions at international levels, but also those who give faithful service in a much more local setting. Recipients of these awards come from across the world and across the traditions of church music, all reflecting the RSCM’s commitment to enabling the flourishing of church music in a diverse set of communities and local settings.
FELLOWS OF THE ROYAL SCHOOL OF CHURCH MUSIC (FRSCM)
Awarded for achievements in church music and/or liturgy of internationally recognized significance, or for exceptional musical and/or liturgical work within the RSCM that has had an impact at a national level.
Adrian Lucas
Walden Moore
ASSOCIATES OF THE ROYAL SCHOOL OF CHURCH MUSIC (ARSCM)
Awarded for achievements in church music and/or liturgy of nationally recognised significance, or for important musical and/or liturgical work within the RSCM which has had an impact regionally.
Tom Daggett
Carleton Etherington
David Fawcett
Canon David Halls
Richard Lea
Peter Watts
HONORARY MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL SCHOOL OF CHURCH MUSIC (HonRSCM)
Awarded for exceptional or very significant work that is not primarily musical or liturgical and that has contributed to the cause of church music and/or liturgy at international or national levels.
Thomas Allain Chapman
Ben Collingwood
William Lupton
Alan and Tracey Reed
Michael Smith
Phil Taylor
NICHOLSON AWARD
Awarded for significant administrative work as a voluntary officer or member of staff within the RSCM; or awarded for a significant contribution to church music and/or liturgy at a local level.
John Granger
Terence Holt
Mark Keith
Elizabeth Trenchard
Glenis Westbury
Full details can be found in the June issue of Church Music Quarterly.
To find out more about the Honorary Awards, including the new Young Church Musician Award, click HERE.
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“[it will] broaden your horizons, open pathways and unlock new ways of life” – Course Participant sharing their thoughts on the RSCM Beverley Minster Course 2026
RSCM Courses for young people inspire and equip singers to learn in a wide range of topics, offering training, encouragement and inspiration that will last a lifetime.
During May half-term, the RSCM returned to Beverley Minster for four days of making new friends, developing key skills, growing in confidence, and singing in worship together.
“It is a great opportunity to develop personally and socially. There is a great team spirit and that all of the staff are very kind and helpful” – 2026 Course Participant
The RSCM Beverley Minster Course 2026 was directed by Tom Daggett (Director of Music and Schools Singing Programme at Sheffield Cathedral).
Find out more about RSCM Courses for young people.
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In excess of 200 singers gathered under the Dome of St Paul’s Cathedral to sing Choral Evensong on Saturday 16 March, coming from all corners of London and further afield, for a special RSCM Festival Service.
Under the direction of Andrew Carwood, singers were led through some exciting repertoire for the season of Ascensiontide. The St Paul’s Cathedral organ was played by James Orford and Hamish Wagstaff, accompanying a great celebration of church music and musicians!
Dr Paul Hedley, Deputy Director of the RSCM, was delighted to present eight recent RSCM Gold Award recipients with their Award certificates during the service, celebrating their achievements with their choirs, family and friends.
Would you like to participate in future RSCM Events like this one? Register to receive the monthly RSCM Events Newsletter.
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A shared passion for music in worship brought together members, friends and supporters of the RSCM to our home in Salisbury last Saturday, together with renowned speaker and musicians from around the country.
In the Annual Lecture, speaker Dr Elizabeth Stratford, the first woman to hold a senior position in a cathedral music department and the youngest cathedral organist appointed in recent times, spoke about the key but often hidden roles that women had played in sacred music over the centuries. She noted that Salisbury, with its first ever cathedral girls’ choir in 1991, held a significant place in that story.
Throughout the day in various talks and workshops, the conference highlighted the key role that music plays not only enhancing and enlivening worship, but also deepening spirituality, bringing communities together and improving individual well being. There were also workshops with ‘tips and tricks’ to help choir leaders, organists, singers and those planning worship.
Hugh Morris, RSCM’s Director, said: “It was wonderful to welcome people from such a broad range of backgrounds to what was a really uplifting day. The wide range of sessions and topics covered reflected our active role in supporting church music and musicians everywhere – whatever their background, skill level or role in the church.”
Passion and enthusiasm among delegates and speakers characterised the day, with everyone sharing ideas and practice
“I really enjoyed Saturday’s conference – I was tired by the time I got home but it was great to meet so many people and I came away with lots of ideas!” (Delegate)
Hugh Morris concluded: “We titled the conference ‘Church Music Matters’. The buzz in the building was a real testament to that; and as we approach our 2027 Centenary, I am excited by the RSCM’s commitment to building a positive, flourishing future for church music, as we also cherish the past we inherit. It was so moving to spend time with people who give so much to enable that flourishing in their local contexts – inspiring in so many ways.”
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We are delighted to announce that Sarah King, currently RSCM’s Education Programmes Manager, has been appointed as the Deputy Director for Education.
RSCM’s Director Hugh Morris said: ‘Sarah’s passion for the mission of the RSCM, and her commitment to its whole range of education work, shone through clearly to the appointment panel. I am delighted to be working with her in this exciting period for RSCM as we forge ahead with new projects and expanded programmes, through our 2027 Centenary and beyond’.
Sarah said: ‘I am greatly looking forward to working with Hugh, and the wider RSCM team, in this new capacity, as we seek to educate and nurture church musicians and leaders of all ages and support the flourishing of church music in this pivotal moment in the RSCM’s history.’
Sarah will take up her new role from the beginning of June; a new Education Programmes Manager will be appointed as soon as possible.
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Singing in some of the world’s greatest cathedrals and churches can be an inspiring and life-changing opportunity, especially for children and young adults.
The RSCM Youth Choir recently spent a weekend singing in St Paul’s Cathedral in London, directed for the first time by Lucy Joy Morris.
‘Everyone is really friendly and we sing some really cool music’ – Katie, Youth Choir member (April 2026)
Sound on! Hear the Youth Choir speak in St Paul’s Cathedral about the opportunities they encounter with the RSCM here.
Feeling inspired? Find out more about the RSCM Youth Choir here.
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The Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) is delighted to announce the appointment of Iain McLarty as the new Director of RSCM Scottish Voices, its national choir in Scotland.
Iain McLarty brings a wealth of experience as a choral and orchestral conductor, educator, and church musician, with a strong track record of inspiring singers of all ages and abilities. In his new role, he will lead RSCM Scottish Voices in its ongoing mission to promote excellence in choral singing and support the rich tradition of church music across Scotland. Iain succeeds Frikki Walker, Director of Music at St Mary’s Cathedral, Glasgow, who led the choir since its founding in 2008.
Iain says, “I’m delighted to have been offered the opportunity to collaborate with such a great group of singers from across the country. It’s a privilege to carry on the wonderful work Frikki has done and I look forward to working with the choir to support church music across Scotland.”
Sarah King, RSCM Education Programmes Manager says, “Iain joins Scottish Voices with a wide experience of church music across a variety of contexts and great enthusiasm for enabling excellent music in worship. We are looking forward to working with him in this next exciting chapter in the life of the choir.”
Iain will take up directing duties for the first time on Saturday 16 May when the choir sings Choral Evensong at St Ninian’s Scottish Episcopal Church in Troon.
RSCM Scottish Voices is always ready to welcome new members. Click here to find out more.
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RSCM and Cathedral Music Trust are delighted to announce the fifth year of our Church Choir Award, which gives church choirs the opportunity to innovate and develop their work. The programme will be open for applications from Monday 16 March 2026 until Monday 4 May 2026.
The award is open to choirs that demonstrate high choral standards and an aspiration to go further. Choirs are invited to apply for up to £10,000 for a specific, innovative or enriching project which will develop their work.
New for 2026, alongside the financial support provided by Cathedral Music Trust, the RSCM will provide bespoke tailored support to Church Choir Award recipients, which could include Voice for Life support, Young Voices materials, Hymnpact! or discounted course places. As in previous years, recipients will also receive one years’ free group membership of the RSCM.
A webinar on 19 March (12:00pm) will explore the programme in more detail. This event has now passed but a recording is available using the link below.
Visit CMT’s Church Choir Award page to find out more about what you can apply for, how to apply and the eligibility criteria.
KEY DATES FOR 2026 Monday 16 March, 11am – Application window opens * Thursday 19 March, 12 noon – Webinar on applying This event has now passed but a recording is available using the link below.* * Monday 4 May, 11.59pm – Application deadline * End of June – Decisions communicated to applicants
LEARN MORE
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The Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) and the Church Music Society (CMS) are delighted to announce an important new partnership that will see the RSCM become the exclusive publisher for all the Church Music Society’s titles.
Founded in 1906, the Church Music Society is a charity promoting the use of church music of the highest quality for the diverse needs of the Christian Church, particularly through publishing works which are not otherwise available. Starting with early favourites, such as the Hugh Allen/Robert Bridges arrangement of Bach’s ‘Jesu, joy of man’s desiring’, the Society’s catalogue now includes numerous classics. Church musicians will be familiar with the standard collection of ‘Tudor’ Responses (edited by Watkins Shaw), Howells’s Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in B minor and Mass in the Dorian Mode, and Leighton’s Communion Service in D and Second Service. The catalogue also contains a rich variety of music from the Renaissance (both in Latin and English), the Baroque (including Blow, Purcell, Greene and Boyce), the 19th century (including Walmisley, S. and S.S. Wesley, Parry, Wood and Walford Davies), and more recent works by Philip Moore, Francis Jackson, Jonathan Harvey and Judith Bingham.
Recent issues have included Sarum responds by Taverner, Tallis and Sheppard (edited by Sally Dunkley), motets by Pearsall, carol arrangements by Martindale Sidwell, and new compositions by Christopher Ouvry-Johns, Paul Trepte and Rupert Jeffcoat.
The Society’s Chairman, Professor Patrick Russill KSG says: ‘The partnership with the RSCM is the start of an exciting new chapter in the Church Music Society’s history and mission, enabling the Society to draw on the RSCM’s unrivalled expertise in church music publishing. The RSCM’s online shop will ensure that all the Society’s publications are immediately available. The partnership will also allow both organisations to coordinate their complementary publishing policies, while maintaining their editorial independence and particular characteristics, to the benefit of church music globally.’
RSCM Director, Hugh Morris, writes: ‘We are delighted to be working with the Church Music Society in this new partnership, as we take on the publishing of CMS materials. The CMS has a distinguished history, and we are pleased to be able to make its important catalogue available as widely as possible alongside RSCM Publications. We look forward to complementing one another’s work to produce new resources in the years ahead.’
The new arrangements will take effect from 2nd March 2026. View the complete catalogue in the RSCM Music Shop www.rscmshop.com
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Here at the RSCM we know the key to enabling the flourishing of Church Music lies in inspiring children and young people and giving them the opportunity to take part from an early age. Without them there is no future for church music or, indeed, for the church as a whole.
These days too few children have the opportunity to sing hymns or join choirs in churches or schools.
You can help change this. Join us as a Friend and your donation will support:
- Introducing children and young people to the joys of hymn singing through Hymnpact!®
- Developing their musical abilities through Voice for Life® and in person training courses
- Creating a new generation of choral directors and church musicians
- Churches using music as mission to attract children and families.
Become a Friend by making a regular monthly or annual donation. Your gift will contribute directly to enabling the flourishing of church music for current and future generations. As a thank you Friends enjoy opportunities for regular updates about our work in a variety of ways. Find out more HERE.
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The RSCM and churches, including internationally, come together this weekend to celebrate and give thanks for the power of music in worship and the talents, hard work and commitment of all those involved in church music.
For the majority this involves including special elements in a service on Sunday, be it a particular piece, for example God the Holy Trinity by Joanna Forbes L’Estrange, extra hymn singing and/or special prayers. There are Songs of Praise event and some churches are participating in the Hymn Marathon. We are delighted to see some participant tying in with Play the Organ Year as well.
