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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 will continue to exercise its discretion in making awards

FRSCM - Fellow of the Royal School of Church Music

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. Normally up to five awards each year.

ARSCM - Associate of the Royal School of Church Music

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. Normally up to five awards each year.

HonRSCM - Honorary member of the RSCM

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. Normally up to three awards each year.

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. Normally up to ten awards each year.

Nominations

Nominations may be submitted by:

Members of RSCM Council and Advisory and Consultative Panel
Senior RSCM staff, Regional Music Advisers and Co-ordinators
Chair or Secretary of RSCM Area or District Committee
President/Chair or Secretary of an RSCM national governing body
Chair or Secretary of RSCM Overseas Branch

Nominations submitted by any other person must be seconded by one of the above.

Nominations will be considered by a scrutiny group for presentation to RSCM Council for approval. There is no certainty that the RSCM will be able to act on every nomination, and all nominations should therefore be treated with total confidentiality. Nominations must be received by 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.