RSCM Scotland
Fàilte / Welcome to RSCM Scotland
Here you can find details of the work of the Royal School of Church Music in Scotland.
Sign up for the free newsletter to be kept up to date about our events and training courses
(You can unsubscribe at any time.)
What's New
- Triennial Rehearsals: posters and registration forms now available (see Events tab, below)
- Young Scottish Voices – first event in Perth (see Events tab, below)
- Easter 2012 Newsletter
- Summer School 2012 (incorporating the Dunblane Singing Break)
9–12 July, at Stirling University & Dunblane Cathedral – book online! - Subscribe to our free newsletter
- Voice for Life for adults: in Edinburgh (PDF)
About RSCM Scotland
We are an educational, ecumenical and international Christian charity committed to enabling the best use of music (of whatever style, appropriate to the local situation) in worship, church life, and the wider community.
Our objectives
To support our members through practical and applied programmes of education and training, music-making at festivals and courses, music and training resources, together with information, advice and guidance to serve the Churches by
- encouraging music-making in general, and singing in particular
- providing training in essential skills for church music
- developing understanding of music in the Church's ministry and worship
- encouraging good music everywhere through fostering outreach from local churches into the community
- engaging with young people in singing
Our aims
RSCM Scotland aims to support all the Scottish Churches in their music-making by offering encouragement, advice and training to all; and especially to enable the provision of music in church for the future.
Aware of the particular difficulties experienced by by smaller congregations in finding musicians to lead music in worship we endeavour to support members who are trying to keep music alive in their churches.
Help us to help you!
RSCM Scotland Committee
The voluntary committee consists of the following members:
- Matthew Beetschen Chair
- Pat Lynch Secretary
- Kathleen Whitton Treasurer
- Sue Gardner Awards Administrator
- Nicola Lawrence
- Drummond McNicol
- Kirsten Mann
- Sheila Robertson Education and Training Officer
- David Sutherland Membership Coordinator
- Ann Treloar
- Alistair Warwick Young Persons Officer
Alistair Warwick is RSCM Coordinator for Scotland
Events in Scotland
The RSCM Scotland team is currently planning events and workshops around the country. See below for more information.
2012
Past Events | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006
Local events
We are just one committee of 11 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)
Current and future events
| Date & time | Details |
|---|---|
|
2012 Events |
|
various dates |
|
dates to be decided |
Young Voices Festivals locations include Aberdeen and the central belt |
Fridays from |
Voice for Life for adults St Peter's, Lutton Place, Edinburgh Sheila Robertson Although Voice for Life is usually run within a local church, some churches do not give this opportunity, so these classes are open to anyone who sings regularly in a church choir of any denomination, and wishes to follow the programme. Voice for Life for adults: in Edinburgh (PDF) Dates:
For more details, contact: |
Saturday 19 May |
Triennial Festival rehearsal (Edinburgh) Alistair Warwick Please contact sheila(at)rscmscotland.org if you’d like to attend. Music is now available. Sign up for our newsletter for more details. |
Thursday 31 May |
Triennial Festival rehearsal (Glasgow) Frikki Walker Glasgow (St Mary’s Cathedral) Music is now available. Sign up for our newsletter for more details. |
Thursday 7 June |
Triennial Festival rehearsal (Dunblane) Matthew Beetschen Dunblane (Dunblane Cathedral Hall) Music is now available. Sign up for our newsletter for more details. |
Saturday 9 June |
Matthew Beetschen St Ninian’s Cathedral, Perth Our new children’s choir is meeting for the first time for an afternoon Workshop and service of Choral Evensong at 5.00 Please contact sue(at)rscmscotland.org for more details |
Sunday 10 June 3.00pm rehearsal |
Meet, Eat and Sing Alistair Warwick Carnoustie Church, Dundee Street, Carnoustie DD7 7PF |
Saturday 16 June |
RSCM Scotland Triennial Festival Duncan Ferguson (Organist and Master of the Music, St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh) St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh Music is now available. Sign up for our newsletter for more details. |
date to be decided |
Young Voices Symposium Matthew Beetschen and Alistair Warwick Dunblane Cathedral Halls |
Monday 9 to |
RSCM Scotland Summer School (incorporating the Dunblane Singing Break) Gordon Appleton, Matthew Beetschen, Sheila Robertson and others Stirling University and Dunblane Cathedral Preparations for this are in hand, and booking will be available soon |
Saturday |
Scottish Pilgrimage Pat Lynch, David Sutherland, Jamie Brand The Crichton Chapel, Dumfries |
date to be decided |
Meet, Eat and Sing Oban |
date to be decided |
Meet, Eat and Sing Glasgow |
Saturday |
Dunblane Singing Day Gordon Appleton and Matthew Beetschen Dunblane Cathedral |
Some past events
| Date | Details |
|---|---|
| 2011 | |
Saturday 15 January |