We are grateful to Hymns Ancient & Modern for supporting Music Sunday this year.
Finally, as we come together in celebration and in giving thanks, please consider donating to the RSCM to support our work in enabling the flourishing of church music.
Donate
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The RSCM was delighted to run a brand new course for young people this May half-term in the Yorkshire town of Beverley.
“The sessions were really interesting, I really liked learning about conducting and writing a psalm chant.” – Beverley Course participant (June 2025)
New for 2025, the RSCM Beverley Course is an opportunity for young singers to come together, learn new music, sing in the beautiful surroundings of Beverley Minster, and connect with other young people.
“It resparked my joy for church music.” – Beverley Course participant (June 2025)
Over four days of activities, skills sessions, rehearsals, and sung services, course attendees engaged with a range of church music skills, from aural perception and writing psalm chants to playing the organ and conducting!
” [I enjoyed] playing the organ. Even though I was nervous, it was great to have the opportunity to play.” – Beverley Course participant (June 2025)
Embedded within the mission and strategy of the RSCM is young people, without whom there is no future for church music or, indeed, for the church as a whole. This brand new course is part of a rollout of new RSCM Education provision and strategy. You can read more about the RSCM Education Strategy here, and explore how you can ‘Learn with Us’ here.
“I’d like to see the friends I made again and sing even more music with a large group of people.” – Beverley Course participant (June 2025)
To find out more about RSCM Courses for young people in 2025, click here.
You can also read a lovely write-up of the 2025 Beverley Course from the blog of the Parish of North Stoneham & Bassett here.
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Each year the RSCM Council confers Honorary Awards on those who have made outstanding contributions to church music. The 2025 Honorary Awards will be presented at Celebration Day on 4th October at Christ Church, Oxford.
Fellows of The Royal School of Church Music (FRSCM)
Award for achievements in church music and/or liturgy of internationally recognised significance, or for exceptional musical and/or liturgical work within the RSCM which has had an impact at a national level.
Reverend Canon Dr Gordon Giles
Reverend Timothy Hughes
Mrs Joanna Forbes L’Estrange
Ms Anna Lapwood
Dr Andrew Padmore
Mr Thomas Hewitt Jones
Associates of The Royal School of Church Music (ARSCM)
Awarded for achievements in church music and/or liturgy of nationally recognised significance, or for important musical and/or liturgical work within the RSCM which has had an impact regionally.
Mr John Crothers
Mr Mark Dancer
Mr Kevin Duggan
Mr Edward Moroney
Dr David Newsholme
Dr Gregg Redner
Honorary Member of The Royal School of Church Music (HonRSCM)
Awarded for exceptional or very significant work within the RSCM which is not primarily musical or liturgical that has contributed to the cause of church music and/or liturgy at international or national levels.
Mr Matthew Wright
Nicholson Award (formerly Certificate of Special Service)
Award for significant administrative work as a volunteer or member of staff within the RSCM; or an award for a significant contribution to church music and/or liturgy at a local level.
Mr Colin Davey
Mr David Hanford
Mr John Hendry
Professor Berkeley Hill
Mrs Clare Hitchcock
Mr Roderick Isaacs
Dr William Leigh Knight
Miss Caroline Lenton-Ward
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We are excited that on Sunday we launch publicly A Season to Sing by Joanna Forbes L’Estrange. So far this choral re-imagining of of Vivaldi’s enduringly popular set of violin concertos, The Four Seasons, has only been available to the co-commissioning choirs some of which have already given performances. Published in the 300th anniversary year of Vivaldi’s most famous work, A Season to Sing enhances the music’s programmatic intent by weaving into the much-loved melodies texts from poetry and the Bible on the subject of spring, summer, autumn and winter into the much-loved melodies. The music is arranged for mixed voices and organ or strings (with optional parts for flute, trumpet and trombone) and can also be performed by SA choirs. As always, Joanna has ensured that the piece is highly accessible to many types of choir.
‘The Four Seasons is the first piece of music I can remember hearing from my childhood. I used to dance around the sitting room to it! I thought a great way to mark its 300th anniversary would be to make it possible for choirs to perform it. Vivaldi’s tunes are so magnificent they deserve to be sung!’ – Joanna Forbes L’Estrange
‘It’s going to run and run, this one….I hope that lots of choirs will take it up and give it the life that it deserves’ – Gareth Malone, choirmaster and broadcaster
‘An absolute joy to sing!’ – member of choir at Sydney Opera House performance, April 2025
‘…a revolutionary reimagination of The Four Seasons, full of innovation, humour and wit’ – Michael Howell, music artist & finalist of The Piano series 2, Channel 4
Find out More
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New from RSCM Publications, The Gift of this New Day: Music for Daily Prayer through the year is a collaboration between Church House Publishing and The Royal School of Church Music. An anthology of over 30 canticles, psalms and responses found in Common Worship Daily Prayer and the Time to Pray app/podcast, the music is designed to be straightforward and flexible to use, providing material for Prayer during the day that can be used every day of the week in various settings such as informal groups, house groups, and services.
The Gift of this New Day brings together well-loved settings of sacred music from Hildegard of Bingen to Rachmaninoff, as well as original compositions and five new works specifically commissioned for this volume by Cecilia McDowall, Sarah MacDonald, Nils Greenhow, Owain Park and Lucy Walker. A CD of the same name is also available, with the music performed by St Martin’s Voices, conducted by Andrew Earis.
Find out more HERE
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We are delighted to announce that Lucy Joy Morris has been appointed Director of the RSCM Youth Choir from September 2025.
Lucy Joy is a conductor, music educator, and performer known for her dynamic leadership of choirs and orchestras across the UK. A graduate of Queens’ College, Cambridge, she has worked extensively with youth ensembles, including as Principal Conductor of the National Youth Choir of Great Britain Boys’ Choir (2019–2024). Lucy Joy specialises in training choirs of changing voices and is a regular speaker on strategies for keeping boys singing.
Lucy Joy is Director of Music at Dartford Parish Church, where she directs a distinguished choir of semi-professional choral scholars. She is also Director of Cantate Youth Choirs and Head of Choral Music at Heath Mount School, where she leads the award-winning Bax Choir. Her adult choir, the Abbeydale Singers, was named ‘Choir of the Festival’ at the Isle of Man Festival in 2023.
Hugh Morris, RSCM Director, says: “We are thrilled that Lucy Joy will be leading the Youth Choir forwards into the next stage in its journey. We look forward to working with her to develop the skills of the young people within the choir and to encourage a new generation of music leaders, as part of our commitment to the flourishing of church music.”
Find out more about RSCM Youth Choir HERE.
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Our 2025 Online Conference takes place on Saturday 17 May 2025. This inspiring day offers sessions with diverse contributors, exploring various aspects of church music leadership to provide practical advice and approaches for enabling church music to flourish. Topics range from local leadership and engaging congregations to fostering young leaders and the vital synergy between clergy and music leaders. Don’t miss the live interview with celebrated composer and conductor Sir James MacMillan.
To find out more, including speakers and topics, click HERE
17th May, 10.00 – 16.45 BST (and available on catch up)
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O God, faithful rewarder of souls,
grant that your departed servant Pope Francis,
whom you made successor of Peter
and shepherd of your Church,
may happily enjoy for ever in your presence in heaven
the mysteries of your grace and compassion,
which he faithfully ministered on earth.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Eternal rest, grant unto him O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace.
Amen.
May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God rest in peace.
Amen.
(Source: The Catholic Church Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales)
A recording of a Nunc Dimittis, the Song of Simeon, to a setting by David Bevan, is here.
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The ancient church of St Bartholomew-the-Great in the City of London resounded with joyous voices on the evening of Saturday 22nd March when Luminosa Voices performed Joanna Forbes L’Estrange’s A Season to Sing.
In this “reimagining” of Vivaldi’s evergreen The Four Seasons for mixed voices, the composer gave the audience an opportunity to experience this much-loved music in a different, often innovative way, while staying true to Vivaldi’s original framework.
Setting poems, hymn texts and Bible passages to Vivaldi’s well-known melodies revealed new details in the music, while witty additions such as whistled bird song, “body percussion” to represent raindrops, and wordless ‘scat’ singing (a tribute to Ward Swingle, founder of the Swingle Singers, for which Joanna Forbes L’Estrange was musical director) brought the individual Seasons to life with vibrant imagination and affection.
“A Season to Sing marks a revolutionary reimagination of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons….It was innovative and wonderful to listen to.” – Michael Howell (Music Artist & Finalist of The Piano, Channel 4)
“An unmissable and joyful experience” – audience member
“There is no doubt that Joanna has created something really special – a piece which respect’s Vivaldi’s original but lets choirs engage with this justly famous music; it was evident just how much the choir loved singing A Season to Sing. They may have been the first, but most assuredly they will not be the last.” Hugh Morris (Director, RSCM)
A Season to Sing is being performed around the world by choirs involved in the co-commissioning process. Performances have already taken place in Devon, West Sussex, Scotland and Australia with many more planned, and it will be available to purchase generally from 1st June.
For more information click HERE
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Following the large response to the survey conducted in the Autumn, the RSCM has released both a summary of the results available to all HERE and has revised its more detailed Church Musicians Fees Guidance which is available to members.
Find out more about our online support event ‘How to have discussions about church musicians’ fees’ 6th March HERE.
In addition to renumeration, the survey gathered information about types of music taking place and musical roles (including those that are voluntary), congregation sizes and the use of technology and recorded music.
As commented on in the Church Times today, the survey has also revealed that two-thirds of church choirs have no members under 18 — a figure that rises to 80 per cent in villages and rural areas which Paul Hedley, RSCM Deputy Director, has described as a big potential wake-up call for the whole sector of youth involvement in church music. The RSCM’s core mission is to enable the flourishing of church music. As well as our existing educational programmes and resources, including courses, Voice for Life® and Hymnpact!®, we are about to bring in a new initiative to encourage children’s and young people’s participation: focused on a toolkit for material specifically around resources for developing junior choirs and young voices. This will be launched at our Online Support Event on 2nd April.
You can read the Church Times article HERE
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A Season to Sing by Joanna Forbes L’Estrange is a choral re-imagining of Vivaldi’s enduringly popular set of violin concertos, The Four Seasons. Published by the RSCM in the 300th Anniversary year of Vivaldi’s most famous work, A Season to Sing weaves into the well-loved melodies texts from poetry and the Bible on the subject of spring, summer, autumn and winter.
“The Four Seasons is the first piece of music I can remember hearing from my childhood. I used to dance around the sitting room to it!” Joanna recalls. “I thought a great way to mark its 300th anniversary would be to make it possible for choirs to perform it. Vivaldi’s tunes are so magnificent they deserve to be sung!”
The Official Launch Concert is taking place at St Bartholomew the Great, London on Saturday 22nd March, and there is an opportunity to join Luminosa Voices, who will be giving the concert, and Forbes L’Estrange at a special Come & Sing event in Farnham on 15th March.
The 40-minute work’s seasonal theme will enable the piece to be performed at any time of the year and it is hoped that A Season to Sing will become a firm favourite with choirs throughout the world. It will be on general sale from June.
Concert
Come & Sing
More about A Season to Sing
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We are proud to announce two new publications from RSCM Press.
Denis Bédard, Organ Works Volume 4
This collection of postludes, marches, toccatas and voluntaries is released to mark Denis’s 75th birthday (on 13 January). Featuring a variety of styles and difficulties, this collection will be a great addition to the organist’s music library. Click here to buy.
We also sell a range of other works by Bédard.
Compline by Lucy Walker
This is a complete service of Night Prayer (in traditional language) by Lucy Walker, Composer-in-Residence at St Martin-in-the-Fields, with whom this resource is a co-production. Alongside Lucy’s ethereal settings, we have included the timeless original plainchant settings, offering an alternative for choirs that may not wish to use entirely new compline material. The new music is designed to be interchangeable with the original, allowing choirs to select parts from the new composition or perform the entire new setting.
