RSCM Scotland
Fàilte / Welcome to RSCM Scotland
Here you can find details of the work of the RSCM in Scotland.
What's New
- Newsletter: October 2008 – print for your notice board
- Triennial Festival 2009 – date confirmed (see "Events" tab below)
- Support our work (see "Support us" tab below)
- Make a donation to RSCM Scotland (see "Support us" tab below)
- Newsletter: Eastertide 2008
- RSCM Scottish Voices (see tab below)
- Online booking for Dunblane Singing Break (14-17 July 2008): bookings now being taken
RSCM Scotland Committee
The voluntary committee consists of the following members:
Matthew Beetschen (Chair)
Mary Birch (Awards; Young People)
Pat Lynch (Secretary)
Drummond McNicol
Sheila Robertson (Education & Training)
Kathleen Whitton (Treasurer)
Alistair Warwick (Co-ordinator, RSCM Scotland) is an ex-officio member.
RSCM Scotland Newsletters
- download October 2008 Newsletter
- download July 2008 Interim Flyer
- download Eastertide 2008 Newsletter
- download February 2008 Interim Flyer (Newsletter)
- download June 2007 Newsletter
- download February 2007 Newsletter
- download June 2006 Newsletter
- download January 2006 Newsletter
If you would like to receive the Newsletter by email please write to pat(at)rscmscotland.org.
If you are unable to receive emails and would like to receive the Newsletter by post please let Patricia Lynch know (01620 892228). Please note that opting to receive the Newsletter by email helps us save money that we can use for our work in Scotland.
Events in Scotland
The RSCM Scotland team is currently planning events and workshops around the country. See below for more information.
Local events
We are just one committee of seven volunteers covering the whole country, and we need your help to make these events happen! So if you see a local need for training or repertoire sessions please get in touch with us. You will need to organise the event and to make sure that there is good local publicity (preferably word-of-mouth) to ensure that as many people as possible benefit. We are very happy to lead the event – we just need you to play your part in making it happen!
For more details, or to book a place at one of our events, contact:
Patricia Lynch (T: 01620 892228; E: pat(at)rscmscotland.org)
| Date & time | Details |
|---|---|
Saturday |
Dunblane Singing Day St Mary's Church, Dunblane Following last year's successful event in Perth, we are returning to Dunblane – this time to the Episcopal Church: St Mary's. Fee: none, but donations to the work of RSCM Scotland gratefully received Timetable: |
various dates |
Sing Columba! various directors There will be a number of events around the country - from Dumfries to Inverness - celebrating Scotland's most famous saint. Music sung will be useful not only for your own church but also as preparation for the Triennial Festival in Oban on 6 June (see below). |
Saturday |
Sing Columba! Music sung will be useful not only for your own church but also as preparation for the Triennial Festival in Oban on 6 June (see below). |
Saturday |
Triennial Festival The Service will be directed by Timothy Noon, Director of Music at Liverpool RC Cathedral and will be a celebration of St Columba, whose feast-day falls within that week. We very much hope that choirs from all over Scotland will be able to come to Oban for this special occasion. There will be a rehearsal at 1.00 with the Festival itself at 4.00: timings on the day hopefully enabling people to make a day-trip - but we can provide information regarding overnight accommodation if you want to make a weekend of it! The music will be - as usual - a varied selection including many items that will be of subsequent use in people's own churches. Music books - which will contain all information about the Festival - will be available early in the New Year. We hope that the stunning setting and the time of year will encourage you to come to Oban. It would be great to fill the Cathedral! |
Monday – Thursday |
Dunblane Singing Break |
Some past events
| Date | Details |
|---|---|
2008 |
|
Sunday |
Exploring Music, Ministry and Worship Interested in exploring what worship is about? Why we use music in worship? This event will enable us to look at a number of issues to do with worship: What are we doing when we worship? What is the role of music in worship? What is my role as a musician or worship leader? The day is designed for anyone interested in these issues (including clergy, musicians and worship leaders). |
Sunday |
Plainsong Workshop and Compline for adults and young people |
Saturday - Sunday |
RSCM Scottish Voices residential inaugural residential rehearsal weekend |
Monday – |
Dunblane Singing Break Price: £237 (£285 non-members) This course is organised by RSCM Scotland in partnership with Scottish Churches House |
Saturday |
Young Voices Festival |
Saturday |
Choral event in St Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow Frikki Walker |
Saturday 2pm |
Preparation for Awards Matthew Beetschen For those thinking about taking the RSCM Bronze or Silver Awards Also useful if you are considering membership of RSCM Scottish Voices, as it will both demonstrate the standards expected, as well as serving as a practice audition |
Sunday |
Choral Evensong in St Andrew's Cathedral, Aberdeen Andrew Morrisson and Alistair Warwick Music includes:
|
Saturday |
The Big Sing! Matthew Beetschen and Morley Whitehead A shared event with the Edinburgh Society of Organists |
Saturday |
Voice for Life – using your voice well Frikki Walker and Drummond McNicol St Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow |
Sunday |
Plainsong Workshop and Compline for adults and young people Following the very successful 2007 event, this is another workshop on plainsong chanting – for beginners and singers who already have some experience of chant. Adults and young people are welcome to attend. The afternoon will prepare for and finish with the beautiful service of Compline (Night Prayer) sung to simple chant melodies. Congregation members welcome to attend the service at 6.30pm (and to learn the music at 6pm). |
Saturday |
"Dunblane" Singing Day for everyone Timetable: |
Saturday |
Voice for Life workshop for adults (16 +) and choir trainers Introduction to the Voice for Life scheme and training in vocal production and breath control. |
Mon–Thurs |
Dunblane Singing Break for adults |
Saturday |
Young choristers workshop (7–16) |
Saturday |
Young Voices Festival More details can be found here |
Sunday |
Exploring Music, Ministry and Worship Interested in exploring what worship is about? Why we use music in worship? This event will enable us to look at a number of issues to do with worship: What are we doing when we worship? What is the role of music in worship? What is my role as a musician or worship leader? The afternoon is designed for anyone interested in these issues (including clergy, musicians and worship leaders). |
Sunday |
Plainsong Workshop and Compline for adults and young people This is a workshop on plainsong chanting – for beginners and singers who already have some experience of chant. Adults and young people are welcome to attend. The afternoon will prepare for and finish with the beautiful service of Compline (Night Prayer) sung to simple chant melodies. Congregation members welcome to attend the service at 6.30pm (and to learn the music at 6pm). |
Sunday |
Anglican Chant Workshop and Evensong at St Adrian’s Church, Sandy Loan, Gullane |
Saturday |
|
RSCM Scottish Voices
Applications are invited from singers of all voices, aged 16 and over, who have some church choral experience, and are currently resident in Scotland, to join this exciting new choir. It is planned that at a later date, a section for choristers under the age of 16 will be formed.
