RSCM Northern Cathedral Singers
The RSCM Northern Cathedral Singers is a training choir which sings services to a high musical standard in Cathedrals, Abbeys, Minsters and Priories. Services take place on Saturdays and Bank Holidays. In January/February, members of the choir meet on two Saturdays to rehearse music for the year ahead.
We have around 200 singers in the NCS but they do not all sing together! Instead, a balanced choir is formed from our membership lists and members are invited to sing at various venues - usually between three and six events each year. Services are normally evensongs and we meet to rehearse about four hours before the start of the service. The choir’s repertoire is firmly based on the Cathedral choral tradition. There are two groups within the NCS: Boys/Men and Girls/Adults. The girls' group includes women contraltos, and the boys' group includes counter-tenors. Tenors and basses sing with both groups. Gordon Appleton directs both groups. Singers provide their own music and are responsible for learning it themselves. NCS 2010 Members will receive full details of the NCS programme in the post in the first part of November. Music lists, timetables and order forms are not included. Please download and print them from here: Your postal details will contain specific invitations to services. There are still some places for girls, boys and counter tenors for next year’s season. Contact Gordon Appleton gordonappleton(at)rscm.com for details. More details of the 2010 season: |
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Who can apply?
- Members of RSCM affiliated churches, choirs and schools with the signed support of the choir trainer
- Subscribing Individual or Student Members or Friends of the RSCM
Trebles (Boys): Minimum age is normally 9 at the time of audition. The upper limit depends on the likelihood of the boy’s treble voice lasting the season.
Sopranos (Girls): Minimum age is normally 10 at the time of audition, and the maximum age is 18.
Contraltos (Girls and Women): Minimum age is normally 15 at the time of audition.
Altos/Counter-tenors (Men): Minimum age is normally 15 at the time of audition.
Tenors and Basses (Men): Minimum age is normally 16 at the time of audition.
Admission to the choir is by audition.
Re-auditions are normally held every year for boys and girls.
CATB members of the choir must also be prepared for an annual audition.
All adult singers, i.e. those who are over the age of 18 years, will have to complete a declaration form to comply with RSCM Child Protection requirements before they are allowed to sing at NCS events. This form will be dispatched from the RSCM Administrative Centre in Salisbury to all singers who are successful at their auditions.
Annual Subscriptions
Adult: £36
Singer 18 years old and younger: £20
Concessions:
- We do not want any young people to be prevented from becoming members of NCS through financial reasons, and some bursaries are available. An application form is available here.
- Individual/Student RSCM member 25% discount, ie £27 for adults and £15 for children
- If more than one family member is joining the choir 50% discount (on full price) for second person, ie £18 for additional adult and £10 for each additional child
What happens at the audition?
You need to bring along some music that you can sing well so that we can hear the quality of your voice. This would usually be an anthem, hymn or song.
We also ask you to sing part of a prepared Psalm to Anglican chant so that we can listen for good flow, sensible expression and clear diction. You will then be asked to sing an unknown psalm to a chant that you know. This is to test your understanding of pointing and reading.
You will be asked to sing an anthem that you do not know at sight. For boys and girls we are not necessarily looking for perfection first time but the ability to learn quickly. For CATB singers we do expect fluent sight-singing ability and the experience of singing different styles of music.
You may be given some aural tests or vocal exercises.
In all applicants we expect the ability to work together as a team and represent the highest standards of the RSCM. A sense of humour helps too!
Results of auditions are posted to your choir director as soon as possible after the audition.
What are Cathedral Courses and how do I apply?
Each year the very best singers are invited to take part in residential RSCM Cathedral Courses. These last for one week and the choir sings daily Cathedral services. Generally most of the singers are members of FRSCM Cathedral Singers from all parts of the country - but others may also apply. Auditions are held at the same time as NCS auditions.
There will be three courses held in summer 2010:
- Adults (SATB - all must be over 18) at Exeter Cathedral from 2nd until 8th August 2010.
- Boys (not normally under the age of 11) and young men ATB (up to the age of 25) at Canterbury Cathedral from 9th until 15th August 2010.
- Girls (up to the age of 16) and ATB adults at York Minster from 16th until 22nd August 2010.
More details of Cathedral Courses 2010 are available here. Please tick the appropriate box on your application form if you wish to be considered.
Where and when are the Auditions?
| When | Where |
|---|---|
Saturday 19 September 2009 (from 9.30am) |
St Luke's Church, Lowton, near Warrington |
Saturday 3 October 2009 (from 10.00am) |
Christ Church on the Stray, High Harrogate |
If you have a preferred time for auditions (morning or afternoon) please indicate this on your application form.
If it is impossible for you to attend the above dates, we can sometimes arrange other days. Please speak to the Honorary Secretary.
How do I apply?
Download, print, complete and return the Application Form, and send it to arrive by 31st August 2009 to The Honorary Secretary:
Colin Hicks, 1 Willow Crescent, Richmond, North Yorkshire DL10 5AT
Telephone: 01748 821464, Email: colinhicks(at)btinternet.com
Please enclose a large, correctly-stamped and self-addressed envelope with your application - used to send full details of your 2010 allocations. Results of auditions will normally be sent by email.
Programme for 2010
Rehearsal Dates
| Group | When | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Boys (all) | Saturday 23rd January 2010 | Gildersome (10.00am - 12.30pm) |
| Girls (all) | Saturday 23rd January 2010 | Gildersome (1.30pm - 4.00pm) |
| Girls and Adults | Saturday 30th January 2010 | Gildersome (10.30am - 3.30pm) |
| Boys and Men | Saturday 6th February 2010 | Ripponden (10.30am - 3.30pm) |
Details of these rehearsals and travel instructions can be downloaded here. Full details of services will be sent out to singers who have been accepted for the 2010 season.
Please remember that you must re-apply every year to remain in NCS. Applications close on 31st August 2009.
Archive
Music lists from previous years can be found here:
The Director of the RSCM Northern Cathedral SingersGordon Appleton was born and went to school in Stockton-on-Tees, then after graduating from Christ Church College, Canterbury (where he was organ scholar) took his first teaching post in Goffs Oak, Hertfordshire. After this he spent five years teaching in Jamaica, first at Vere Technical High School, Clarendon and then at Kingston College where he was Director of Music and organist and choirmaster of the chapel choir. He left Jamaica and went to Perth, Australia as Organist and Choirmaster at Guildford Grammar School. In 1987 he was appointed Master of the Music at St George's Cathedral, Perth. In 1993 he returned to the UK as RSCM Regional Director for the North of England, Scotland, North Wales and Ireland, and was appointed Director of RSCM Voluntary Networks in 2001. He stepped aside from this role in 2008 to focus on developing a new RSCM initiative in the north of England to provide opportunities for encouragement, support and education for those involved in music in worship, particularly in parishes. |
Gordon Appleton |