International Summer School and Conference 2008
Canterbury, England
Monday 11 to Sunday 17 August 2008
Transforming, enabling and inspiring worship
The 2008 RSCM International Summer School and Conference takes place
in the beautiful, historic city of Canterbury. We welcome musicians,
singers and clergy from around the world to a stimulating week of music, worship, practical activity, discussion and fellowship which will inspire the transformation of worship through music.
The programme is full and varied – from uplifting services in the Cathedral, to challenging workshops and seminars given by inspiring leaders, and much more.
This is an excellent opportunity for church musicians and worship leaders to find a fresh perspective on music in the church and community.
Booking is now open for the summer school. For the booking form, click on the Booking tab above. If you would like us to send a brochure to you or a friend, do get in touch with us at the address below.
More details will be added to these pages over the coming months, so do come back again soon!
Venue
A beautiful and holy place
Worship and make music in Canterbury Cathedral, seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and one of the world’s finest medieval cathedrals.
A cathedral has stood in this place since St Augustine became the first Archbishop of Canterbury in the early 7th Century, and it has been a place of pilgrimage for many centuries, especially for those visiting the shrine of Archbishop Thomas Becket.
Other sessions take place in Canterbury Cathedral Lodge, right next door to the Cathedral.
This excellent, purpose-built conference facility provides the main venue for the workshops, seminars and plenary sessions of the course, and also houses the Superior bedroom accommodation available to delegates. Other accommodation is offered at Christ Church University nearby, and some meals are taken at The King's School in the Cathedral Close.
In the footsteps of pilgrims
Canterbury is a World Heritage Site, with plenty more to see including two castles, an abbey founded in 597AD, the oldest parish church in England still in constant use, and many historical museums. To find lots of ideas for your free time, click on the link below:
Getting to Canterbury
Detailed information will be supplied to delegates prior to the course.
By Car:
Canterbury lies just off the A2, to the south-west of London. Journey time from Central London is approximately 1 hr 30 mins.
By Bus:
Canterbury is approximately 2 hrs by coach from Central London, and 30 mins from Dover.
By Train:
There are regular train services from London Victoria to Canterbury East, and from London Charing Cross/London Bridge to Canterbury West, taking approximately 1 hr 30 mins. Travellers from Europe can take the Eurostar train to Ashford International Station, which connects to Canterbury West in about 20 mins.
By Ferry:
From Dover ferry terminal, a short bus ride connects to Dover Priory Station, which is about 25 mins by train from Canterbury East.
By Air:
The Heathrow Express train runs from Heathrow International Airport to London Paddington station, with bus and underground connections to London Victoria or Charing Cross for trains to Canterbury.
Gatwick Express connects Gatwick International Airport with London Victoria station in 30 mins, where delegates can take a train direct to Canterbury.
Programme
Opportunities to participate
The programme is full and varied, offering an wide variety of opportunities for church musicians and worship leaders to gain a fresh perspective on music in the church and community.
Make sure you don’t miss the highlights:
- candlelit pilgrimage tour of Canterbury Cathedral led by Revd Canon Christopher Irvine, Canon Librarian
- festival service in Canterbury Cathedral directed by composer and choral conductor Bob Chilcott
- gospel workshop with musical director, educator and composer Ken Burton
- keynote address by composer James MacMillan
- Bob Chilcott session ‘Sing Chilcott with Chilcott’
- publishers exhibition – an exclusive opportunity to browse and buy
- Millennium Youth Choir concert
- gala dinner to end the week
- a gentle walking tour of Canterbury
There is plenty more to choose from, to suit your skills and interests:
Worship:
- daily morning prayer in the cathedral crypt led by Revd Canon Wendy Wilby
- Taizé service
- closing Eucharist service with the Millennium Youth Choir
- evensong in the cathedral
Interactive workshops which complement the RSCM education programmes:
- Conducting with David Ogden and Esther Jones
- Organ playing with Robert Fielding
- Cantor skills with Esther Jones
- Vocal training and voice care with Leah Perona-Wright
- Percussion with community musician and teacher Jane Bentley
- Improvisation with South African jazz pianist and church musician Melvin Peters
Seminars on many aspects of being a church musician:
- Transforming worship with Revd Peter Moger
- Holy space and Symbols in worship with Revd Canon Christopher Irvine
- Music and healing with Geoff Weaver
- Musicians and clergy with Revd Canon Wendy Wilby and Alistair Warwick
- Broadcasting with Stuart Robinson
- Copyright with Tim Ruffer, RSCM Head of Publishing
Exploration of new repertoire and liturgy:
- Season by season with John Barnard, composer, arranger, choir director and organist
- World music and Psalms with Geoff Weaver
- Taizé with Leah Perona-Wright and Geoff Weaver
- Early music with Esther Jones
- Music for children with Leah Perona-Wright
Discussions:
An opportunity to meet our new Director Lindsay Gray and other staff to discuss areas of the RSCM’s work including:
- RSCM core programmes (Voice for Life, Church Music Skills, Sacred Music Studies)
- RSCM International
- RSCM Voluntary Network
Presenters
Engage with and make music with inspirational directors
The RSCM is delighted to welcome internationally-renowned musicians, to lead sessions, workshops and services, and to meet the ISSC delegates.