RSCM Scottish Voices will be made up of some of the most experienced and accomplished choristers from all over the country, and will perform in a variety of venues around Scotland. It is anticipated that this self-financing choir will perform at least six times per year. An inaugural residential rehearsal weekend has been arranged at Strathallan School, near Perth on 2nd and 3rd August.
Musical Director
The Musical Director for RSCM Scottish Voices is Frikki Walker, who is Organist and Director of Music at St Mary’s Cathedral in Glasgow. Frikki, an inspiring musician, is an examiner for the RSCM’s Voice for Life scheme, and this year has been awarded Associate of the RSCM (ARSCM) in recognition of his work in music and liturgy in Scotland.
Auditions
Initial auditions will be held at St. John’s, Aberdeen on 26th April and at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Glasgow on Saturday 7th June. Other dates will be organised as appropriate.
Contact details
To arrange an audition, contact Frikki Walker on 07948 371997 or music(at)thecathedral.org.uk (holders of RSCM Bronze, Silver or Gold awards do not need to audition, but should register their interest with Frikki).
St Andrew's Awards
Since the launch of the St Andrew's Awards in Summer 2004, there have been 21 successful entries, including five by adults.
See list of successful candidates >
These RSCM-validated awards complement the Voice for Life programme through formal examination:
- The Bronze award (this normally follows successful completion of Voice for Life light blue and dark blue levels)
- The Silver award (this normally follows successful completion of Voice for Life red level)
- (The Gold award, which normally follows successful completion of Voice for Life yellow level, is administered centrally.)
These awards are consistent with other singing awards from the RSCM internationally and supercede the previous single award. If you have already achieved a pass at the old St Andrew's Award examination you will be considered as having passed at Silver level, and will be eligible to work towards the Gold award, although you are encouraged to take the new Silver Award first, as the syllabus is more extensive.
Examinations
Each award has its own syllabus and regulations. These come complete with guidelines to help prepare the candidate and the choir trainer for the standard expected during the examination.
Examinations are normally held in May and November each year; however, they may also be held at other times (during the Dunblane Singing Break, for example).
Successful singers will be presented with a certificate or medal at a national or regional event. Those from robed choirs are entitled to wear a prestigious medal cast in the appropriately coloured metal (bronze, silver or gold) which are worn on distinctive ribbons. Bronze awards are worn with a Green ribbon, Silver awards with a Purple ribbon and the Gold award with a Burgundy ribbon.
Examiners for the awards have attended in-service training and validation meetings, to ensure that the level of marking is consistent and fair across the RSCM international network.
Syllabus and Application Form
How you can support us
- Become an affiliate / individual member
- Become a friend of the RSCM
- make a donation to RSCM Scotland
Membership of the RSCM is an investment in the future of church music. The support of our members enables us to offer education and training courses, published resources, and activities for all those involved in music in worship. We believe that church music is important – and that we need to invest in it not only for the present, but also for the future.
We invite you to join us and help us to do even more to serve the Church and to encourage good music everywhere.
- your church or community choir can affiliate to the RSCM
- you can become an individual member
- you can become a Friend of the RSCM
Affiliate / Individual Member
If you become an affiliate or an individual member, in addition to supporting our work, you will receive a number of membership benefits. More details can be found on the main RSCM website.
Friend of the RSCM
If you want to support us in our work but do not wish to become a full Individual Member, you can become a Friend of the RSCM.
As a Friend you will receive Church Music Quarterly and the RSCM Newsletter each quarter to keep you informed as to what we are doing. Friends also receive The Network which gives details of locally-organised events. Many Friends support our work further by organising fund-raising activities.
Make a donation to RSCM Scotland
You can make a donation through PayPal to support the RSCM's work in Scotland.
You don't need a PayPal account to do this. Just follow the link
"Don't have a PayPal account?
Use your credit card or bank account"
Please note that the name of our PayPal account is "RSCM Scotland - DunblaneSB"