Honorary awards
The RSCM has the power to confer diplomas and awards. Some are honorary; others are awarded as a result of academic study or other training. Details of criteria, nominations and presentation of the honorary awards can be found on this page.
Awards criteria
The RSCM Council has agreed the following broad criteria as a normative guide when making nominations for awards. Council exercises its discretion in making awards.
FRSCM
is an award for achievements in church music and/or liturgy of international significance, or for exceptional musical and/or liturgical work within the RSCM.
ARSCM
is an award for achievements in church music and/or liturgy of national significance, or for important musical and/or liturgical work within the RSCM.
Honorary membership of the RSCM (HonRSCM)
is an award for exceptional or very significant work that has contributed to the cause of church music and/or liturgy at international or national levels, or within the RSCM, but which is not primarily musical or liturgical.
Certificate of Special Service
is an award for significant administrative work as a voluntary officer or member of staff within the RSCM; or an award for a significant contribution to church music and/or liturgy at a local level.
Nominations
Nominations for awards may be submitted by members of Council, senior officers, national council or national forum (through president/chair or secretary), area or district committee (through chair or secretary), overseas branch (through chair or secretary). Nominations are considered first by an awards group and then by the full RSCM Council. The deadline for nominations is 1 September each year.
Presentations of awards
FRSCM, ARSCM and HonRSCM
are normally awarded at an RSCM celebration.
Certificates of Special Service are normally
awarded at an area or overseas national or overseas branch festival, or at a comparable
occasion.