Bob Chilcott (composer and conductor)
Bob Chilcott is one of the most active composers and choral conductors in Britain today. He has been involved in choral music most of his life, as a chorister and choral scholar at King's College, Cambridge, and between 1985 and 1997 he was a member of The King's Singers. He has been a full-time composer since 1997, and has poured his energy into choral composition, conducting, and promoting choral singing throughout the world.
James MacMillan CBE (composer and conductor)
James MacMillan is one of today's most successful living composers, also internationally active as
a conductor. His musical language is flooded with influences from his Scottish heritage, his
Roman Catholic faith, social conscience and close connection with Celtic folk music, blended
together with influences from Far Eastern, Scandinavian and Eastern European music.
Ken Burton (composer, educator and Director of London Adventist Chorale)
Ken Burton is known worldwide as a musical director, educator and composer. His music brings together formal training, lifelong experience in free and improvised music, and musical skills which include extemporisation, complex harmonisation, and perfect pitch. Underpinning this is his faith. He is principal conductor of award-winning London Adventist Chorale.
Revd Canon Wendy Wilby (Precentor, Bristol Cathedral)
Formerly a school chaplain and later vicar of Halifax Parish Church; among her current responsibilities are the music and the liturgy of Bristol Cathedral. She works collaboratively with musicians, vergers and servers to produce services of quality, beauty and dignity in the Cathedral. She also has pastoral responsibilities for the members of the music foundation, and the congregation at large. She has degrees in music and in music and liturgy. She is married to the composer Philip Wilby, and worked with him as a professional pianist specialising in twentieth-century chamber music. She is a member of the RSCM Council.
Revd Peter Moger (Church of England Worship Development Officer)
Revd Peter Moger is Worship Development Officer for the Church of England, and works with the Liturgical Commission in promoting good practice in the preparation and leading of worship.
Robert Fielding (Director of RSCM York Church Organist Course)
Robert Fielding is a freelance organist, choral trainer, writer and composer, and has directed many organ courses for the RSCM. He is Organist at Romsey Abbey, Director of the Salisbury Diocesan Certificate in Church Music programme, and Church Music Consultant to the Diocese of Salisbury.
David Ogden (conductor and composer)
David Ogden is conductor of the RSCM Millennium Youth Choir and the RSCM Midlands and South West Cathedral Singers, as well as other choirs in the Bristol area. He is an Associate Lecturer in Music and Liturgy at the University of Bristol, and writes music for churches and schools.
Geoff Weaver (animateur)
Geoff Weaver is an inspiring choral director and teacher, with experience of many different styles of church music. He is also a composer and arranger, and is editor of In Every Corner Sing, a collection of Christian songs from around the world shortly to be published by the RSCM.
Esther Jones (Programme Director, Skills of the Church Musician)
Esther Jones is Assistant Conductor to the National Youth Choir of Great Britain and the RSCM Millennium Youth Choir, and is an experienced music teacher. She is undertaking research into choral education at the Royal Academy of Music.
Leah Perona-Wright (Programme Director, Voice for Life)
Leah Perona-Wright is an experienced singing teacher and choir trainer. She directs a children's church choir and the upper voices ensemble, Vox Angelica, and is in demand as a soprano soloist.
Stuart Robinson (RSCM Media Relations Organiser)
Stuart Robinson is the RSCM's Co-ordinator in Wales, where he works as a freelance broadcaster, producer and trainer. He has extensive experience of music and religious broadcasting with the BBC, and also provides training in media relations.
Details of more session leaders will be added to this page in due course.