Church Music Skills for the Parish Musician Sheila Robertson, Ann Treloar, Patricia Lynch, and Drummond McNicol St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Lutton Place, Edinburgh EH8 9PE An afternoon workshop for all adults interested in the variety of educational programmes offered by the RSCM, introducing and seeing how the Voice for Life and Church Music Skills programmes can be used in churches of all denominations. Split workshops will then cover more specific areas of the two programmes such as
If you would like more information, or to register for the afternoon, please contact Sheila Robertson: Cost: RSCM Members & Affiliates £6 (Non-Members £10) |
Saturday 22 January 4pm |
RSCM Scottish Voices Choral Evensong Frikki Walker Thomas Coats Memorial Baptist Church, |
Monday 14 February |
St Andrew's Awards – Examiners Revalidation |
5 March |
RSCM Scottish Voices Dunblane visit Frikki Walker Dunblane Cathedral |
Saturday 12 March |
Sacred Music Studies A support and mentoring meeting for Scotland-based students on the Sacred Music Studies course. Details to be confirmed |
Wednesday 4 May |
Meet, Eat and Sing St John's Church, Lovers Walk, Dumfries DG1 1LW Meet in St John's, in the centre of Dumfries, learn and sing a selection of meditative and exciting music. We start with a shared meal, and an opportunity to see what the RSCM is doing and how it can help your church's music programme. Cost: no charge (donations welcome to cover costs) Please register with Jamie Brand by Saturday 30 April. |
Saturday 21 May |
RSCM Scottish Voices Haddington visit Frikki Walker St Mary's Parish Church, Haddington, East Lothian For more details, contact: |
Sunday 29 May |
Come and Sing Fauré's 'Requiem' Nikki Junor soprano St John’s Church & Hall, Lovers Walk, Dumfries DG1 1LW An opportunity to celebrate the life of Tom Carrick, organist at St John's Church for over 50 years, with a performance of this much-loved choral work. Cost: £5 (+ £2 score hire, if needed) Please register by Saturday 21 May. |
Saturday 18 June |
RSCM Scottish Voices – Aberdeen Choral Evensong Frikki Walker St Andrew's Episcopal Cathedral, King St, Aberdeen For more details, contact: |
Monday 27 June |
Young Voices Symposium For more details, contact: |
Monday to Thursday |
Dunblane Singing Break Scottish Churches House & Dunblane Cathedral For more details, contact: |
Wednesday |
Meet the Director (Glasgow) Lindsay Gray, Director of the RSCM St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, 300 Great Western Road, Glasgow
For more details, contact: Please register by Tuesday 6 September. |
Thursday |
Meet the Director (Dunblane) Lindsay Gray, Director of the RSCM Dunblane Cathedral
For more details, contact: Please register by Wednesday 7 September. |
Saturday 17 September |
Young Voices Festival Susan Hamilton, Matthew Beetschen directors St Mary's, Haddington For more details, contact: Please register by 14 September |
Saturday 17 September |
RSCM Scottish Voices – Glasgow Choral Evensong Frikki Walker St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, 300 Great Western Road, Glasgow For more details, contact: |
Saturday 5 November |
RSCM Scottish Voices – Glasgow Choral Mass St Aloysius RC Church, Rose St, Glasgow Frikki Walker For more details, contact: |
Saturday 5 November |
Dunblane Singing Day Dunblane Cathedral Gordon Appleton For more details, contact: |
Fridays from |
Voice for Life for adults St Peter's, Lutton Place, Edinburgh Sheila Robertson Although Voice for Life is usually run within a local church, some churches do not give this opportunity, so these classes are open to anyone who sings regularly in a church choir of any denomination, and wishes to follow the programme. Voice for Life for adults: in Edinburgh (PDF) Dates:
For more details, contact: |
Saturday 16 January |
RSCM Scottish Voices service in Haddington |
Sunday 31 January |
Come & Sing Compline by Candlelight for Candlemas At 17.00, Pat will also be leading an optional workshop in Plainchant singing, during which the music for Compline will be learned. Suitable for all ages and abilities, if you are unsure about how Plainchant works, this is an ideal opportunity to learn. The event is free, with the opportunity to give a donation towards the costs and for RSCM Scotland's work. Contact Sheila Robertson: 0131 299 3177 sheila(at)rscmscotland.org |
Saturday 20 February |
RSCM Scottish Voices Choral Evensong in Glasgow |
Tuesday 2 March |
Eat, Meet & Sing An opportunity to meet new people, sing old and new music under the vibrant direction of Matthew Beetschen, Director of Music at Dunblane Cathedral, and share a meal. To aid the catering and to ensure we have enough music, please register by Monday 22nd February. Contact Sheila Robertson: 0131 299 3177 sheila(at)rscmscotland.org |
Saturday 5 June |
St Andrew's Awards exam session |
Wednesday 9 June |
Meet, Eat & Sing POSTPONED UNTIL 4 MAY 2011 |
Saturday 12 June |
St Andrew's Awards exam session |
Saturday 19 June |
RSCM Scottish Voices Choral Evensong |
Monday 19 – |
Dunblane Singing Break This course is organised by RSCM Scotland in partnership with Scottish Churches House |
Friday to Sunday |
RSCM Scottish Voices Residential Rehearsal Weekend 2010 |
Saturday 18 September |
4th RSCM Scottish Young Voices Festival Details to be confirmed soon. |
Saturday 23 October |
Eat, Meet and Sing
Please register by Monday 18th October. More information from:
Download
|
Saturday 30 October |
Dunblane Singing Day |
