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 3 and 6 events each year. Services are normally evensongs and we meet to rehearse about 4 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. Gordon Appleton, RSCM Director, Voluntary Networks, directs both groups. Singers provide their own music and are responsible for learning it themselves. Members pay a small annual subscription of £8.00. IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT NCS MUSIC 2008 The Song of Christ's Glory by Grayston Ives was omitted inadvertently from the order form. It is an RSCM publication, priced at £2.00 for members. It will also be available within the new RSCM book The Way of the Cross which will be published in December 2007 (£3.75 for members). None of the music used at Celebration Day is being used as NCS repertoire this year. More details of Celebration Day will be available here in due course. |
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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 (not Friends of RSCM)
There is a Student and Junior Membership rate available to those under the age of eighteen. Details can be found here.
Boys (Trebles): 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.
Girls (Sopranos): 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 (Men): Minimum age is normally 15 at the time of audition.
Tenors and Basses: 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.
Please remember that you must apply every year to remain in NCS.
Applications close each year in early August.
For more information contact Gordon Appleton on gappleton(at)rscm.com.
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 trainer 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 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 2008:
- Boys (not normally under the age of 11) and young men ATB (up to the age of 25) at Ely Cathedral from 4th until 10th August 2008.
- Girls (up to the age of 16) and ATB adults at Salisbury Cathedral from 17th until 24th August 2008.
- Adults (SATB - all must be over 18) at Durham Cathedral from 17th until 24th August 2008.
Please tick the appropriate box on your application form if you wish to be considered. For further details, contact Gordon Appleton.
Where and when are the Auditions?
Auditions are held in September each year, and details will be posted here in May. If it is impossible for you to attend these dates, we can sometimes arrange other days.
How do I apply?
Application forms will be posted here in May.
Programme for 2008
Rehearsal Dates
| Group | When | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Boys (all) | Saturday 26th January 2008 | Gildersome (am) |
| Girls (all) | Saturday 26th January 2008 | Gildersome (pm) |
| Girls /Adults | Saturday 2nd February 2008 | Gildersome |
| Boys / Men | Saturday 9th February 2008 | Ripponden |
Details of these venues will be circulated to those people to be involved, and can also be downloaded here. Full details of services will be sent out to singers who are accepted for the 2008 season.
Please remember that you must apply every year to remain in NCS. Applications have now closed for the 2008 season.
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. In 2001 he was appointed to his present position of Director, RSCM Voluntary Networks. |
Gordon Appleton |