Accommodation and Prices
Prices include the accommodation costs and the course fee of £210, which is discounted to £140 for Individual Members and members of Affiliated Choirs. For all others (including Friends), the higher price in brackets applies.
For details of RSCM membership, please contact the Membership Administrator on +44 (0)1722 424841 or membership(at)rscm.com.
Residential Rates
All residential rates are per person and include the course fee, resources, overnight accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner and morning and afternoon refreshments.
Superior Residential Package
For those seeking a little luxury, we can offer rooms in Canterbury Cathedral Lodge
(where the conference takes place). The Lodge provides an excellent 4* hotel service
with en-suite rooms and continental breakfast. Buffet lunch and morning and afternoon
refreshments will be taken at Canterbury Cathedral Lodge, and evening meals at the
King’s School. Rooms at the Lodge are limited and will be allocated on a first-come,
first-served basis.
Superior accommodation sharing a double/twin room: £680 (£760)*
Superior accommodation in a single room: please call +44 (0)1722 424843 or email issc(at)rscm.com to enquire.
Standard Residential Package
Standard accommodation is provided at Lanfranc House in Christ Church University.
The campus is 5-10 minutes walk from Canterbury Cathedral Lodge, and a limited minibus
service will be provided at the start and end of the day for those with limited mobility.
The modern study bedrooms all have en-suite shower rooms, and are grouped into flats
with a shared kitchen, with a small number of twin rooms available on a first-come,
first-served basis. The kitchens will be stocked with simple breakfast items such as cereals, bread, tea and coffee, for delegates to prepare their own breakfasts. Buffet lunch and morning and afternoon refreshments will be taken at Canterbury Cathedral Lodge, and evening meals at the King’s School.
Standard accommodation in a single room: £565 (£635)
Standard accommodation sharing a twin room: £530 (£600)*
*Price per person based on two people sharing
Non-residential Rates
All prices quoted below are per person and include the course fee, resources, lunch and morning and afternoon refreshments. Day rates will be available on request.
Non-residential rate without dinner (but including gala dinner on the final evening): £345 (£415)
Non-residential rate with dinner (including the gala dinner on the final evening): £415 (£485)
For details of other accommodation in Canterbury, contact +44 (0)1227 378100 or click on the link below:
Bursaries
A small number of bursaries are available for students in full-time education and overseas participants.
For more information, contact the Education Administrator on +44 (0)1722 424843 or education(at)rscm.com.
Booking
To apply for a place on the course, download the booking form below, print, complete a separate form for each applicant, and send with payment of the deposit to:
RSCM ISSC, 19 The Close, Salisbury, SP1 2EB, UK
Terms and Conditions
- All fees are stated and payable in pounds sterling.
- Fees are subject to change only in the event of circumstances beyond the control of the RSCM, including changes in taxation and exceptional surcharges imposed by suppliers.
- If a tutor or lecturer is absent, the RSCM will provide a suitable replacement.
- The RSCM reserves the right to alter other features of the course, including venues and facilities.
- The RSCM reserves the right to refuse an application without stating the reason.
- No less than one month's notice will be given should the RSCM be forced to cancel the course. In the case of cancellation by the RSCM, fees paid will be refunded in full. Please note that the RSCM cannot take responsibility for other costs incurred by applicants (for this reason, we strongly recommend that you take out travel insurance).
- Deposits are non-refundable (except in the event of a course cancellation), and cover administration costs.
- Applicants will be advised of the date on which the balance of the fee becomes due. After this date, the RSCM reserves the right to re-allocate any places for which the fee has not been paid in full.
- In the event of cancellation by the applicant, a refund will be allowed as follows:
Notification received up to 8 weeks before start of course - 80% of full course fee refunded
Notification received up to 4 weeks before start of course - 50% of full course fee refunded
Notification received less than 4 weeks before start of course - 0% of full course fee refunded - Vegetarian and special dietary needs can be met; please send details with your application.
- Any dependent adults must be assisted by a full-time carer paying the full fee. The RSCM is unable to accept responsibility for the supervision of dependent adults in the care of delegates.
- We regret that under 18s cannot be accommodated unless they are under the direct supervision of another delegate (aged 18 or over).
- Pets are not allowed. Assistance dogs can be accommodated if advised in advance.
Contact us:
RSCM ISSC, 19 The Close, Salisbury, SP1 2EB, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1722 424843
Fax: +44 (0)1722 424849
Email: issc(at)rscm.com