Millennium Youth Choir launches new CD

“Out of the Stillness” is the title of a new CD from the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) Millennium Youth Choir to be launched in Edinburgh during the 2007 Festival. The CD recorded earlier this year was produced by the composer John Rutter.

Since its foundation in 2000, the RSCM Millennium Youth Choir (MYC) has made a name for itself with concerts all over the country as well as television and radio broadcasts. As well as the launch of the CD, the MYC is singing services at St Mary’s Cathedral Edinburgh, giving two concerts during the Edinburgh Festival and broadcasting a service live on BBC Radio Three.

Much of the CD includes by prominent contemporary church music composers including Philip Moore, Malcolm Archer, Bob Chilcott, John Harper, John Rutter and Richard Shepherd, whose anthem “Out of the stillness” gives the CD its title. 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! Also included are two compositions by David Ogden, the choir’s director, who says one of the roles of the MYC is to champion new choral music. “There can be a tendency for church music to become too reflective and soporific. We also need music that is going to invigorate and excite people; a piece like Bryan Kelly’s dramatic “Done is a battell on the dragon blak” does just that!”

The choir of forty young adults from all over the country meet three times a year; the CD was recorded in Marlborough College Chapel during the MYC’s Easter course. David Ogden says they work well together as a team. “They come from churches of all kinds, and happily realise that there are others their age who like singing church music. Because their music-making is in praise of God, they instantly pick up the meaning and implication of the words, and can communicate the mood and drama of the text instinctively.”

The CD was produced by the composer John Rutter who has always had a close association with the RSCM. “Here is a young choir whose freshness and commitment truly bring life and excitement to contemporary church music.”

The accompanying CD booklet has plenty to look at, including “facebook-style” photographs of all choir members. There are also potted biographies of each of the featured composers, and interesting facts about each; Philip Moore likes flying kites and collects porcelain and fountain pens, Malcolm Archer likes Jaguar cars. As for the musicians on the CD, the organist Daniel Moult likes Australian soap operas from 1981 to 1995, and the conductor David Ogden has a City and Guilds Certificate in Professional Cookery, something which – according to MYC members – has not been apparent on their courses...

Ends.

21 August 2007

Out of the Stillness is available from RSCM Music Direct.
Price: £12.95 (£11.95 for RSCM members).
Contact details are as follows:
RSCM Music Direct (Cheques made payable to SCM Canterbury Press)
By post: St Mary’s Works, St Mary’s Plain, Norwich, NR3 3BH
By phone: +44 (0)845 021 7726 then dial 206
By fax: +44 (0)845 021 8826
Email: musicdirect(at)rscm.com
Online shop: www.rscm.com/shop

Notes for Editors

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

The MYC will sing works from the CD during their summer course in Edinburgh:
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

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