Click here to buy.
Click here to view sample pages.
To listen to a recording of the Opening Responses, performed by St Martin’s Voices and conducted by Andrew Earis, click
1. here.To listen to 7 excerpts from the service, click here and open the ‘Table of Contents’ tab.
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Had you thought about booking onto an RSCM choral course this year? Courses are a great opportunity to extend your musical horizons, develop your skills, sing in inspiring spaces and meet new people. Here are some options:
Beverley Course – Thursday 29 May-Sunday 1 June – a new course for trebles and sopranos aged 8-17, with residential and non-residential options
Residentiary Choir – Monday 11-Sunday 17 August – our choir for auditioned adults, meeting in Chester this year
Bath Course – Monday 18-Sunday 24 August – our ever-popular course for young singers aged 8-21
The RSCM Youth Choir, and all four Voices Choirs (Northern Cathedral Singers, Voices South, Voices West and Scottish Voices) are also currently seeking new members.
Click on the links above for more information. We look forward to welcoming you to a course soon!
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25 years after the start of the current millennium, the Millennium Youth Choir will be known as the RSCM Youth Choir from January 2025.
Founded in 1999, the RSCM’s Youth Choir is a young, vibrant and forward-looking chamber choir for young singers aged 16-23. With a light but intense annual programme, the choir sings at cathedrals and churches across the country, most recently at Durham, Newcastle and Norwich Cathedrals. The choir sings music of all styles and periods, from plainchant and the music of the Renaissance masters to Herbert Howells and new contemporary compositions.
Individual musical and vocal tuition is a key feature of courses, events and performances, with opportunities for the choir to record and broadcast. The choir works principally with Adrian Lucas but also relishes the opportunity to work with other leading choral musicians from time to time, most recently with Neil Ferris and Daniel Cook.
RSCM Youth Choir offers a fantastic opportunity for young singers to engage at the highest standards with an exciting range of sacred choral music in worship. Find out more here.
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Booking is now open for the RSCM Bath Course, our annual summer choral residential for young people aged 8-21, combining great music, skills development and time with other young musicians from around the country.
This year, the course will be taking place Monday 18-Sunday 24 August and directed for the first time by Jennifer Sterling, Associate Choral Director at St Martin-in-the-Fields.
A very limited number of early bird places are available on a first come, first served basis. Bursary funding is available for those who need it.
Listen to some highlights from the 2024 course here.
For more information and booking, click here.
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The RSCM produces guidance on fees and remuneration of Church Musicians (available as a Member benefit). We invite you to take part to help refresh and overhaul this work.
Please share the survey link (www.rscm.org.uk/2024-survey) with all who may be interested. The wider the pool, the better the information that we collect will be, and the more representative the results.
Click HERE to participate
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Elizabeth Poston’s beautiful carol, Jesus Christ the Apple Tree, is now available in a new, authorised edition from RSCM Music Direct. This new edition, published by Multitude of Voyces (Mov), will soon become the only edition available for sale worldwide. (MoV is the official representative of the musical and literary estate of composer Elizabeth Poston and the owner of her available copyright.)
Elizabeth Poston (1905–87) was born in rural Hertfordshire, where she lived for most of her life in a historic property, Rooks Nest House, Stevenage. Her compositional output was varied, encompassing dramatico-musical plays, chamber works, secular and sacred choral songs, and solo songs which were often inspired by her love of folksong and the countryside.
Her original miniature for voice and piano, The Apple Tree, was published in Bodley Head’s The Children’s Song Book (1961). This choral version – Jesus Christ the Apple Tree – she arranged for The Cambridge Hymnal (1967) of which she was the music editor.
Proceeds raised from the sale of this new edition will support the future publication of historically unpublished works by the composer. See www.multitudeofvoyces.org/elizabeth-poston
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We were delighted to welcome so many people to St Albans Cathedral last Saturday.
Approximately 150 singers were conducted by Dr David Hill FRSCM and accompanied by Andrew Lumsden FRSCM in a rousing Stanford ‘Come and Sing’ evensong. The Introit, Give us a Pure Heart (performed in the presence of the composer, Revd Christopher Willcock) was particularly popular with the singers. Christopher had travelled over from Australia to collect his Fellowship of the RSCM Award, alongside worthy recipients from around the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the US. During the service we were also able to present a number of Voice for Life Bronze, Silver and Gold certificates as well as one of our Church Choir Awards.
We are most grateful to all those at St Albans for such a warm welcome, and we look forward to Celebration Day 2025 in Oxford.
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Over the next couple of weeks we will be launching two new RSCM Publications.
The RSCM Book of Psalm Songs: 70 psalm settings for the liturgical year
Selected and edited by David Ogden and Alan Smith
A collection of 70 tried and tested settings of 50 psalms and canticles to enrich worship across the denominations. With their combination of the ancient texts and contemporary stylish lyricism, psalm songs bridge the gap between traditional anthems and worship songs, and between choirs and instrumental groups. Suitable for any kind of liturgy or service by soloists, choirs, singing groups and congregations, these settings are in a variety of styles and many have optional harmony and descants. There is a special focus on psalms for seasons of the year and for themes and occasions. Composers include Teresa Brown, Bernadette Farrell, Marty Haugen, Philip Moore, David Ogden, Alan Smith, Christopher Walker and Paul Wellicome.
To find out more and order click HERE
Sing to the Lord!
30 Hymn Meditations
Gordon Giles
Canon Gordon Giles says, ‘A hymn is like a friend. We have friends with whom we have grown up since childhood, those we make on the journey of life, and, hopefully, we also like to make new friends. Therefore, it’s only natural to want to know something of a hymn’s story, who wrote it and why, who the composer is and what prompted them to write the tune, and who or what for. The stories behind the tunes are as interesting and as exciting as those behind the words, for they are all human stories.’
In this selection of ancient and modern hymns, Gordon Giles opens up the history and spiritual story of 30 of the most popular and much-loved hymns to offer an engaging and fascinating read. This will make an excellent Christmas gift.
To find out more and order click HERE
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200 singers from across the Midlands and further afield gathered together to add their voices to a special, celebratory Evensong service marking the centenary of the death of celebrated church music composer Charles Villiers Stanford.
The music was directed by international conductor, Nicholas Cleobury, who had more than 50 musicians of the Warwickshire Symphony Orchestra, plus the might of the Cathedral’s famous Harrison organ at his disposal as well as the massed choir.
RSCM’s Director, Hugh Morris, was in attendance and said: ‘To be in the congregation for this service was a delight. It was so uplifting to experience such glorious sounds ringing around the Cathedral, offered as praise in worship. The cathedral team was so welcoming; it made for a most enjoyable day’.
© Jamie Gray
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We were delighted to welcome John Bell to Salisbury last week to deliver our Annual Lecture. It was an inspiring evening, full of ideas to enhance congregational participation in church music. His suggestions included flexible ways to engage hidden musicians in the congregation and how to introduce new tunes easily, making it approachable and encouraging everyone to join in. The evening was made more accessible with John modelling what he was talking about and with the audience joining in. There was also a social element to the evening, with people able to chat after John’s talk.
A recording of the evening is now available for purchase here.
Please do share information about the lecture with anyone who may be interested.
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Our Millennium Youth Choir recently returned from their Summer Residential to Norwich Cathedral. MYC participated in a busy schedule of rehearsals and performance, directed by Daniel Cook, singing three services of Choral Evensong in Norwich Cathedral accompanied by the newly restored Cathedral organ. The residential concluded with a lunchtime concert at the Octagon Unitarian Chapel in which the centrepiece was Benjamin Britten’s joyful and vibrant Rejoice in the Lamb, celebrating the beauty of creation and the exuberance of religious faith.
MYC particularly enjoyed working with Martha Littlehales, one of RSCM’s Emerging Leaders for 2024-25. As an Emerging Leader on the MYC residential, Martha was offered the opportunity to develop her choral direction skills in a real-life environment, with the support of the experienced MYC music staff. Martha commented:
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time as an Emerging Leader on the Norwich residential; it was a fascinating insight into producing excellent music-making with young singers in a very short time frame. The podium time was really valuable and, thanks to the excellent quality of the singers and interesting repertoire, allowed me to get into the music’s expression and interpretation in much greater detail. Although the rehearsal days were long and intense, the environment was very encouraging for the singers, and we all left with a real sense of achievement after the final concert; I had a fabulous time!”
The RSCM Millennium Youth Choir is a chamber choir for young singers aged 16 to 23. With a light but intense annual programme, the choir sings at cathedrals and churches across the country. Individual musical and vocal tuition is a key feature of MYC, with opportunities for the choir to record and broadcast. The choir works principally with Adrian Lucas but also relishes the opportunity to work with other leading choral musicians. MYC offers a fantastic opportunity for young singers to engage at the highest standards with an exciting range of sacred choral music in worship.
Want to find out more? Interested in auditioning for MYC? Head to our MYC webpage.
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The RSCM is delighted to be partnering with the national choral charity, Sing for Pleasure, to offer a new course aimed at anyone wishing to learn or develop skills in directing church choirs more effectively.
Based on Sing for Pleasure’s established Foundation level technique, the course will teach participants how to prepare music thoroughly, teach music efficiently and give a clear and economical lead in their conducting. Taking place over two consecutive Saturdays, this ‘boot camp’ will give confidence to emerging leaders of sacred music in church and school settings.
The first course takes place in Bolton on Saturday 5 and Saturday 12 October.
RSCM Members receive a £55 discount on course fees; log in to the RSCM Members Area to find the discount code.
Click here to find out more.
Image credit: Adam Hilton
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We are very sad to share the news of the passing of Bishop Timothy Dudley-Smith, aged 97. Bishop Timothy was the foremost hymn-writer of his generation and was the author of over 400 hymns. His hymns are included in most hymnbooks published in the past 50 years, including 41 hymns in Ancient & Modern Hymns & Songs for refreshing worship (2013), and RSCM is very proud to have published 5 collections of his hymns.
Timothy Dudley-Smith was awarded an OBE and FRSCM for his services to hymnody. Previously the Bishop of Thetford, he lived in Salisbury for a number of years and was a regular and welcome visitor to the RSCM office. He then moved to Cambridge to be closer to his family and died on the morning of Monday 12 August.
Read a fascinating interview between Bishop Timothy and Andrew Reid HERE.
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RSCM’s Assistant Director, Paul Hedley, was in Windsor Parish Church last week, recording music from recent RSCM publications. Ably accompanied by Council member John Halsey at the organ, the singers have been recording extracts which will help music leaders in selecting new repertoire. The new recordings will be uploaded to the webshop RSCM Music Direct (rscmshop.com) in coming weeks – keep an eye out for the latest updates, and via our social media channels.
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Composer Liz Lane has written a new anthem for the young people attending the RSCM’s annual residential course for young people.
A Greater Love sets the prayer text of Rev. F. Andrew Willmot in an encircling structure, also featuring echoing solo voice(s), representing a never-ending – or greater love.
Liz writes: ‘When first looking for words, I approached my dad, who regularly plays the organ at two local churches in Berkshire. He had recently been given some prayers written by a friend’s father, compiled in the book ‘Sermons, Talks and Prayers written by Rev. F. Andrew Willmot in interesting times 1939-1976’. At the time, just after the war, paper was expensive and Rev. Willmot often wrote prayers with a fountain pen on the back of spare invoices left over from the closure of his father-in-law’s business (J.T.H. Trendell, Nurseryman and Florist) in the Great Depression of 1929-29’.
The music features an optional section which will be co-created with members of the course during a workshop session which Liz will be leading.
The premiere will be at the Gala Concert on Saturday 24th August Tomorrow’s Voices – A Celebration in Song | What’s On | Bath Box Office, and the anthem will be sung at Evensong in Bath Abbey on Sunday 25th August.
