You can obtain a day-by-day account of our exploits in London, U.K., singing in Westminster Abbey, by hopping on to RSCM America's Facebook page and going back to the daily reports I wrote. As a quick summing up of the trip, here is what I wrote for the monthly newsletter for St. Michael's--

The RSCM America National Choir trip to sing at Westminster Abbey was a HUGE success! We estimated that we sang to over 500 people on each of the four nights--which equals roughly 2,000 folks that heard a national choir from the United States sing superbly! London was absolutely crawling with tourists (which, of course, included us!) and it was quite tricky maneuvering around crowds to even get to the Abbey. We rehearsed all day on Monday, December 29 to prepare for the first Evensong that night and the remaining three. The next day, the director of RSCM International, Andrew Reid, worked with us and led us in the Tuesday Evensong service. Wednesday the group had off. By Thursday and Friday we were the walking wounded--one person was in a cast, having broken her foot navigating through the crowds and slipping on the edge of the pavement, another had the flu, and 50% of the rest had some kind of respiratory ailment! Despite that, we pulled off another two wonderful Evensongs--and the consensus after the fact from all of the participants (all of whom auditioned to be in the choir, were of all ages, and were from all over the U.S.) was YES--we want to continue this group! So, plans are afoot for a trip in 2015, on one of the long weekends during the year, to sing in D.C. at the National Cathedral, and, perhaps, the White House!

By Alan Reed
Manager of the Charlotte Course for Boys, Girls, Teens, and Adults

This is the third article in a series that will explore the passion that our managers have for their summer training courses

While attending my first course

Alan and Tracy Reed, in pink

with three choristers in 1985, I was amazed to see and hear how much musical growth could occur in only one week! Since then I have attended courses almost every summer, and I have served on the staff of one or more courses every summer for 25 years.

As a church choir director, I have encouraged my young choristers to attend the courses. Typically, I see about a year's worth of growth in ability and confidence gained in just one week at a course. You won't believe the difference it can make in the choir, even if only one or two choristers attend. In a new program especially, choristers have the opportunity to hear what is possible and to strive for it. Amateur adult singers also really enjoy the opportunity to sing music their choirs at home may not be able to do.

My wife and I recently managed our 14th course together, and I can tell you that the work is truly a labor of love every month of the year. Sometimes dealing with challenging venues or people can  cause us to want to give up the whole enterprise, but hearing the final result in the closing services and seeing the joy in the faces of singers and congregants make it all worthwhile! And there's nothing like hearing a ten-year-old treble or a 14-year-old baritone spontaneously burst forth into Mozart or Elgar, reveling in the joy of hearing it echo in a dorm stairwell. Try a course this summer--you'll have the time of your life!