Skip navigation

Voice for Life Singing Awards


Bronze, Silver & Gold awards

In order to support the choir trainer and affirm the levels achieved within the choir while working on the Voice for Life training scheme, the RSCM provides a parallel system of awards designed to be assessed through a formal examination: these are called the Bronze, Silver and Gold awards. (In some local RSCM Areas the Bronze and Silver Awards are called Dean’s and Bishop’s Awards.)

Each award has its own syllabus and regulations. These come complete with guidelines to fully prepare the candidate and the choir trainer for the standard expected during the examination.

Successful candidates are entitled to wear a prestigious medal cast in the appropriately coloured metal (bronze, silver or gold) and these 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 Dark Red ribbon.

Where do these awards fit into the Voice for Life scheme?

The Voice for Life scheme and the Bronze, Silver & Gold awards are designed to fit together. They should be attempted in the following order:

  • White
  • Light Blue
  • Dark Blue
    • Bronze
  • Red
    • Silver
  • Yellow
    • Gold

In effect, the Voice for Life scheme provides training and preparation for the Bronze, Silver & Gold Awards; Light Blue and Dark Blue help a candidate prepare for their Bronze Award, Red level helps a candidate prepare for the Silver award, and Yellow level helps a candidate prepare for the Gold award.

Likewise, the Bronze, Silver and Gold awards affirm each of the Voice for Life levels that have been awarded informally by the choir trainer.

What if I have a singer who does not want to take the external (Bronze, Silver and Gold) awards?

This is no problem. The Voice for Life training scheme can be used on its own to provide training and motivation to singers within a choir. There is no need to take the Bronze, Silver and Gold awards if your singer is unhappy about undertaking such formal assessments.

Where can I obtain the syllabus for the Bronze, Silver or Gold awards?

In the UK, the Bronze and Silver awards are administered and examined on a local basis by a voluntary network of RSCM committees. Every local RSCM committee has its own syllabus for the Bronze and Silver awards. Although the syllabuses differ from area to area, the RSCM has validated all Bronze and Silver award syllabuses to ensure an even standard across the country. All examiners for the Bronze and Silver awards have also been validated by the RSCM to ensure consistency of marking.

Following a conference in 2007 to review RSCM Silver standard singing awards, a number of changes are being introduced by Areas during 2008 or early in 2009. The content of the new syllabus will remain in force for at least 4 years, though entry fees may possibly have to rise again during that time.

Always make sure you obtain a copy of your latest Area syllabus before entering our awards. These can be found on the webpages for local RSCM Areas or on their own websites here.

Gold award

In the UK, the Gold award is administered centrally by the RSCM. The examinations are arranged for June and November each year with entry deadlines of 1 May and 1 October respectively. Details of examination venues, and other information can be found here.

For details of Bronze, Silver and Gold awards outside the UK, please contact the RSCM on +44 (0)1722 424843 or voiceforlife(at)rscm.com.

Who should I contact if I have any further questions about Voice for Life or the Bronze, Silver and Gold awards?

Further advice and information can be obtained from the Administrator, Education programmes:
T: +44 (0)1722 424843, F 01722 424849, E: voiceforlife(at)rscm.com

Preparing for Bronze, Silver and Gold

In three articles from Church Music Quarterly, John Wardle, RSCM Awards Co-ordinator and Chief Examiner, offers advice about the awards to singers and choir trainers considering some of the following issues: ‘Why take the awards?’ ‘How to prepare for your exam’ and ‘Hitting the mark!’

Frequently-asked questions about Bronze and Silver awards

Candidates for Bronze and Silver awards should find answers to most of their questions here:

Help for Silver award candidates with Section E of the examination

Those preparing for the Silver award may find this helpful:

Results of the latest RSCM validated singing award examinations

Congratulations to all the successful candidates! These results are published in the June 2010 edition of Church Music Quarterly.

Results are listed under RSCM Areas and Countries.
‡indicates that a Diocesan award has been validated for local RSCM members.
IM = RSCM Individual Member

♦ Honours 90%+ (Gold)
** Distinction 85%+ (Bronze/Silver)
* Merit 75%+ (Bronze/Silver)

GOLD AWARD
Australia: Michele de Courcy (South Yarra, V, Christ Church).