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The RSCM Residentiary Choir is training course choir who visit a UK cathedral every summer for a week choral performance, training, and coaching. Next week, they are heading to Guildford Cathedral. The Residentiary Choir is one of the ways in which the RSCM lives out its mission to enable the flourishing of church music. Individual vocal coaching is included as an integral part of the Residentiary Choir, and the choir sings a wide range of music of all periods. Many singers in the choir this year are leading singers or choir trainers of their home choir, and benefit from an intensive week of study under professional trainers and singing in the company of others.
The choir will be singing a range of music including Kerensa Briggs’ Gloucester Service, Cecilia McDowall’s Missa Brevis (‘Tongues of Fire’), and the Stanford Responses arranged by Jeremy Dibble (published by RSCM).
Monday 5th: 5:30 Evensong
Tuesday 6th: 5:30 Eucharist (Feast of the Transfiguration)
Thursday 8th: 5:30 Evensong
Friday 9th: 5:30 Evensong
Saturday 10th: 5:00 Evensong
Sunday 11th: 9:45 Eucharist and 6:00 Evensong
If you will be in or near Guildford, do join the congregation.
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As part of our commitment to inspiring young people we are delighted to be welcoming three of our Emerging Leaders to residential courses this summer. The programme is for aspiring choral directors who are looking to develop the skills they need to be a future leader. A programme of online sessions makes the most of both professional input and peer support to help you become a more rounded and adaptable musician, able to contribute positively to the world of church music in the 21st century.
Eleanor Jarvis and Joe Goodland will join the Bath Course, while Martha Littlehales will participate in the Millennium Youth Choir Course in Norwich. They will have the opportunity to develop their choral direction and leadership skills with guidance from our team of course tutors. They and other Emerging Leaders will participate in online sessions and other opportunities throughout the coming year.
Eleanor: “I’m excited to meet and work with lots of brilliant young musicians who are passionate about church choral music and singing…. I’m looking forward to developing my skills as a choir director and conductor.”
Joe: “I’m really looking forward to working with all the singers on the Bath Course to create some memorable and amazing music!
You can learn more about the Emerging Leaders programme HERE.
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We are delighted to be working in collaboration with Coventry Cathedral to put on an unmissable opportunity to join in with singing the beautiful service of Choral Evensong in the equally beautiful surroundings of Coventry Cathedral, alongside members of Coventry Cathedral Choir.
The music marks the 100th anniversary of the death of legendary church music composer C V Stanford, on the weekend closest to his birthday. What makes this occasion really special is that not only will it be accompanied by the Cathedral’s iconic Harrison organ, but also swelled by the Warwickshire Symphony orchestra in this rare performance (including Stanford’s uplifting Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in A) in the fully orchestrated version of Stanford’s music. Distinguished international conductor Nicholas Cleobury will lead the event.
This will be a day to remember!
The singing fee includes a souvenir copy of all the music.
To find out more and book click HERE
Image © Garry Jones
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At one o’clock on Friday 12 July, a steady stream of enthusiastic singers arrived at the chapel of Queens’ College, Cambridge for a weekend of singing choral music by Charles Villiers Stanford, who died 100 years ago this year, under the expert direction of Hugh Morris.
The first day was taken with learning music for an informal concert at Trinity College Chapel, where Stanford was Director of Music. This included Song to the soul, a very dramatic setting of words by Walt Whitman, Heraclitus, one of Stanford’s many partsongs, and ending with Stanford Magnificat in C. The small audience were very appreciative.
The evening finished with a wonderful organ recital at Queens’, given by Anthony Gritten. Playing a variety of Stanford’s organ music, including the monumental 4th Sonata, Anthony’s performance was breathtaking.
Saturday was taken learning the music for Evensong later in the day, and Holy Communion on Sunday. Evensong included For lo! I raise up, which taxed most of the singers, but they rose to the challenge and managed a committed performance. The Canticles were the dramatic setting in A and the responses were The Stanford Responses, arranged and adapted by Professor Jeremy Dibble, who provided firstly an interesting look at some Stanford manuscripts from the RSCM Archives, and then the evening lecture, which concentrated on his orchestral and opera music and was fascinating and absorbing.
Holy Communion on Sunday morning was at Great St Mary’s, opposite King’s College. The setting was Communion in C and F, and the performance of the anthem Beati quorum via was one of the highlights of the weekend.
The course participants left Cambridge having learnt a wide variety of Stanford’s choral music and much more about the composer himself. Hugh Morris’s direction ‘provided a good balance between making it fun, but also working on improving the singing’. Special mention should be made of our amazing organist, Alex Trigg, who was drafted in at the last moment but managed all the notes in For lo! I raise up with aplomb.
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A very warm welcome to Clodagh Stamp, who has joined the RSCM this week as Hymnpact! Project Officer. Clodagh has just completed a music degree at Royal Holloway, University of London, where she was General Manager of the Founder’s Choir. She was also an intern with the Music Publishers Association and peer Music Accorder (UK) Ltd. during her final year. We are delighted to have Clodagh as part of the team and are looking forward to working with her on the Hymnpact! Pathway Project.
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The Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) and the Cathedral Music Trust (CMT) are delighted to announce the recipients of this year’s Church Choir Awards. The Church Choir Award, a partnership between the two organisations and now in its third year, is funding far-reaching initiatives at parish churches – from supporting projects that offer pathways to choral singing for more young people, to singing lessons for choir members and the introduction in one church of midweek services.
The seven choirs will all receive a year’s Group Membership of the RSCM and access to our groundbreaking Voice for Life Digital resources alongside funding and professional support from CMT.
John Halsey, Trustee of the RSCM and member of the panel, said;
“As ever, the experience of judging these applications is quite simply inspiring. Very well done to the successful applicants, and to the many others who didn’t win this year, but who are nevertheless doing great work. Thousands of churches would benefit from studying the methods used by the winning choirs, and publicity on this will follow from both CMT and RSCM.”
2024 Recipients
St Lawrence Parish Church, York
St Paul’s Church, Withington
Crediton Parish Church
St Ann’s Church, Manchester
All Saints’ Church, Kingston upon Thames
St Mary-le-Tower, Ipswich
St Mary and All Saints, Chesterfield
For more details please click HERE
“We’re delighted to receive this award which will pay for an extra Choir Trainer to work alongside our Director of Music. It means that we can extend our outreach programme to two more primary schools, expand our newly formed junior choir and develop a new all-age choral service.” Revd Joe Moffatt, All Saints Church Kingston upon Thames.
“This award will contribute significantly towards the Charter 2025 festival, stimulating choral singing across the community and leading to the establishment of a permanent Key Stage 1 choir. This choir, drawing from local primary schools, will establish a route into the church choir and the opportunity to sing wonderful music.” David Matthews, Churchwarden, St Mary le Tower, Ipswich.
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We are delighted that John Bell will be giving this year’s annual lecture. John, a Fellow of the RSCM, will focus on The Limitless resources of local church music.
In church music, there is a tendency to worry more about not having enough rather than having too much. This is especially true in churches without a regular musician, where few people can read music, or where the congregation is getting older, leading to pessimism rather than optimism about the future.
In this lecture, John Bell, minister of the Church of Scotland, will challenge this negative outlook, drawing on the experience of the Iona Community of which he is a member, and local churches throughout the world who have moved successfully from having too little to having too much.
The talk will be taking place in person in Salisbury on Wednesday 18th September, and available as a recording from the following Wednesday.
To find out more and book tickets click HERE
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Are you, or do you know, a young composer with a passion for church music?
The RSCM has just launched the 2024 Harold Smart Memorial Composition Competition. This invites individuals 25 and under (as of 1 July 2024) to compose an original anthem. We are looking for fresh, innovative works that inspire and uplift, suitable for performance in a church setting. For experienced and new composers alike, this is an excellent opportunity to showcase talent and make a significant contribution to sacred music. The text to be used has been written by Dr Canon Gordon Giles.
The winner will receive a cash prize of £300, as well as £200 of composition tuition (with an agreed tutor), with the possibility of publication by the RSCM.
For full information, including submission guidelines and how to enter, click HERE.
Closing date for submissions: 31st October 2024
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The RSCM Voices Choirs sing in churches and cathedrals right across the country, though they rarely take a ferry to get there!
Scottish Voices, one of RSCM’s Voices Choirs, recently visited The Cathedral of the Isles in Millport on the Isle of Cumbrae for a day of rehearsals and performance. The choir sang “Rage, Wisdom” by Revd Canon Sal McDougall and “I will sing with the Spirit” by Sir John Rutter amongst other works. It was a particular pleasure for a choir to sing on the Cathedral’s dedication weekend, being dedicated to the Holy Spirit.
RSCM Scottish Voices is an exciting adult choir that aims to draw together some of the most accomplished and experienced church musicians across Scotland (primarily) to perform approximately six times a year in a variety of venues around the country. The Musical Director of RSCM Scottish Voices, Frikki Walker, is the Director of Music at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Glasgow. Frikki is an inspiring musician who has been awarded Associate of the RSCM (ARSCM) in recognition of his work in music and liturgy in Scotland.
Interested in auditioning for Scottish Voices? Head to the Scottish Voices webpage to find out more.
All of RSCM’s Voices Choirs work with high-quality choral directors and organists who teach, challenge and motivate the singers to give of their best in worship, both as part of the choir itself and back in their home churches. To find out more about all RSCM’s Voices Choirs, right across the country, head to the National and Regional Choirs webpage.
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Thank you to all the churches that acknowledged Music Sunday in some way this year. It is always so interesting to hear how different churches choose to participate. Our focus on hymns this year has really struck a chord and we look forward to hearing more from you all and seeing some pictures. For those of you who receive CMQ as Members or Friends, you will be able to read more in the September edition.
Hugh Morris chose to hold a Come and Sing Stanford Evensong for Music Sunday, and we are particularly grateful to All Saints, Loughborough, for sharing the live stream of their Big Hymn Sing.
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We are wishing all churches well as they celebrate RSCM Music Sunday this weekend. Many are choosing to focus on hymns, with some using the special pack/and or the results of the poll to help with their music choices. We are also pleased that the new hymn, Sing to the Lord, a new song of creation, will be sung in so many different places. We know that it has already been used in some services.
If you are free on Sunday afternoon why not share in the livestream from All Saints’ Church, Loughborough? This special Big Hymn Sing for Music Sunday will start at 4.00. Click HERE to join.
Thank you to all the church musicians and singers who give so much of their time and talent to enhance our worship through the power of music.
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Laudemus!, an adult SATB choir and charity which meets annually to sing Choral Evensong in churches throughout Dorset, has recently announced the winners of its composition competition for an anthem written for competent SATB choir with organ accompaniment.
After much discussion, the adjudicators (Dr Barry Rose, Jeremy Jackman, Sam Hanson and RSCM’s Head of Publishing Tim Ruffer) agreed to award the prize jointly to two composers: to David Harris for Hail, gladdening light and to John Sturt for Te lucis ante terminum. They will share the prize of £1,000, and their anthems will be performed during Evensong on 10th August 2024 at Wimborne Minster. It is hoped that the composers may be able to be present. To find out more click HERE.
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14 RSCM Gold Award candidates received their certificates as part of an RSCM Festival Evensong in St Paul’s Cathedral on Saturday 18th May. They added their voices to a massed choir of 250 voices conducted by Andrew Carwood, Director of Music at St Paul’s. The Awards were conferred by the Dean of St Paul’s, the Very Revd Andrew Tremlett. RSCM’s Director, Hugh Morris, said: ‘It was a delight to be able to present this representative group of candidates with their certificates in the service on Saturday, and we offer them, as with all the hundreds of others who take our Singing Awards, our warm congratulations’.
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The Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) is delighted to announce the appointment of Baroness Hayman of Ullock as its new Chair.
