Millennium Youth Choir to sing in Edinburgh and on Radio 3.

The Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) Millennium Youth Choir (MYC) will be singing during the Edinburgh Festival in the last week of August. Their schedule includes a concert in St Giles’ Cathedral, singing daily choral services in St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, and a live broadcast on BBC Radio 3. And they’re launching a CD produced by composer John Rutter.

Since its foundation in 2000 at the suggestion of Dr George Carey, then Archbishop of Canterbury, the RSCM Millennium Youth Choir (MYC) has made a name for itself with concerts all over the British Isles as well as television and radio broadcasts. The MYC is in Edinburgh for its Summer course which lasts a week during the last full week in August. Their hectic schedule of daily singing culminates in a live broadcast on BBC Radio 3 of Choral Evensong on September 2nd from Dunblane Cathedral.

Those attending services and concerts in Edinburgh sung by the MYC will have the opportunity to hear them singing works from their new CD “Out of the Stillness” which was recorded earlier this year, and produced by composer John Rutter. He said: “Here is a young choir whose freshness and commitment truly bring life and excitement to contemporary church music.”

The choir of forty young adults aged between 16 and 23 come from all over the UK and meet three times a year. Their conductor, David Ogden, says they work well together as a team. “The CD contains some fantastic singing which will both excite and inspire the listener. It contains some big bold brassy pieces along with more reflective anthems and some favourites of the choir. One piece “Living in holy city’ by the Canadian composer Stephen Hatfield features two members of the choir singing and playing percussion at the same time- a first for an RSCM choir!”

The schedule of concerts and services is as follows:
Sun 26th Aug, 6pm - “St Giles at Six” Concert in St Giles’ Cathedral
Thu 30th Aug, 8pm - Concert in St Andrew’s & St George’s Church, Edinburgh
Mon 27th - Fri 31st Aug, 5.30pm - Choral Evensong in St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral
Sun 2nd Sep, 10.30am - Eucharist in St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh
Sun 2nd Sep, 4pm - Live broadcast: BBC Radio 3 Choral Evensong, Dunblane Cathedral

Ends.

21 August 2007

Notes for Editors

You are welcome to send a reporter / photographer to any of the concerts and services, or to report on the course which is taking place all week. It would be much appreciated however, if this could be arranged in advance. Contact details below.

For review.
Out of the stillness is published by the RSCM: Please send requests for review copies to Heather Bamber (contact details below).

The RSCM Millennium Youth Choir was founded in 2000 at the suggestion of Dr George Carey, the then Archbishop of Canterbury. It offers special opportunities to young singers aged 16 – 23 to sing the widest and most exciting range of sacred music to the highest standards. Residential courses of approximately 4–6 days are held during school and university holidays, and include individual musical and vocal tuition, services and public concerts. Entry to the choir is by audition. More information about RSCM Millennium Youth Choir can be found at www.rscm.com/myc.

The Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) is an educational charity and promotes the best use of music in worship, church life, and the wider community. The RSCM also publishes music and training resources, and organises courses, short workshops and activities. With over 8,500 affiliates, members and friends in over 40 countries it is an international network, supported by over 750 volunteers and small team of staff based throughout the UK.

PDFs of RSCM news releases are generally available here (go to "News Releases").

Photographs for media use are available from the Media & Picture Gallery (go to "RSCM picture gallery").

For further enquiries contact:
Stuart Robinson:
RSCM Media Relations Organiser
srobinson@rscm.com
T: 01492 556378 / 07831 827701

or

Heather Bamber
RSCM Marketing & Communications Administrator
E: hbamber@rscm.com
T: 01722 424847 or 07786 331364