RSCM Young People's Course at Pocklington, March 2008

School term dates clash with Easter choral course

There are still a few places available for the Royal School of Church Music’s popular Easter choral course for young people.  The four-day course which takes place in the Easter week is usually fully booked, but not all regular course members will be able to attend this year because their term dates mean they will have to go to school instead.

The RSCM’s Spring course (which returns to Pocklington in North Yorkshire this year) runs from Tuesday 25th until Friday 28th March, and gives young church choristers the opportunity to combine music-making with a good holiday. “Normally we would have about sixty youngsters aged 10 to 17 attending the course, but this year some LEAs on the eastern side of the Pennines are giving their teachers and pupils just Good Friday and Easter Monday off, with their so-called Easter holidays in April,” said the RSCM’s Gordon Appleton who directs this annual course. “It means our numbers are a little lower than usual, so we still have room to welcome a few young people who haven’t been able to come before.”

In previous years this course (which occurs in the week immediately following Easter Day), has taken place in Whitby in Yorkshire, and Rossall School in Lancashire; Pocklington School is 12 miles to the east of York, at the foot of the Yorkshire Wolds. Each day consists of choir rehearsals culminating in a sung evening service, combined with free-time to play games. “I’m particularly looking forward to directing the choir in the town’s fine medieval parish church,” said Gordon Appleton. “This year we’re going to work on a large amount of music from abroad, including Jamaica, Argentina, and South Africa. There are many young people out there who enjoy singing in church choirs, and would value a course such as this, mixing with like-minded youngsters and making new friends.  I’m always amazed how much people enjoy this course, and they always leave happy and inspired.”     

Places can be booked by contacting the RSCM Education Administrator on 01722 424843 or by emailing education@rscm.com. 

Ends
10 March 2008

Notes for Editors

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 a small team of staff based throughout the UK.

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