John Rutter produces recording of RSCM Millennium Youth Choir

The composer John Rutter has just produced a CD recording of the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) Millennium Youth Choir directed by David Ogden. The recording was made earlier this year in Marlborough College Chapel, Wiltshire.

Speaking about the recording called OUT OF THE STILLNESS in an audio podcast on the RSCM website (www.rscm.com/media) John Rutter says he was very impressed with the choir. “It was immediately obvious that they were committed and expert, and prepared to concentrate for as long as it took make the recording.”

Much of the CD includes by prominent contemporary church music composers including Philip Moore, Malcolm Archer, Bob Chilcott, John Harper, John Rutter and Richard Shephard, whose anthem “Out of the stillness” gives the CD its title. 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. “These are young singers and this kind of church music is challenging and can give a glimpse of the power and wonder of God; a piece like Bryan Kelly’s dramatic “Done is a battell on the dragon blak” does just that!”

The accompanying CD booklet has plenty to look at, including “facebook-style” photographs of all choir members and potted biographies of each of the featured composers, along with and interesting facts about each, Speaking on the RSCM podcast about the CD, John Rutter says “We’re talking about my hobby right now, because my day job is as a composer, but my hobby is producing recordings. I get a perverse kick out of being dressed in my tails one day conducting a concert somewhere quite grand, and then the next day putting on my sweatshirt and jeans and moving microphones and cables. No-one notices you when you’re doing that!”

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. They have just broadcast a live service of Choral Evensong on BBC Radio 3 from Dunblane Cathedral during their summer course, and next month they will be filming for BBC TV’s Songs of Praise.

Ends

12 September 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: http://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 PODCAST: Rutter, Ogden and singers speak about MYC CD can be listened to in full and downloaded as an MP3 file at www.rscm.com/media.

The RSCM Millennium Youth Choir was founded in 1999 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 the RSCM Millennium Youth Choir

The Royal School of Church Music (RSCM), which is celebrating the 80th anniversary of its foundation this year, 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. For further information about the RSCM, go to the website www.rscm.com.

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