A member of the House of Lords since 2020 and Shadow DEFRA spokesperson, Sue Hayman is the former Labour Member of Parliament for Workington (2015-2019) and has been a longstanding member and former Chair of the Parliament Choir. She has been a keen singer and passionate about church music since her childhood.
Commenting on her appointment, RSCM Vice Chair Andrew Morgan says:
“We are delighted to appoint Sue from a strong field of candidates and look forward to working with her as we approach our Centenary in 2027. Sue’s enthusiasm for our mission, church music and our critical work in promoting the flourishing of church music at parish level and amongst young people shone through in the process. She has a clear appreciation of the value of our work and can see the potential we can unlock for future generations.”
Baroness Hayman said:
“I am thrilled to be given the chance to join and chair the RSCM’s Council with its diverse range of experience and a wide range of professional backgrounds and a common cause which unites us all. I look forward to working with our outgoing Chair Phil Taylor, who will be a hard act to follow and with our Director Hugh Morris. Meeting staff, volunteers and those who support us across the country and internationally will be fascinating and enriching. We have a rich history, a vital role to play in the Church of England and beyond and I hope I can make a useful contribution to that work.”
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We are honoured and delighted to announce that His Majesty the King has accepted patronage of the Royal School of Church Music. The announcement from Buckingham Palace this week coincides with the first anniversary of His Majesty’s coronation.
The RSCM’s charitable mission to enable the flourishing of church music aligns closely with King Charles’ status as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, and his deep love of music. The RSCM has a wide, international presence, and works in diverse contexts in the UK and worldwide.
On receiving the news, RSCM Chair, Phil Taylor said: “On behalf of the Council of the RSCM and all who work with us and support our work, I am delighted that His Majesty has accepted the Patronage of the Royal School of Church Music.
We believe this reflects the enduring and contemporary importance of church music and our work. The remarkable power of church music, as was enjoyed by millions of people across the world at the Coronation a year ago, was integral to that remarkable occasion. However, our ongoing engagement each week with cathedrals, churches and schools is central or our mission and why we were established.
As we approach our Centenary in 2027, this news is heartening for all our members, supporters and volunteers in the United Kingdom and overseas and we are most grateful to His Majesty for his commitment to our cause and work.”
RSCM’s Director, Hugh Morris said: “We are thrilled that the reigning monarch’s patronage of the RSCM will continue, first granted to us in 1947. We know that our work in supporting young people, music leadership and clergy leadership is even more vital now than it was then; and we look forward to supporting our members, the wider church and the wider community in the years ahead.”
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‘What a fantastically varied couple of days’. Just one of the huge number of positive comments from delegates following the first Festival of Faith and Music which took place in York this weekend. The RSCM was delighted to be working in partnership with the Church Times. Highlights included an engaging keynote address from the Archbishop of York, a whole range of panel discussions, and the opportunity to sing in the Minster. Renowned singers James Gilchrist and Hannah Davey’s performance ‘In the Stillness’ in the Minster’s lady chapel, leading to late evening Compline, was a particularly memorable occasion for everyone present.
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Hugh spent Thursday and Friday last week in the Netherlands following some connections made last year. As well as attending Choral Evensong at Janskerk in Utrecht, Hugh attended a symposium there and also gave a presentation at the Rotterdam Conservatory of Music. Focussing on the role and future of music in churches great and small, he spoke to enthusiastic and engaged people about the breadth of musical experiences and ways of capturing the interest of young singers.
‘It was wonderful to meet with a range of church musicians and clergy in the Netherlands, and to experience at first hand the interest in church music; and I look forward to developing further the relationships with our friends in this part of Europe as we enable the flourishing of church music’. Hugh Morris
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Applications are now open for the Church Choir Award 2024, in partnership with the Cathedral Music Trust.
Your choir can apply for up to £10,000 for a specific, innovative project that will enrich your music-making. Award recipients will also receive one year’s group membership of RSCM and one year’s free access to RSCM’s Voice for Life digital training programme.
A choir is eligible for the Church Choir Award if it regularly performs cathedral-style choral repertoire in a liturgical context to a high standard. The full eligibility criteria and details on how to apply can be found here. In addition, there will be a webinar with more details on applying at noon on Friday 19th April.
Closing date: Wednesday 15th May
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We are pleased to announce that livestreaming tickets are now available for the Festival of Faith and Music taking place in York at the end of April.
Your ticket will include many of the sessions taking place at the De Grey rooms on Friday and Saturday (read on for the list) and you will be able to watch the live stream or at a time of your choosing. You will be able to rewatch each session as many times as you would like to.
Click here for online tickets
(Also for tickets to the whole weekend in person and the Saturday day tickets)
Your livestream ticket covers the following sessions;
Friday15:00-16:00
Joining the dots – composers in conversation
16:00-17:00
On Voice: Speech, Song and Silence, Human and Divine
Saturday10:00-10:45
Tuning Forks and Orchestras: Music and the Mission of God
11:15-12:00
So, what makes for good worship?
12:15-13:00
Great Sacred Music: A resource book for mission through music | a practical demonstration
14:00-14:45
Not forgotten: Music and Dementia
15:00-15:45
Panel discussion: Growing the church younger through music
16:15-17:00
What did a church choir ever do for me?
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RSCM’s Director Hugh Morris continued his Down Under adventure with a busy fortnight of activity in Australia.
As part of this, in Adelaide he recorded an interview for Life FM, hosted by Rev Lynn Arnold. They talk about music, church, faith and more; you can listen to it as a podcast here.
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Have you seen the programme for the Church Times and RSCM Festival of Faith in York on the last weekend of April? The Royal School of Church Music is the curator of the content for what will be a fascinating gathering.
The packed programme includes sessions led by the Archbishop of York, Tansy Castledine (Director of Music, Peterborough Cathedral and RSCM Trustee), composers including Alexander and Jo Forbes L’Estrange, and Carl Jackson, with stunning music from the choir of York Minster, the Ebor Singers, Andrea Haines (Voces8) and James Gilchrist, one of the UK’s leading tenors.
Today sees the release of Saturday only tickets.
Church Times subscribers and RSCM Members are entitled to discounts on tickets for the whole weekend and for the Saturday.
To find out more and buy tickets click HERE.
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Today is International Women’s Day and we look forward to Woman Composer Sunday at the weekend.
The RSCM is proud to publish the works of many female composers. We look forward to the performances of a new work by young composer Esther Bersweden at the forthcoming RSCM Young Voices Festival in York (27th April) and a new Introit by Elizabeth Stratford, Organist and Master of the Choristers at Arundel Cathedral. This has been written for the RSCM Festival Service in St Paul’s Cathedral on Saturday 18th May. We welcome singers to join on the day as well as those who wish to join the congregation. The service will also include Precis and Responses by Joanna Forbes L’Estrange.
“I really enjoyed writing Come Holy Ghost and composed at the piano. From a tiny fragment of melody the piece developed with melody playing a key role throughout. I’ve threaded plainchant in the organ part through the new melody I’ve created for the voices and thought a lot about the different textures which can be achieved with organ and singers when writing. The result is a new version of an ancient hymn which I hope will be enjoyed by those who perform it.” Elizabeth Stratford.
Many churches will be reflecting Woman Composer Sunday in their music choices this weekend. Read more here.
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RSCM’s Director, Hugh Morris, has spent the last 12 days travelling across New Zealand, on an official visit to one of RSCM’s five International Partners. A packed itinerary has included meeting with the national council in Auckland, and local volunteers; and giving presentations on the RSCM’s work on both the north and south islands. He has also led music workshops and services in Hamilton, Marton, Wellington, Dunedin, Timaru and Christchurch. Three of the sessions have been working with young singers, highlighting the importance of the RSCM’s support for this with the Voice for Life scheme. To see more of Hugh’s trip, follow him on Facebook and Instagram (search morrisrscm). Part 2, a 14 day tour of Australia, is now underway.
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2024 marks the centenary of the death of the great choral composer Charles Villiers Stanford. The RSCM has embarked on a year long celebration of his work, combining new editions and publications, promoting some of his lesser known works and supporting choirs in putting on their own special services and events.
We are pleased to announce as a central feature the Stanford Singing Break, a unique opportunity to sing some of Stanford’s best known (and lesser known) works in glorious Cambridge surroundings. Stanford was organ scholar at Queens’ College, whose chapel will be our base. Later, he was organist of Trinity College, and we will sing in the chapel as part of the course. There will be services of Evensong and Mass, and a concert, including the opportunity to sing the glorious Stanford in A Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis with orchestra.
The RSCM holds a number of Stanford manuscripts, and there will be an exclusive session for members of the course to view them, along with an informative lecture on the life and works of the composer given by Stanford expert Jeremy Dibble on the Saturday evening. On the Friday evening there will be a special, illustrated organ recital featuring Stanford organ works.
Who is this course for?
The course is suited to experienced, adult choral singers with good music-reading ability. It is expected that singers will have done some preparation of the materials in advance; interactive learning resources will be available through the RSCM Choral Coach app. A full set of music in a presentation, commemorative folder will be available to all participants. The course is only open to over 18’s.
To find out more about the Singing Break click HERE
You can find more Stanford products HERE
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Applications are now open for our Emerging Leaders programme for aspiring choral directors. We’ve expanded the programme this year to include online discussions and seminars on a variety of topics, as well as opportunities to develop your skills in the immersive environment of a residential course. The closing date for applications is Monday 11 March, so not too far away!
One of our 2023 Emerging Leaders said “The [residential] week was a good springboard for my development as a conductor and has inspired me to keep looking for opportunities to grow. I will use the things I have learnt in the choirs I conduct. The week also honed the skill of actively observing other conductors, which I will continue to do – noting both what works and what doesn’t!”
Click here for further details and to apply.
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The RSCM is seeking to appoint a new Chair to lead its Council of Trustees and drive the next phase of our development. We welcome applications from the widest range of backgrounds to reflect the diverse communities we serve. This encompasses all the regions of the United Kingdom. Applications would be particularly welcome from candidates with experience in the following areas:
- Leading the oversight and governance of substantial charitable organisations
- A successful track record of fundraising, ideally within a charity and encompassing major donors, legacies and membership schemes
- Developing relationships with Christian education organisations
If you, or someone you know, would be interested in this exciting role do click here for more information.
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A new anthem, jointly commission by the RSCM and the Prayer Book Society, marks the start of a new partnership between both organisations.
O Lord, we beseech thee, which is based on the Collect for the sixteenth Sunday after Trinity, has been written by young British composer, Jack Oades. It received its premiere in Bath recently when nearly 100 your choristers on the RSCM’s Summer Residential Course performed it and it will feature in the PBS’ 50th anniversary celebrations at Westminster in October.
One of the success stories of Church growth in recent years has been the popularity of Choral Evensong. Cathedrals, college chapels and parish churches with a strong choral tradition, have seen steady increases in congregations.
The PBS is now opening its prestigious public speaking competition, the Cranmer Awards, to choristers through the RSCM.
“We are delighted that the Cranmer Awards, will be closely linked to the RSCM young chorister training scheme, Voice for Life,” says Jon Riding, a PBS’ Trustee. “Familiarity of the Book of Common Prayer is an invaluable tool for all choristers, young and old, and this partnership offers so much to members of both organisations.”
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£30,000 invested in seven places of worship, enhancing choral and organ music across the UK.
The Church Choir Award, in partnership with the Cathedral Music Trust (CMT), recognises outstanding music-making in places of worship across the UK giving choirs the opportunity to enhance their impact. The award is designed to support choirs which sing less frequently than the choral foundations usually supported by the the Cathedral Music Trust’s main grant programme.
Thanks to the generosity of the CMT’s Friends & Patrons, this year’s grants support a range of initiatives including provision for changing voices, choral scholarships and outreach work in schools and communities across both the Anglican and Roman traditions. Alongside financial support from CMT, all seven choirs below will also benefit from a year’s group membership of the RSCM amd access to our groundbreaking Voice for Life® Digital resources.
