Archbishop presents Fellowship to Director General

The Council of the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) has awarded a Fellowship (FRSCM) to Professor John Harper, the present Director General. Professor Harper is stepping down from the post in December.

The award was made on behalf of the Council at the RSCM’s Annual Celebration Day service in Llandaff Cathedral on 12th May by the Most Revd Dr Barry Morgan, the Archbishop of Wales. In his citation, Dr Morgan recalled the time when Professor Harper was considering taking on the post. “I was then the Bishop of Bangor when he was the Professor of Music at Bangor. I know how hard it was for John to decide about coming to the RSCM. There were those who told him in Bangor that he was leaving a relatively cushy life for a stormy one. I believe, however, that being Director General of the RSCM is a vocation and a way of life. He knew what he was letting himself in for, but he answered the call.”

Fellowships are awarded by the RSCM Council for contributions to church music or liturgy at an international level, or for an outstanding contribution to the RSCM. “As well as being a key player on the national and international music scene, John’s contribution and commitment to the RSCM has indeed been outstanding,” said Mark Williams, the Chairman of the RSCM Council. “John has led the organisation with extraordinary dedication, scholarship and passion. He has put in place a robust infrastructure to run the RSCM, which puts us in a strong and sustainable position for the future.”

Professor Harper, who is sixty this year, steps down from the post in December, to devote more time to teaching, research and writing. He has just founded the International Centre for Sacred Music Studies (ICSMuS) which will be based in Bangor, North Wales.

Notes for Editors

The Annual Celebration Day is held every spring at a cathedral in the UK. It is at this occasion that honorary awards are conferred. Full details about this year’s awards may be found in news releases on our website www.rscm.com/media, where the full text of the Archbishop of Wales’s citation can be found. Photographs of Professor Harper and Archbishop Morgan can also be found here.

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 short courses, 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").

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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

21/05/2007