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Voice for Life Singing Awards


Bronze, Silver & Gold awards

In order to support the choir trainer and affirm the levels achieved within the choir while working on the Voice for Life training scheme, the RSCM provides a parallel system of awards designed to be assessed through a formal examination: these are called the Bronze, Silver & Gold awards. (In some local RSCM Areas the Bronze and Silver Awards are called Dean’s and Bishop’s Awards.)

Each award has its own syllabus and regulations. These come complete with guidelines to fully prepare the candidate and the choir trainer for the standard expected during the examination.

Successful candidates are entitled to wear a prestigious medal cast in the appropriately coloured metal (bronze, silver or gold) and these 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 Dark Red ribbon.

Where do these awards fit into the Voice for Life scheme?

The Voice for Life scheme and the Bronze, Silver & Gold awards are designed to fit together. They should be attempted in the following order:

  • Light Blue
  • Dark Blue
    • Bronze
  • Red
    • Silver
  • Yellow
    • Gold

In effect, the Voice for Life scheme provides training and preparation for the Bronze, Silver & Gold Awards; Light Blue and Dark Blue help a candidate prepare for their Bronze Award, Red level helps a candidate prepare for the Silver award, and Yellow level helps a candidate prepare for the Gold award.

Likewise, the Bronze, Silver and Gold awards affirm each of the Voice for Life levels that have been awarded informally by the choir trainer.

What if I have a singer who does not want to take the external (Bronze, Silver and Gold) awards?

This is no problem. The Voice for Life training scheme can be used on its own to provide training and motivation to singers within a choir. There is no need to take the Bronze, Silver and Gold awards if your singer is unhappy about undertaking such formal assessments.

Where can I obtain the syllabus for the Bronze, Silver or Gold awards?

In the UK, the Bronze and Silver awards are administered and examined on a local basis by a voluntary network of RSCM committees. Every local RSCM committee has its own syllabus for the Bronze and Silver awards. Although the syllabuses differ from area to area, the RSCM has validated all Bronze and Silver award syllabuses to ensure an even standard across the country. All examiners for the Bronze and Silver awards have also been validated by the RSCM to ensure consistency of marking.

Following a conference in 2007 to review RSCM Silver standard singing awards, a number of changes are being introduced by Areas during 2008 or early in 2009. The content of the new syllabus will remain in force for at least 4 years, though entry fees may possibly have to rise again during that time.

Always make sure you obtain a copy of your latest Area syllabus before entering our awards. These can be found on the webpages for local RSCM Areas or on their own websites here.

Gold award

In the UK, the Gold award is administered centrally by the RSCM. The examinations are arranged for June and November each year with entry deadlines of 1 May and 1 October respectively. Details of examination venues, and other information can be found here.

For details of Bronze, Silver and Gold awards outside the UK, please contact the RSCM on +44 (0)1722 424843 or voiceforlife(at)rscm.com.

Who should I contact if I have any further questions about Voice for Life or the Bronze, Silver and Gold awards?

Further advice and information can be obtained from the Administrator, Education programmes:
T: +44 (0)1722 424843, F 01722 424849, E: voiceforlife(at)rscm.com

Preparing for Bronze, Silver and Gold

John Wardle, RSCM Awards Co-ordinator and Chief Examiner, offers advice about the awards to singers and choir trainers considering some of the following issues: ‘Why take the awards?’ ‘How to prepare for your exam’ and ‘Hitting the mark!’

Results of the latest RSCM validated singing award examinations

Congratulations to all the successful candidates! These results are published in the June 2008 edition of Church Music Quarterly.

Results are listed under RSCM Areas and Countries. ‡indicates that a Diocesan award has been validated for local RSCM members.

GOLD AWARD
St Albans: Frances Goodchild (Redbourn, St Mary).

