International Summer School and Conference 2008
This page contains details of the last ISSC, held in 2008 in Canterbury.
Canterbury, England
Monday 11 to Sunday 17 August 2008
Transforming, enabling and inspiring worship
See highlights of the Director's address to the Summer School here.
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.
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.
- Download provisional timetable here (subject to minor changes if necessary)
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’
- Music and bookshop - an 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
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, Church Music Skills)
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.
Open Sessions
Some sessions at the Summer School are open to the public, and all are welcome to attend.
Sing Chilcott with Chilcott
A chance to sing choral sacred music by Bob Chilcott, introduced and conducted by the composer. Music includes the Little Jazz Mass.
Wednesday 13 August 2008, 2.30pm - 4.00pm, Canterbury Cathedral Lodge
Festival Service
All are welcome to join the congregation at the Festival Service, which uses the Psallam service compiled by the RSCM to celebrate its 80th anniversary. The choir of Summer School delegates will be conducted by Bob Chilcott, with Scott Farrell at the organ.
Thursday 14 August 2008, 2.30pm, Canterbury Cathedral
Keynote Address - James MacMillan
Hear one of the UK's most successful composers discuss the role and power of music in transforming Christian communities.
Friday 15 August 2008, 2.30pm - 4.00pm, Canterbury Cathedral Lodge
In Every Corner Sing - a concert by the RSCM Millennium Youth Choir
Choral music from Monteverdi to MacMillan, including the first performance of a specially-composed piece by Philip Wilby.
Friday 15 August 2008, 8.15pm, St Peter's Methodist Church, St Peter's Street, Canterbury
Sing Gospel!
Join Ken Burton (Principal Conductor of London Adventist Chorale) at this workshop, to experience the exhilaration of gospel singing. No intensive msuic reading - just lots of heart and soul!
Saturday 16 August 2008, 2.30pm - 5.30pm, Canterbury Cathedral Lodge
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