2023 Recipients
St Thomas-on-the-Bourne, Farnham
St Mary’s Cathedral, Aberdeen
St George’s Cathedral, Southwark
St Patrick’s Church, Huddersfield
St Alphege Church, Solihull
Holy Trinity Church, Coventry
All Saints’, Leamington Spa
Hugh Morris, Director of the RSCM, said: “Choirs are an important part of the rich tapestry of church music, and sustaining their contribution to worship is important. We are delighted to offer all seven Church Choir Award holders one year’s group membership of the RSCM and access to RSCM’s interactive digital version of Voice for Life®, our acclaimed choir training programme. Access to these high-quality resources, together with funding from the Cathedral Music Trust, will support these churches as they enact innovative plans to enable church music to flourish.”
Jonathan Macdonald, Chair of the Cathedral Music Trust, writes: “Thanks once again to the generosity of our supporters, we are delighted to be investing in more places of worship across the UK through the Church Choir Award. Music plays a vital part in a thriving church, and we are committed to supporting its excellence at all levels. By working with the RSCM, we look forward to transforming more lives through sacred choral and organ music, and enriching worship in local communities.
Congratulations to all this year’s recipients.
To read more about the awards and the recipients click here
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Among our new carols for this coming Christmas you will find the newly published The Winter’s Brightening by Donna Deam. This charming carol was a finalist in the 2022 BBC Radio 3 Carol Competition 2022. Niall Campbell’s short and simple poem immediately conjures up a mood of winter, cosiness, warmth, love and hope and is suitable for Christmas or the Read the Rest...
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Thursday 7th/Friday 8th September The RSCM will be live-streaming a 24 hour drop-in performance of the Messiah from St George’s Church in Hanover Square, one of our Member churches. This event is being put on by the church and Labrador Events, part of the Choir of the Earth group, in order to raise much-needed funds to repair the recently collapsed Read the Rest...
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We have recently announced a series of online, monthly sessions which will be free for our members. Starting on 6 September at 7pm and then on the first Wednesday of the month, subjects will include: Sunday by Sunday, church growth, choir practice, streaming church services, Voice for Life Digital and Hymnpact! The first session will see Hugh Morris talking about making the most of Read the Rest...
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If you will be in Salisbury or Bristol next week, why not come and hear the RSCM’s Residentiary Choir? This training choir of adults drawn from RSCM affiliated choirs and individual members comes together each summer to sing services across a whole week. The choir is directed by Martyn Rawles, Organist and Assistant Director of Music at Lichfield Cathedral. Salisbury Read the Rest...
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RSCM Publishing has just released this new collection of 15 flexible anthems for the church year. Written by contemporary composers specifically for this collection, these anthems can be performed with even limited resources. The two-part writing is flexible, allowing you to assign the upper line to women’s voices and the lower to men’s; but the pieces work equally well with Read the Rest...
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We look forward to welcoming members of the RSCM’s Millennium Youth Choir to their residential course in Newcastle this week. MYC will sing services at Newcastle and Durham Cathedral, as well as spending a day recording a variety of choral works. The repertoire list includes music by Joanna Forbes L’Estrange, Richard Lloyd, Sarah MacDonald, Howells and many more. MYC will be Read the Rest...
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We are delighted to announce that for the second year running the Bath Course, our summer residential course for young people, will feature a public concert. Taking place at Christ Church, Bath on Saturday 26th August, the concert will feature choral highlights from across the ages and around the world. The programme includes music by Vierne, Brahms, Bob Chilcott, Joanna Read the Rest...
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Peter Nardone, the renowned Scottish church music composer, has been commissioned by RSCM Scotland to write an anthem in honour of George McPhee, who has been Director of Music at Paisley Abbey since 1963. Peter Nardone was himself a chorister at Paisley Abbey under Dr McPhee and was thrilled to be asked to compose the anthem, ‘A hymn of God’s Read the Rest...
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We are, as ever, grateful for the support of all our members and Friends (and, indeed everyone else). We know that our Direct Debit supplier, GoCardless, has just emailed many of our members and Friends with an email which contained an apology from them…but which also contained a factual error which was not of our RSCM making. We are aware Read the Rest...
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This month, Year 6 children across the country have sung their hearts out to wonderful Hymnpact! songs as part of celebrations of their time at primary school. Between 4th – 6th July, children from across the Diocese of Salisbury gathered in the Cathedral for wonderful renditions of ‘We are the Light’, one of the most popular songs in the Hymnpact! Read the Rest...
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When the RSCM Trustees (Council) met in Salisbury in June they were delighted to welcome two new members, Sammi Tooze and Martin Honeywood. Each adds to the breadth of experience and expertise within the governance of the charity. They also had an opportunity with meet with some of the Salisbury-based staff members during the day. You can read more about Read the Rest...
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A huge thank you to all the churches that have participated in Music Sunday this year. It is always interesting to hear the different ways in which churches choose to mark the day. In particular this year we were pleased to hear of churches bringing together different choirs, and others working with local schools. A cake sale, a dinner and Read the Rest...
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Each year the RSCM Council confers Honorary Awards on those who have made outstanding contributions to church music. For more information on our Honorary Awards please click here. Fellows of The Royal School of Church Music (FRSCM) Awarded for achievements in church music and/or liturgy of internationally recognised significance, or for exceptional musical and/or liturgical work within the RSCM which has had an Read the Rest...
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In the glorious afternoon sunshine this past Sunday, a fantastic group of children from a school participating in the Hymnpact! Pathway Project sang their hearts out showcasing Hymnpact! to the enthusiastic crowd gathered in the Cathedral Close at Salisbury to celebrate the visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury to the diocese. The children from Motcombe Primary School, led superbly by Read the Rest...
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As you can see, Hugh and Paul have arrived safely back in Salisbury after their 96 mile tandem ride this weekend from Addington Palace in Croydon. Despite the heat, they kept to schedule for all their stops and are so grateful for all the support they have received. They were met with warm welcomes in West Byfleet, Farnham and Winchester Read the Rest...
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We are delighted to hear from churches doing something special this weekend to mark Music Sunday. There are lots of examples of people joining together from different churches and choirs, bringing people together in the common aim of celebrating church music and church musicians. Churches are planning a variety of events, including Come and Sing Evensongs, a Songs of Praise Read the Rest...
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Singers from as far afield as Cumbria, Newcastle and Florida travelled to Salisbury last weekend to join the RSCM Salisbury Singing Break. The weekend was led by RSCM Director, Hugh Morris, with organ accompaniment provided by David Beeby, Assistant Director of Music at Christchurch Priory. Three services were sung in the inspiring setting of Salisbury Cathedral, with the lovely summer Read the Rest...
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Training continues for the fund-raising tandem ride from Addington Palace to Salisbury next weekend, the Director’s Challenge. Hugh and Paul have had another training ride in preparation for the 96 miles in 48 hours from Addington Palace to Salisbury, although not before they had agreed how to communicate effectively to ensure that they stayed safe.
The money raised will pay for a range of projects, such as providing congregations with resources and training to encourage young people to join their choirs, and enabling churches to start new choirs and reinvigorate those that shrank during Covid.
Do support them in their efforts to raise much-needed funds for the RSCM as it works to enable the flourishing of church music. To find out more and donate click here
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Come & Sing Stainer’s Crucifixion at St Marylebone (the church for which it was written) on Saturday was a great success, officially launching the new Critical Edition of the score, edited by Professor Jeremy Dibble. Singers came from all over the country, as far flung as Stockport and Chichester, to sing under the expert direction of Gavin Roberts, until recently Director of Music at St Marylebone, and to listen to Jeremy Dibble give the RSCM Annual lecture about Sir John Stainer and his hugely popular work, The Crucifixion. The singers included Alice Stainer, one of Sir John’s descendants.
https://www.rscmshop.com/features/stainers-crucifixion
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Thanks to a generous grant from the Ecclesiastical Music Trust, a workshop exploring choral music by women composers is to be held at St Giles’s, Cripplegate on Saturday 15 July.
It will feature music by Sarah MacDonald, Joanna Forbes L’Estrange, Ghislaine Reece-Trapp, Margaret Rizza and others.
The event will be led by Katherine Dienes-Williams, Director of Music at Guildford Cathedral, and be accompanied by Imogen Morgan, assistant Master of the Music at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh.
All the music will be provided and there will be a 30 minute break at 12.30 and participants are welcome to bring a packed lunch. Tea and coffee will be available for a cash donation.
To find out more and book click here
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Yesterday we were pleased to welcome some members of the RSCM Legacy Society and relatives of people who had left us gift in wills to Sarum College for their annual special service. A small choir of staff and choristers from local member churches led the fine singing from the congregation and this was followed by a lunch.
During the afternoon guests heard about the late Queen’s coronation in 1953 when there were 400 choristers. Trevor Jarvis, long-time staff member and currently Assistant Archivist and Librarian, explained the RSCM’s involvement and then Allan Ledger, who had been 9 at the time and a chorister at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, recalled his experiences of the run up to the event and the day itself. We are grateful to him for sharing his memories and memorabilia.
You can find out more about leaving bequests to the RSCM and about the Legacy Society here.
This photograph shows the Butterfield Chapel at Sarum College where the service took place.
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There is still time to plan to join Music Sunday on 11th June. We are delighted to have heard from some churches already, but it would be fabulous to have as many churches as possible joining together in spirit on the day to celebrate and give thanks for church music and the thousands of dedicated church musicians.
You will find ideas in the ‘What you might do’ section and resources to support you in the toolkit, including 2 sample services that can be adapted, and a host of other ideas. Click here
Do take a look at this year’s Music Sunday anthem In the Sound of Song here. There are two versions, each written in contrasting but approachable styles for Soprano, Alto and unison lower voices.
However you plan to reflect Music Sunday, do please let us know by registering here.
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We are delighted that so many choirs of all different descriptions have already sung our specially commissioned anthem, The mountains shall being peace, in order to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III. From Calgary to Bahrain, Cathedral and church choirs, community choirs, schools; it is lovely to hear how many of you have enjoyed learning and singing the work. Do keep sending in your news and photographs, and of course we know that for some of you the performance is yet to come.
Thank you to Carnoustie Church and Woodhouse Primary Academy for these wonderful photographs.
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Two anthems published by RSCM Publications are featuring in the Coronation of King Charles. Confortare by Walford Davies, composed for the Coronation of King George V in 1911, will be sung at the end of The Homage of The People; and The King shall rejoice by William Boyce, (edited by Maurice Bevan) was written for the coronation of George III in 1761, and will be sung during the final Blessing.
These and the other music sung during the Coronation currently published, are available to order from RSCM Music Direct: https://www.rscmshop.com/features/coronation-music
The RSCM sends its best wishes to all the musicians taking part in the Coronation, including the choirs, organists, instrumentalists, orchestras and bands, and their conductors and directors.
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Training for the Director’s Challenge continues – Hugh and Paul have had their first outing on the tandem with a ride or two around the Close in Salisbury! This first tentative trip was witnessed by a handful of staff who confirm that there was no crash, neither fell-off and the bell definitely works.
To find out more about the Director’s Challenge and to donate to their fundraising efforts click here
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Two of our regional adult choirs, Northern Cathedral Singers and Voices West, are looking forward to a bank holiday of singing on Monday (1st May). NCS are returning to York Minster to sing Evensong (17.30), with Voices West singing for a Eucharist at Salisbury Cathedral (17.30) to mark the feast of St Philip and St James. The music list at York Minster includes Ireland in F evening canticles and Give us the wings of faith (Bullock). At Salisbury, Voices West are singing Stanford in C and F Communion Service and I sat down under his shadow (Bairstow).
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Uniting in song! With the Coronation just over a week away, groups are already singing this special anthem commissioned by the RSCM and composed by Joanna Forbes L’Estrange. As well as church choirs, we know that the anthem has been adopted by choral societies, community choirs and some schools and will be sung in a whole variety of settings including some outdoor community events. Thousands will engage in this shared experience.