SILVER STANDARD * Merit (75%+) ** Distinction (85%+)
Australia: Gemma Dashwood**(Ainslie, All Saints), Michele de Coursey* (South Yarra, Christ Church)
Birmingham: Jacob Werrin, Sophie Wilkins (Harborne, St Peter), Jenna Leigh Cogbill (Kings Norton, St Nicolas).
Ely: Claudia Efstathiou (Cambridge, Little St Mary), Grace Moore (Cambridge, St John Evangelist).
Essex & E London‡: Robbie Caprari-Sharpe, Roman Carlisle*, Steven Young* (Brentwood Cathedral), Max Bird, James Bowles, Alice Maynes (Chingford PC), Sophie Burditt** (Harlow, St Mary at Latton), Suzanne Hill* (Hornchurch, St Andrew), Kathryn Wilkins (Orsett, St Giles & All Saints), Catherine Humphrey* (Southchurch, Holy Trinity).
Guildford: Fiona Bowen**, Hannah Greenfield** (Guildford, All Saints).
Oxford: Lisa Davis* (Aylesbury, St Mary), Ben Reed-Berendt* (Oxford, St Giles), Tara Scott (Radley, St James the Great), Sophie Beazley*, Mary Cozens, Sarah Dow, Emily Hughes* (Wallingford, St Mary-le-More), Gemma Boylan, Catherine Hardy, Emily Mellor, Ailsa Miller, Celia Tinsley* (Wokingham, All Saints).
Peterborough & Northampton: Ruth Bland* (Irthlingborough, St Peter), Dominic Sweeney (Kettering, St Andrew).
Rochester‡: Anna Ashbee**, Susan Payne, Janet Saunders (East Malling, St James the Great), Katie Lewin, Louise Bates Prince (Hadlow, St Mary), Danielle Simmonds (Sidcup, St John).
Southwark & E Surrey: Jennifer Speller* (Lee, St Margaret), Sophie Crump, Jennifer Weeks* (Sanderstead, St Mary), Alexander Hockaday*, William Sternberg* (Wimbledon, King’s College School).
Suffolk‡: Craig Gradidge, Matthew Last, Douglas Sands** (Bury St Edmunds, St Mary), Millicent Wilkinson** (Old Newton, St Mary), Samuel Cunningham, Izaak Frost**, Samuel Knock, Alexander Spark (St Edmundsbury Cathedral).
Wessex‡: Rebecca Clayton*, Jessica Kelsey (Colehill, St Michael & All Angels), Jeremy Cobley, Michelle Cobley (Oakdale, St George).

BRONZE STANDARD * Merit (75%+) ** Distinction (85%+)
Birmingham: Suzannah Molloy (Harborne, St Peter).
Canada: Michelle Coombs (Grafton, ON, St Mary), Elizabeth King* (Port Hope, ON, Trinity College School).
Devon: Cherrill Ware** (Colyton, St Andrew).
Ely: Eleanor DeWolf* (Cambridge, Little St Mary), Charlotte Ball (Cambridge, St John Evangelist), Emily Brown (Whittlesey, St Andrew).
Essex & E London‡: James Allen*, Jennifer Batters*, Joshua Hayter*, Natalie Wren (Brentwood, St Thomas of Canterbury), Jamie Dalgliesh, Elizabeth Gregory, Phoebe Leung, Lily Sharpe*, Lucy Waine* (Romford, St Edward the Confessor).
Lichfield: Jack Chatham*, Cameron Low* (Wolverhampton, St Peter).
Lincoln: Alina Finch (Boston, St Botolph), Julie Carby* (Boston, St Thomas).
Manchester: Callan Lofthouse, Harry Lofthouse (Edenfield PC), Andrew Lacy** (Manchester, St Ann).
Oxford: Sarah Hopkins-Weaver**, Holly Lawson (Aylesbury, St Mary), Lucy Baines, Flora McGivan* (Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, St Agatha), Ruth Plackett* (Olney, Ss Peter & Paul), Sue Scott* (Radley, St James the Great), Adam Castle*, James Devine (Sandhurst, St Michael & All Angels), Emma Lewis**, David Simmons**, Jean Simmons* (Wallingford, St Mary-le-More).
Peterborough & Northampton: Hannah Lee* (Kingsthorpe, St John Baptist), Tom Pease* (Maidwell Hall).
Portsmouth: Susan Simmonds**, Angela Holland** (Bembridge, Holy Trinity), Emily Grand*, Charlotte MacDonald* (Newport, St John).
Rochester‡: Jonathan Rawlinson* (Aylesford, Ss Peter & Paul), Alice Caddock, Sarah Caddock**, Roya Saeednia (Bexleyheath, Christ Church), Dorothy Young (Biggin Hill, St Mark), Stephanie Kane**, Alice Lomas**, James Orford** (Bromley, St Mark), Mitchell Gliddon*, Fritha Turner, Iona Turner (East Malling, St James the Great), Nicola Buxton, Halcyon Brooks Johnson (Hadlow, St Mary), Rachel Locke, Anne Thomas*, Diane Trollope* (Leybourne, Ss Peter & Paul), Bethany Thomas (Orpington, St Andrew), Alison Roddy*, David Roddy*, Rachel Tillotson (Shortlands, St Mary).
Southwark & E Surrey: Timothy Boxall**, Patrick Burke*, Daniel Crozier*, Harley Day* (Beddington, St Mary), Laura Blair** (Dormansland, St John Evangelist), Clare Davies*, Catherine Jeanes**, Helen Tanner*, Alexandra Tanner* (Merton, St James), Helena Rueff* (Redhill, St John Evangelist), Michael Tsoukkas**, Benjamin Young* (Wimbledon, King’s College School).
Wessex‡: Katrina Darg-Forsyth (Amesbury Abbey).