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). Some of these events are listed immediately below. |
Saturday |
Sing Columba! (Central Belt) 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). Contact: Pat 01620 892228 pat(at)rscmscotland.org |
Monday
|
Sing Columba! (Glasgow) 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). Contact: Frikki Walker 07948 371997 |
Wednesday |
Sing Columba! (Argyll and the Isles) 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). Contact: Norman Nicholson 01631 710335 |
Saturday |
Sing Columba! (Highlands) Contact: Bridget Black 01463 230588 |
Saturday |
Sing Columba! (Edinburgh and Lothians) 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). Contact: Sheila Robertson sheila(at)rscmscotland.org |
Saturday |
Triennial Festival – Sing Columba! (National event) 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: hopefully these timings will enable you 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! NB Cost of attendance will be the purchase of a music booklet. Contact: Pat 01620 892228 pat(at)rscmscotland.org |
Monday – Thursday |
Dunblane Singing Break This course is organised by RSCM Scotland in partnership with Scottish Churches House |
Saturday |
3rd RSCM Scottish Young Voices Festival Details to be confirmed in due course. Contact: matthew(at)rscmscotland.org |
Saturday |
Dunblane Singing Day This year the Dunblane Singing Day will return to Dunblane Cathedral. Arrivals 1.30pm, rehearsal 2.00pm (prompt) followed by refreshments, service 5.00pm. No fee, but donations to the work of RSCM Scotland gratefully received. Contact: matthew(at)rscmscotland.org |
Sunday 15 November |
Choral workshop & Evensong |
Saturday 28 November |
RSCM Scottish Voices Choral Evensong Music is expected to include: |
Saturday 5 December |
Barnard in Glasgow The Glasgow Society of Organists has invited John Barnard to do a presentation on the RSCM publication Season by Season on Saturday, December 5th at Pollockshields Parish Church at 1430. This session follows on from one he did last year on The Carol Book, another RSCM publication. This is a good opportunity to meet John, who co-edited both collections, and to try some of the items contained in Season by Season. |
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: |
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 Scotland Newsletters
RSCM Scotland Newsletters
- download May 2011 Newsletter
- download October 2010 Newsletter
- download September 2009 Newsletter
- download February 2009 Newsletter
- download October 2008 Newsletter
- download July 2008 Interim Flyer
- download Eastertide 2008 Newsletter
- download February 2008 Interim Flyer
- 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).
(Opting to receive the Newsletter by email helps us save money that we can use for our work in Scotland.)
RSCM Scottish Voices (adults)
Founded in the summer of 2008, RSCM Scottish Voices is a self-financing adult choir that aims to draw together some of the most accomplished and experienced church musicians in Scotland to perform six times a year in a variety of cathedrals, abbeys and prominent churches around the country, in addition to which there is an annual summer residential rehearsal weekend. Full details of the choir's repertoire and places visited can be found on the RSCM Scottish Voices Website.
Musical Director
The Musical Director of RSCM Scottish Voices, Frikki Walker, Director of Music at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Glasgow, is an inspiring musician who, as well as being an examiner for the RSCM’s Voice for Life scheme, was recently awarded Associate of the RSCM (ARSCM) in recognition of his work in music and liturgy in Scotland.
Joining RSCM Scottish Voices
The choir currently has some vacancies for singers, so if you are aged 18 or over, are resident in Scotland, have experience in church choral singing, and would like to be considered for an audition or would like more information, please contact Gary Young, the choir administrator, at scottishvoices(at)rscmscotland.org for an application form.
Holders of RSCM Bronze, Silver or Gold awards need not audition, but should contact the administrator for further details.
Subscriptions
Currently subscriptions for RSCM Scottish Voices are £30 per year, plus a £7 fee payable on the day at each event. The cost of the residential rehearsal weekend is dependant on venue.
Young Scottish Voices
Following the highly successful Young Voices Festivals in Dunblane. Glasgow and Haddington, a new choir is being formed: RSCM Young Scottish Voices, for choristers aged under 18.
Please contact Sue Gardner (youngscottishvoices(at)rscmscotland.org) for more details.
St Andrew's Awards
Since the launch of the revised St Andrew's Awards in Summer 2004, there have been many successful entries, by both children and adults.
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 by the RSCM centrally.)
These awards are consistent with other singing awards from the RSCM internationally and supersede the previous single award. Although a pass at the old St Andrew's Award examination is roughly equivalent to a pass at Silver level, you will need to pass the Silver exam before doing Gold, as the syllabus is more extensive, and the structure of the Silver exam is an important preparatory step to Gold.
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"