Christmas is over, Epiphany has passed, Ash Wednesday has happened, and here we are in Lent again! I pray that this season may be for you, for those whom you lead, and for your churches a season of refreshing yourselves with times of silence, reflection, meditation, and study, in order that you may rediscover and re-hear that voice that called us all to service and ministry. During Lent, during Holy Week, and at Easter, may we all truly say:
Psallam spiritu et mente!
Soli Deo Gloria,
Andrew Walker
Editor of PSALLAM!
Past-president of RSCM America
[email protected]
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From President Bert Landman
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Lent is a busy season in most of our churches. We may add weekday services, special Lenten studies and programs, and, of course, we and our choirs are working hard to provide meaningful music for
the season while we are busy preparing for Easter. This is also a busy time for our Training Course managers and their staffs, as you will note that registration for most of our
Summer Courses has opened. These hard-working volunteers are communicating with their venues, checking on housing, meals, transportation, and all the myriad details that go into making our wonderful summer courses fun, musically satisfying, and running smoothly. I encourage you to use Lent as a time to consider which of our
ten summer courses you wish to attend and to urge your singers to do the same. Share copies of our
courses brochure and links to the RSCM America
website with your singers and your colleagues. Consider the benefits of working with one of our great music directors and singing with others from around the country. Each course has a unique flavor and offers exciting experiences that will energize you and your singers. I also encourage you to remember our course managers and their staffs in your Lenten prayers, that they might be strengthened and guided in their important work.
Finally, it is with great sadness that we share with you the passing of our colleague
Dr. Ralph Morton, president
of RSCM Australia. Both Dr. Morton and his brother Graeme had just been made Fellows of the RSCM. His years of service to the RSCM were noted in a
tribute from Andrew Reid, director of the RSCM. We offer Dr. Morton's family, his brother, and all our colleagues in Australia our deepest sympathy in this time of loss. Grant him eternal rest, O Lord, and may choirs of angels sing him into heaven.
Peace,
Bert Landman
President, RSCM America
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Board of Directors Meeting, January 2016
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A very successful--but utterly freezing!--Board of Directors meeting took place at Christ Episcopal Church, Rockville Md. (home church of
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Your Board, hard at work in D.C.
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Board member Gary Correll and music director Tad Cavuoti) on January 18, right after the RSCM America National Choir's visit to Washington National Cathedral (see below.) We met in the Parish House next to the church--with a most efficient heating system, thank God!--and, among other decisions, elected new Board member Carol Anne Taylor (see sidebar!) Here are some highlights:
- Training Courses: All of our 2016 summer courses are organized with committees up and running and working hard, with invitations and announcements being sent out
- Conferences: RSCM America will have exhibitor space at the AAM Conference in Connecticut from June 12-16, the AGO Convention in Houston from June 19-23, and the NPM Convention in Houston from July 11-16!
- Awards: We had 44 Bronze, Silver, and Gold award recipients in 2015--the most ever in the U.S.! Plans are currently afoot to enable online exam registration and payment. In the meantime, check out awards administrator Linda Buzard's new Protocol for Registering for RSCM Exams in America document on our Awards page
- RSCM America National Choir: The truly wonderful second adventure of our RSCM America National Choir seemed to cement us in place as the choir that aspires to represent the highest standards that we adhere to in the American branch of the RSCM. As such, with a steering committee in place and great interest and support from the Board, this is a time of creatively looking forward with regard to how the group is to be organized and run. Watch for more details!
- VOICE for LIFE: The Board is actively seeking to upgrade the list of resource materials available, both in print and online, for help in implementing the VOICE for LIFE curriculum
- Communication: We are always looking for new ways to get the word out about the RSCM. It was suggested that all communications coming out of our Princeton office also go to pastors, priests, and other church leaders, in addition to our RSCM contact at a given church
- RSCM Bling!: Our venture into CafePress merchandizing, allowing for the purchase of items emblazoned with our logo, is proving successful! Do you have your RSCM America tote bag yet, perfect for taking things to the beach/lake in but a few short months? Hurry over to our store!
- Remember that RSCM Affiliates may now purchase all VOICE for LIFE medals, ribbons, and pins directly from our RSCM America office in Princeton, N.J. Contact Kevin Radtke at [email protected] to place your order! For all other purchases, including RSCM music and materials, please continue to use our wonderful U.S. suppliers, all of whom offer a 25% discount to members: Cliff Hill Music, Lois Fyfe Music, and GIA Publications
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RSCM America National Choir -- The D.C. Trip
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For the first time in over a year, 34 of the original 41 voices that sang at Westminster Abbey with the RSCM America National Choir were back together, this time in the choir room at Washington National Cathedral on Friday, January 15, 2016. Off we went with the Chorister's Prayer, a few short announcements, some warm-ups, the starting chord for Horatio Parker's magnificent piece "Jam sol recedit", and then...vocal magic! By singing together as one, paying attention to dynamics, and with expressive singing, we made it through six pages of rather tricky eight-part material in grand fashion! A wonder-filled sense of joy in singing and in making powerful, beautiful music together continued through the rest of that rehearsal to the Evensong that night, then to our 30-minute prelude concert on Sunday, January 17 and finally to our second Evensong (with the National Cathedral Choir of Men and Girls). There were huge smiles all around, a grand party at the Mexican place just down the street, and tears at our parting.
The selections for our 30-minute concert are below. Watch YouTube, Facebook, and any other location we can post these recordings in the next few weeks, as the excellent recording equipment and capabilities at the National Cathedral produced wonderful recordings!
Our next adventure? We are hoping to sing at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, Calif. Organization has begun and the cathedral has been contacted. Watch this space for further news, including how you can send in an audition to possibly be placed on our reserves list in case there are openings in one or more parts!
The 30-minute concert prior to Evensong on Sunday, January 17:
Parker: Jam sol recedit (Now sinks the sun)
Marchant: The Souls of the Righteous
Shepherd: The Birds
Rutter: God Be In My Head
Friedell: Jesus So Lowly
Gawthrop: Sing Me to Heaven
Compton, arr.: The Promised Land
Rheinberger: Abendlied
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Psallam Spiritu et Mente!
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RSCM America promotes excellence in church music practice and choral singing, is part of the worldwide network of The Royal School of Church Music, and works in collaboration with Westminster Choir College of Rider University. |
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Welcome to Our Newest Affiliates
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Positions Available at RSCM Affiliates
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