Find out more here
Don’t just take our word for it;
“so pleased to be joining with so many other choirs across the country in celebration of this historic occasion, and appreciate the collegiality of performing this new work for HM Charles III.”
“Looking forward to adding our voices to the occasion. With everything going on in the music world at the moment. We need to band together and show that choirs matter!”
If you are singing the anthem then please;
Do register with us using the link above – it is just a quick form to fill in
If you put anything on social media about your service or event do tag us on Facebook using @rscmcentre and use the hashtag #singfortheking in all your social media
Afterwards, do send a photograph to enquiries@rscm.com with the name of the group singing and your location.
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Come & Sing Evensongs are becoming increasingly popular around the country and this new book, published by the RSCM, contains an inspiring collection of Responses, Canticles and Anthems. As well as the beautifully presented music itself, the editor Simon Lole has included performance notes and advice on organising Come & Sing Evensongs. Simon has spent many years as a professional church musician and is currently Director of Music at St Mary’s Church, Swanage, where he puts on monthly Come and Sing Evensongs.
For more information click here
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The Royal School of Church Music and Cathedral Music Trust (CMT) are both deeply aware of the vital role that church choirs play in developing the UK’s rich choral music heritage through their music-making and musical training, enhancing worship, and nurturing a love of choral and organ music throughout people’s lives. Individuals from all walks of life point to their experiences singing in their church choir as being the start of a life-long journey, developing musicianship, discipline, friendships as well as instilling a deep love of choral music.
The Royal School of Church Music is therefore delighted to be working in partnership with Cathedral Music Trust (CMT) once again, for the Church Choir Award 2023. The purpose of the award is to recognise and develop excellence in music-making by church choirs through the funding of imaginative new projects and activities.
Financial support to innovate and enrich music making
Choirs are invited to apply for grants of up to £10,000 for a specific, innovative, or enriching project aimed at developing excellence, be that through choral and organ training programmes, imaginative recruitment projects, or through projects involving the wider community and local schools.
Register for our Lunch & Learn Webinar on Tuesday 25 April at 12 noon to learn more about this year’s award.
Find out more about application guidelines and eligibility criteria.
Free advice and resources
As well as funding from Cathedral Music Trust, award holders will also receive one year’s group membership of RSCM and one year’s free subscription for the choir to access the new Voice for Life Digital resource, the latest version of the acclaimed training programme which helps singers to develop vocal skills and musical understanding, as well as knowledge of repertoire.
Find out more about the RSCM’s Voice for Life training programme.
Hugh Morris, Director of the RSCM, said: ‘We are pleased to be working with the Cathedral Music Trust again to offer the Church Choir Award. In enabling the flourishing of church music, we want to use every opportunity to encourage churches to make the best use of the resources they have, and to be ambitious about their plans for the future. As we support the Award winners in new initiatives, it provides inspiration and encouragement to others that they, too, can harness the power of music to grow and develop the worshipping and community lives of their own church.’
Jonathan Macdonald, Chair of Cathedral Music Trust, said: “Thanks once again to the generosity of our supporters, we are delighted to be running the Church Choir Award in association with the RSCM for the second year in a row. Music plays a vital part in a thriving church, and we are committed to supporting its excellence at all levels. By working with the RSCM, we look forward to transforming more lives through sacred choral and organ music, and enriching worship in local communities.”
See the 2022 recipients of the Church Choir Award.
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St Marylebone Parish Church was the venue of the first ever performance of Stainer’s masterpiece, The Crucifixion. It has been performed there every year since, usually on Good Friday, and this year, the choir will be singing from the RSCM’s New Critical Edition, edited by Professor Jeremy Dibble.
Date and time: 7 April 2023, 18:30
Bertie Bagent, Director of Music, at St Marylebone is looking forward to using the new edition: ‘This is an exciting and important addition to RSCM’s catalogue. Authoritatively edited, clearly laid out, and handsomely presented, this volume is ideal for every choir performing this classic work.’
View the score hereSt Marylebone will also be the venue of the RSCM Annual Lecture and Come and Sing Workshop in May. The RSCM’s annual lecture, this year given by Professor Jeremy Dibble, will be hosted by St Marylebone Church (the site of the TheCrucifixion’s first performance) on 27 May at 4pm. Professor Dibble will deliver what is sure to be a fascinating lecture on the RSCM’s new critical edition of Stainer’s classic and provide insight into his research.
Prior to the lecture, you are invited to join us from 1pm for the unique opportunity to take part in a Come and Sing workshop to learn, rehearse, and perform the piece. A copy of the RSCM’s new critical edition will be included in your ticket price. After the lecture you are invited to perform alongside the professional choir and organist in the church. It promises to be an enlightening and captivating day of learning, music and connection.
https://www.rscm.org.uk/events/stainers-crucifixion-rscm-annual-lecture-and-come-sing-workshop/
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The Royal School of Church Music, in partnership with St Stephen’s House, Oxford, today announces the launch of a new Institute of Sacred Music.
It is hoped that the new qualifications of Postgraduate Diploma and MA in Worship and Liturgical Studies will be amongst the most sought-after qualifications in liturgy & worship for musicians anywhere in the world.
Church musicians, music minsters, clergy and lay people with previous musical and theological experience. will be able to embark on part and full-time qualifications. Hybrid tuition will allow for residential and online modes of study.
The new qualifications fall within St Stephen’s House’s partnership with Durham University through the Church of England’s Common Award scheme.
Musicians will learn alongside those training for ordained ministry in an environment described as ‘unique and vitally important to the modern world’.
Dr James Whitbourn, Senior Research Fellow, at Stephen’s House said: “students are likely to come from all over the world with experiences of liturgy and music drawn from their own practical and academic study. But here, they will have their own place in one of the most densely-populated choral cities in the world with its numerous outstanding choirs and its unparalleled variety of choral singing.”
RSCM Director Hugh Morris added: “It is so encouraging for there to be a bold new pathway for church musicians and theologians to study alongside each other. We are delighted to be working in partnership with St Stephen’s House and to be including this as part of our commitment to lifelong learning. Music is such a powerful, transformational tool for the church and its mission and this is a wonderful opportunity to bring aspiration to tangible life.”
Vice-Principal Revd Andreas Wenzel is delighted: “It is extremely exciting to be able to launch a vocational pathway for musicians and theologians at St Stephen’s House. The Common Awards qualifications allow us to share our heritage, the unique experiential contexts of the University City of Oxford, and rigorous academic formation with a worldwide audience. Had this course existed 20 years ago, I would have been on it.”
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The RSCM is sad to learn of the death of Sir David Harrison FRSCM (1930–2023), who was Chairman of the RSCM Council from 1996 to 2005. He guided the RSCM through nine years of exceptional change, when the Council had to make tough decisions in order to set the organisation on a new and positive course with strong programmes and real vision for the future. This began with the relocation of the RSCM’s operational centre from Addington Palace to the attractive but unsustainable Cleveland Lodge, near Dorking; the reshaping of the role of director as chief executive as well as musical leader; the reform of the council as a small, working body; the relaunching of the RSCM Press; the inauguration of Voice for Life; and the preparation for the move from Dorking to Sarum College, Salisbury. To every meeting he brought quiet wisdom, patience and kindness. Behind the scenes he offered generous support and care for the senior officers through a demanding and sometimes uncertain period. He was a very good Christian person.
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The RSCM is delighted to have recently signed the Memorandum of Understanding, confirming that RSCM will be a partner in delivering a series of lectures in 2024 within a new qualification offered by St Stephen’s House in Oxford. In advance of a full press release, do take an initial look at the new offering.
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As we approach the forthcoming Coronation in May, our Sunday by Sunday team have put together appropriate suggestions for hymns and anthems that can be used in a church service to celebrate the Coronation.
Click to download the suggestions as a PDF;
https://www.rscm.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Coronation.pdf
And, of course, this would be an ideal time to use our Sing for the King anthem, The Mountains shall bring peace by Joanna Forbes L’Estrange.
We have versions for SATB Choir and Organ and Unison and Piano available as choral leaflets, and a digital download that has SATB Choir and Organ, SATB Choir and Piano, and Unison Choir and piano versions all included.
Organ and Piano backing tracks are available to sing along to, as well as links to performances of the anthem, on our webshop at the following link:
https://www.rscmshop.com/features/sing-for-the-king
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Delegates from across the UK and indeed the world gathered online last Saturday for the RSCM Church Music Conference. The tone for the day was set by the Very Revd Stephen Hance, the Church of England’s National Lead for Evangelism and Witness, who spoke powerfully about music’s potential to enrich and invigorate our churches. The day continued with a range of similarly inspiring, high-quality sessions from RSCM tutors, who between them covered a fantastic range of musical and theological topics. The day also included a lunchtime concert and a closing act of worship, and some of those who attended enjoyed the day so much that they’ve already been in touch to ask, ‘When’s the next one?’ If you weren’t able to join us this year, keep your eye out for news of future conferences and make sure you don’t miss out next time round!
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It’s one week to go until our online Church Music Conference. Booking is still open but must close at 12pm on 16th March, so book your place today!
A day of seminars to help and inspire your music-making. Tickets are £40.
If you can’t attend the whole conference live, the recordings will be available on catch-up the following week. We look forward to seeing you online soon!
Book today
RSCM Church Music Conference 2023
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We are looking for aspiring choral directors to join our summer courses for young people.
Emerging Leaders have the opportunity to grow the skills they need to be a choral leader of the future as well as working with course staff to deliver an inspiring, high-quality and fun choral experience for the young singers who attend.
One of our 2022 Emerging Leaders said “Having the opportunity to conduct a group of 30 singers has really inspired me to continue conducting. I think I would like to look for conducting experience at university or even take part in courses to further these skills. The organisational skills and singing skills developed I’m sure will help me as I progress as a choral scholar at University.”
Click here for further details and to apply.
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Joanna Forbes L’Estrange, composer of our RSCM coronation anthem, The Mountains shall bring peace, has today been conducting a recording of the piece, by a specially-assembled choir. RSCM’s Director, Hugh Morris, played the organ; and our Publishing Director, Tim Ruffer, swelled the ranks of the altos. The finished recording will be on our RSCMCentre Youtube channel; keep an eye on our social media for more exclusive content. We hope that you will be inspired to sing it too: full details are on our Sing for the King project page: Sing for the King! | Coronation Anthem | The mountains shall bring peace (rscm.org.uk)
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the new membership benefit for RSCM Group Members.
This new online resource is designed to complement the highly valued Sunday by Sunday guide for all who plan and lead worship. This innovative tool will allow you to plan music for service and resources and to manage your resources, including the music and the musicians.
If you are responsible for organising music in your church, then this is the guide for you!
“I find Sunday by Sunday Plus really useful to know what music to have ready to play for choir rehearsals. Also which hymn tunes are set, and even which organist is due to play. So many really useful features!”
Find out more here.
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We are excited to launch this new product. Free for Choir Directors, this innovative and engaging practice aid, powered by MatchmySound®, will keep your students and choir members engaged and practising between rehearsals, enabling them to learn their notes in an easy-to-use and fun way.
To find out more about all the features, more about what your church choir members will be able to do, as well as more information on the price structure click here.
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Newly elected President of the Royal School of Church Music in America, Michael Smith is the Minister of Music at St. Thomas’ Church, Whitemarsh, located outside of Philadelphia. There he oversees a semi-professional adult choir and a chorister program. Through the church’s musical repertoire, he has worked to amplify the voices of women and BIPOC composers while honoring the church’s Anglican musical heritage. Prior to this appointment, he had a twelve year career in teaching and administration for private schools, including Shipley School in Philadelphia and Groton School in Massachusetts. Concurrently, he served a variety of parishes on a part-time basis and values the experiences of working with small, medium, and large parishes everywhere on the liturgical spectrum. He is a frequent clinician for workshops and hymn festivals. Michael’s goals for RSCMA include strengthening and supporting the summer residencies, increasing the value of the organization to its members, and amplifying diversity, equity, and inclusion across the organization. Michael earned his undergraduate degree in organ performance at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. He went on to earn graduate degrees in organ and conducting at Yale University.