SILVER STANDARD
Bradford: Hannah Sanderson** (Bradford Cathedral). Dyfed: Claire Harcourt Watkins, Helen Howell (Canticum Novum), Rebecca Deeley, Abigail Ingram** (St David’s Cathedral). Guildford: Lauren Crick, Elizabeth Humphries** (Ewell, St Mary Virgin), Rhiannon Evans** (Oatlands, St Mary). Liverpool: Matthew Dean**, Dylan McCaig**, James Sandison** (Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral). New Zealand: Melanie Curruthers (Nelson Cathedral). Rochester‡: Sarah Cooper** (Bromley, St Mark), Sara Marr-Phillips (Gillingham, St Augustine), Rachel Tillotson* (Shortlands, St Mary), Sophie Martin* (Strood, St Francis of Assisi). St Albans: Rebecca Indge (Boxmoor, St John), Catherine Chapman** (Dunstable Priory), Jasmine Ashley, Catherine Oakes (Hitchin, St Mary). Southwark & E Surrey: Melissa Dee*, Phillip Saunders* (Croydon, St Peter), Christopher Jeanes**, Rebekah Sturge* (Merton, St James), Freddie Freeman**, Freddie Gate** (Wimbledon, King’s College School). Suffolk‡: Cameron Brown*, Peter Rogers* (Bury St Edmunds, St Mary), Christopher Chan, Edward Faull, Patrick Joyce*, Alex Wong* (Ipswich, St Mary le Tower), Alexander Dexter-Mills**, Benedict Hughes*, Jonathan Stewart** (St Edmundsbury Cathedral). Swansea & Brecon: Rose Bowles, Hannah Rose Lyden* (Oystermouth, All Saints), Miles Pateman* (Sketty, St Paul), Thomas Russell** (Swansea, St Mary). USA: Matthew Pahl (Charlotte, NC, St John), Weston Blair**, Jacob Byers**, Matthew Co** (Dallas, TX, St Mark’s School of Texas). Wessex‡: Sophie Hart (Oakdale, St George). Winchester: Avery Fathers** (Odiham, All Saints).

BRONZE STANDARD
Bradford: Elizabeth Bell*, Matthew Birkett, Tom Brazendale, Sophia Daramy Williams*, Lauren O’Hara, Ayron Rowe (Bradford Cathedral). Canada: Betty Wagner* (Kingston, ON, St Andrew’s Presbyterian). Dyfed: Jurgen Brand**, Jill Rimell*, Mark Turtle (Canticum Novum), Elinor Davies**, Fen Smith*, Arianna Whitaker (St David’s Cathedral). Gloucestershire: Rebecca Gregg*, Annabel Smout* (Cam, St George), Georgina Anson*, Robert Shurmer* (Winchcombe, St Peter). Guildford: Sophie Clark**, Michael Humphries* (Ewell, St Mary Virgin).Ireland: Rory McCarthy*, Daniel Mahon*, Hannah Spink**, Alice Walsh*, Annie Walsh* (Cork, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral), Cliona Beattie*, Anna Garvey*, Clara Millar, Harriet Walsh (Dublin, Christ Church Cathedral), Nina Barry-Duke, Jeff Dargan, Séan Healy, Isabelle McGeough*, Kiah Ronaldson (Dublin, St Bartholomew). Liverpool: Spencer Cammayo*, Alexandra Cummings*, Daniel Edwards**, Solenna Le Goff**, Joshua Meadows*, Tom O’Connor**, Charlotte Rowan**, Anna Webster**, Elisabeth Wilson* (Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral). New Zealand: Helen Baker** (Nelson Cathedral). Peterborough & Northampton: Violet Bedwell-Clayton, Benjamin Crawshaw**, Daniel Crawshaw*, Emily Harradine, Rosemary Harradine** (Kettering, St Andrew), Zoe Eaves*, Deanna Linnell*, Robin McAllister (Kingsthorpe, St John Baptist). Rochester‡: Lesley Sarton (Bexley, St Mary), Esme Chowdury, Charles Cooper*, Edward Tomalin, Ruth Varney* (Bromley, St Mark), Isabel Parkhouse** (Farnborough, St Giles), David Tillotson* (Shortlands, St Mary), Rosie Acton (Strood, St Francis of Assisi). St Albans: Jeremy Fisher* (Boxmoor, St John), Jesse Billington (Flitwick, Ss Peter & Paul), David-James Alino-Wilcockson**, Bernard Fowlds**, Brenda Keech**, Deborah Louise Richardson**, Yvonne Soweby* (Goldington, St Mary Virgin), Zoe Greenbank*, Wendy Hazelwood*, Jemima Sawyer** (Hitchin, St Mary), Bethany Mundy*, Elysia Pughe* (Leighton Buzzard, All Saints). Southwark & E Surrey: Zoe Birkbeck, Rachel Warren** (Croydon, St Peter), James Firman* (Redhill, St John Evangelist), Asuka Kumon** (Sanderstead, St Mary), Alex Chalk**, Charles Crow**, Oliver Guest*, Tom Lace* (Wimbledon, King’s College School), Thomas Ronayne (Wimbledon, St Mary). Suffolk: Shannon Taylor** (Ipswich School), Oliver Clarke*, Jo Ellis** (Melton, St Andrew). USA: Amanda Pahl* (Charlotte, NC, St John), Cameron Bossalini**, Gordon Gunn**, Leighton Okada** (Dallas, TX, St Mark’s School of Texas). Wessex‡: Robin Ellis*, Katie Newham*, Kristie Newham* (Amesbury Abbey), Rachael Ibbetson*, Lydia MacDonald, Imogen Spurrell (Devizes, St John Baptist), Luke Sharman (Oakdale, St George), Byron Davis-Hughes, William Ellis**, Joe Hewetson**, Alexander Hutton**, Joshua Smith*, Adam Soul** (Sherborne Abbey).