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We are recruiting new trustees! Vacancies are arising because these important volunteer roles on our governing Council are fixed-term appointments; this is your chance to join a group of people who are committed to supporting the RSCM’s mission in enabling the flourishing of church music. Find out more by clicking the link Work For Us | RSCM; and we encourage you to share news of this opportunity widely.
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Are you an experienced singer? Would you like to sing in beautiful Salisbury Cathedral?
Why not join us for Trinity Weekend (Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th June)? We will sing music ranging from Byrd and Stainer to Shephard and Forbes-L’Estrange at Evensong on Saturday and Eucharist and Evensong on Sunday.
Members of the choir will have a reasonable level of music reading and independence as a singer to ensure that course leader Hugh Morris, the RSCM Director, will be able to draw the best from the assembled forces.
Imagine praising God in the wonderful acoustic and inspiring setting of Salisbury Cathedral in the company of other singers. Full details of how to make this a reality can be found here.
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On Saturday 18 February 2023, Croydon Minster will be celebrating the life of former RSCM staff member Martin How at a ‘Come and Sing’ Memorial Service, followed by a reception. As a fitting tribute to Martin’s life, there will be a performance of his own Requiem Cantata The Hope of Splendour. The choir will be made up of singers from far and wide, including former RSCM choristers and the Longborough Larks, and will be directed by RSCM Chief Examiner Adrian Lucas, with Roger Sayer accompanying. Please note: this is event is being organised by Croydon Minster.
For details, and to attend either as a singer or as a member of the congregation Please click here for tickets.
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‘Sing for the King’ is an open invitation from The Royal School of Church Music for all choirs to join in song to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III, by singing a new anthem, available now.
The Mountains Shall Bring Peace, which is suitable for all choirs, was composed by acclaimed singer and composer Joanna Forbes-L’Estrange taking words from the psalms. Suitable for use in a range of settings, it has enough grandeur for large choirs to use on formal occasions, while its accessible melodic sweep lends an intimacy that will be enjoyed by smaller groups and gatherings.
There are three versions of the music: SATB+piano, SATB+organ; and unison voices with piano. The accompaniments are interchangeable. Those not wishing to learn the full five-minute piece can still join in the project by learning the broad, hymn-like melody of the closing section, making it suitable for younger and/or less experienced singers to participate in a performance of the whole piece.
The Mountains Shall Bring Peace is available as a download pack, or as printed copies. For full details, and for a taster of the music, click HERE.
Follow the project on social media using #singfortheking. Spread the word!
Sing for the King!
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Saturday 18 March, 9am – 5.30pm | Online
The 2023 RSCM Church Music Conference – With the Spirit and the Understanding also – is being held virtually; we’d love for you to attend!
We have inspirational sessions covering all aspects of the RSCM’s vast output to inspire clergy, choirs, choir trainers, and musicians. A lunchtime concert, opportunities to connect with RSCM staff and other RSCM members, in addition to a keynote address from the Very Reverend Dr Stephen Hance.
This online conference will allow RSCM Members and others from across the United Kingdom and the world to attend.
RSCM Church Music Conference 2023
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RSCM carols are featuring in a number of broadcasts over the Christmas period.
On Thursday 22 December at 2.30 pm, the BBC Singers, conducted by Sofi Jeannin, will feature two RSCM Carols: Bryan Kelly’s beautiful setting of ‘This lovely lady’, and Thomas Hewitt Jones’s wonderfully jolly setting of ‘The Holly and the Ivy’.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001g3p2
Thomas Hewitt Jones also featured in the BBC Radio 3 Afternoon Concert on Monday 19th December at 2.30. The concert was based around the six finalists in this year’s BBC Radio 3 Breakfast Carol Competition. The carols had been arranged by RSCM composer Joanna Forbes L’Estrange and her husband Alexander. Thomas’s ‘Carol of the Shepherds’ was performed by the BBC Singers, conducted by Bob Chilcott.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001g3ll
Classic FM has featured ‘Christmas Lullaby’ by Thomas Hewitt Jones in Smooth Classics with Margherita Taylor and is on their playlist so you might hear it over the Christmas period.
BBC Radio 3 Choral Evensong on 28 December at 4pm from Croydon Minster includes Martin How’s ‘Lullaby’, a setting of the Cradle Song by Isaac Watts. Martin spent most of his working life at the RSCM. He sadly passed away earlier this year.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001g9r4
Finally, On Christmas Night, on BBC 1 TV at 11.15pm, features David Ogden’s Love came down at Christmas, performed by the Exultate Singers, conducted by the composer.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001gnjw
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The Royal School of Church Music’s (RSCM) annual composition competition, was established in 1988 to encourage the composition of simple anthems, has selected two winners this year. The winning anthems will feature as the Music Sunday anthems for 2023.
The two winners of the competition are Anthony Gray, Director of Music of St Wilfrid’s Church, Harrogate, and Chris Artley, one of New Zealand’s leading writers of choral music.
Hugh Morris, chair of the judges, and Director of the RSCM, commented on the unusual decision to award 1st price to two composers “These two settings of the anthem text were outstanding, but in very different styles, making it difficult to choose between them. We decided, therefore, to award the first prize to both Anthony and Chris. This will give those choirs celebrating Music Sunday 2023 a choice of anthem, depending on their preferences.”
This year, the text was commissioned from the Revd Canon Dr Gordon Giles, Canon Chancellor of Rochester Cathedral, and a regular contributor to both Church Music Quarterly (CMQ) and Sunday by Sunday magazines. The words were designed to be particularly suitable for RSCM Music Sunday, which will be held on 11 June 2023. The winning anthems will be performed by choirs across the country and beyond.
The panel of judges included best-selling RSCM composer, Joanna Forbes L’Estrange, former Director of Music of York Minster and eminent composer Philip Moore, and the RSCM’s Head of Publications, Tim Ruffer.
The two anthems will be available from the RSCM’s web shop www.rscmshop.com early in the New Year.
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The RSCM is pleased to announce a number of significant additions to the benefits available to its thousands of affiliated Members.
RSCM’s Director, Hugh Morris said:
‘We are excited that we are able to an enhanced range of member benefits from the New Year. Whatever the musical style and resources in your church, or your own role as an individual, we have lots to offer, including service planning tools, peer support opportunities, and discounts on exciting new products and events.
We hope all our members will engage with and make full use of these exciting enhancements to Membership, all part of us being a source of relevant and effective help and support, to all our members worldwide.’
From January, the Membership categories are simplified to ‘Group’ (for churches, schools and other organisations), ‘Individual’ and ‘Under 25’.
For full details, see: https://www.rscm.org.uk/join-us/membership/
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An exciting new phase for Hymnpact! has begun as we welcome Hattie Pecksmith to The Royal School of Church Music as Hymnpact! Project Manager. Hattie is a living example of the power of church music as a path to faith, beginning as a cathedral chorister and since holding positions as a Section Lead and a Verger in cathedrals both in Read the Rest...
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Messiah Hope and Salvation: The meaning of Handel’s masterpiece Handel’s Messiah is performed by thousands of choirs and choral societies across the world every year. The music is, of course, sublime. But how often do the singers or, indeed, the audience, stop to think what it’s all about? This approachable book gives the reader insight into the historical background of Read the Rest...
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We have commissioned a set of 4 designs based on Christmas Carols from award winning children’s book illustrator, Sue Rinaldi. The four designs are: The Angel Gabriel; While shepherds watched their flocks; Away in a manger; and We Three Kings. These delightful new designs feature a choir of singing sheep, a chorus of angels, a camel trio and a pair Read the Rest...
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In-Person Event – Thursday 1 December 7.00pm Please join us for a festive evening at All Hallows by the Tower, London, for “Christmas Past, Present, and Future: The Sounds of Christmas in our Historic Churches.” Together with the Churches Conservation Trust we will be exploring the nature of traditional and modern carols and their symbolism within our churches in a Read the Rest...
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The RSCM Annual Appeal Enabling the flourishing of church music Read here about the work we are doing to reverse this trend and how you can help with this vital endeavour.
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Looking for something new for your Christmas Carol Services? Have a look here at some new carols from RSCM Publications by some of our outstanding composers.
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Not heard of Hymnpact!® yet? Allow us to enlighten you. It’s our brand-new resource for helping bring music in schools and churches together. It’s part of an integrated plan to give teachers in primary schools the confidence and skills to encourage children to experience the joy of hymn singing, and critically to bridge the gap between the experience in school and Read the Rest...
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In person: Saturday 8 October: 11.00am – 12.15pm BST The Wessex Centre, Winchester Cathedral Online: Monday 10 October: 7.30pm – 8.45pm BST As part of our celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Ralph Vaughan Williams, we are delighted that Jeremy Summerly will be giving this fascinating lecture which will explore Vaughan William’s pivotal role in the development Read the Rest...
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There are several ways to join our RSCM Celebration Day Evensong which will be taking place at Winchester Cathedral at 5.30pm BST on Saturday 8 October. If you enjoy singing Evensong, then add your voice to the celebration. Join local choirs and singers, under the direction of Winchester Cathedral’s Director of Music, Andrew Lumsden FRSCM, for an afternoon’s rehearsal followed Read the Rest...
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Our famous week-long summer training course for choristers aged 8-21 takes place in Bath every year. This showcase concert is a new part of the course for 2022, and in a varied programme of classic choral music, celebrates the achievement of the nearly 100 young people from across the UK and beyond who are participating this year. Led by RSCM’s Read the Rest...
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RSCM International Chorister Day is a celebration of the amazing opportunities that being a chorister provides, at all levels from our great cathedrals to small parish churches. We know that many choirs are looking for support in recruiting choristers of all ages. Click here to find out about an RSCM ICD webinar to help you with recruiting young people to Read the Rest...
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We are delighted to be working in partnership with The Vaughan Williams Charitable Trust, and the publishers of the Revised English Hymnal in a special initiative in this, Vaughan Williams’ 150th Anniversary Year. As part of this special project we are asking churches, schools, choirs and communities to join us in song this October (8 – 15 October) to celebrate Read the Rest...
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Each year the RSCM Council confers Honorary Awards on those who have made outstanding contributions to church music Fellows of The Royal School of Church Music (FRSCM) Awarded for achievements in church music and/or liturgy of international significance, or for exceptional musical and/or liturgical work within the RSCM: Stephen Layton Sam Wells Associates of The Royal School of Church Music (ARSCM) Awarded for achievements in church Read the Rest...
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Are you passionate about the power of singing to bring people together through music? Hymnpact! is an exciting new project which provides new, high quality, flexible hymn resources to schools and churches in a fresh approach to Christian music. We are looking for an experienced Project Manager for 2.5 years to drive this hugely important work forward. For full details, Read the Rest...
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Are you a Member of the RSCM, or involved in one of our Affiliated churches? Would you like support in your own work to support the flourishing of church music? How can we serve you best? Book a one-to-one conversation with one of our RSCM Regional Managers. As we work to serve you more effectively, we are delighted to announce Read the Rest...
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It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Martin How, long-time RSCM staff member and supporter. Often referred to as the best Cathedral Organist this country never had, Martin was the son of the ex–Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, he was educated at Repton School and Clare College, Cambridge, where he was organ scholar. Martin then Read the Rest...
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Parry’s I was glad: the reinvention, ritual and pageantry of a modern coronation Thursday 14 July 6.30pm (BST) Holy Sepulchre, London – The National Musicians’ Church – and Online We are delighted to announce that this year’s Annual Lecture will be given by leading Parry expert, Professor Jeremy Dibble. Composed for the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902, and sung at Read the Rest...
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