We have two exciting announcements to make. First, we are delighted that His Majesty the King has accepted the patronage of the RSCM. The ‘Royal’ part of our name was first bestowed in 1947, and we are honoured to retain our link with the reigning monarch. Click here to learn more. 

Second, we are thrilled that Baroness Sue Hayman has just been announced as the new Chair of Council, leading the board of Trustees, who have responsibility for the work of the charity. You can read more about her distinguished career, and love of singing and church music, in our news post here. 

Scroll on down for lots more news. And, as ever, do feel free to be in touch. We look forward to hearing from you. 

Hugh Morris
RSCM Director

Songs of Praise and Radio 2 are searching for the Junior and Senior BBC Young Choristers of the Year 2024. The talent search is open to anyone aged 10–17 who enjoys singing sacred music of any genre, as part of a choir of any type, a worship group or even just singing at home.

There are two categories: Junior for singers aged 10–13, and Senior for singers aged 14–17 as of 31 August 2024. Finalists will sing in front of a panel of judges and appear on BBC TV and Radio.

One singer will be crowned ‘BBC Young Chorister of The Year 2024 Junior Winner’ and one singer will be chosen as ‘BBC Young Chorister of The Year 2024 Senior Winner’. They’ll each win a trophy plus the opportunity to sing on Songs of Praise and BBC Radio programmes.

For information on how to enter search: BBC Young Chorister of the Year 2024. Apply by 23:59 on Monday, 17 June 2024. 

You can find out more by clicking here.

Good luck!

RSCM Members can now access the Member Organised Event registration form via the Members Area on our website. If you have a forthcoming event that you would like publicised in our events newsletters, in CMQ (subject to copy deadlines) and on our website, please log into the Members Area, and under ‘Your Member Benefits’ scroll down to 'Register an event’, then complete the user-friendly form. Here you will also find some handy hints and tips for planning a successful event.

Click here for the registration form. 

Calling all conductors! We are thrilled to announce that distinguished conductor and Stanford expert Dr David Hill FRSCM (director of the Bach Choir, principal conductor of Yale Schola Cantorum and formerly chief conductor of the BBC Singers), will be running an online session on ‘Conducting Stanford’ on Wednesday, 12 June at 7pm. For new and experienced conductors alike, click below for more information and to register.

_{Photo courtesy of Nick Rutter}

The Festival of Faith and Music, which was a collaborative event between the RSCM and The Church Times, took place on 26 to 28 April. The day was a great success, with attendees travelling to York from all over the country to hear lectures covering a wide range of topics, as well as several music performances. Our thanks go to everybody involved in making the weekend so fruitful.

Click the video above to watch highlights from the event. 

Last week we were delighted to welcome members of the RSCM Legacy Society to the Butterfield Chapel at Sarum College to attend the annual service. This is an opportunity to come together and give thanks for the living members of the society and to honour those who have left RSCM gifts in their wills during the past year. The Revd Canon Kelvin Inglis of affiliated church St Thomas, Salisbury kindly led our worship and the choir was drawn from staff, members of the society and local churches. Our guests were also treated to lunch and a talk by Simon Lole, composer, arranger, director of music and broadcaster.

You can find out more about leaving a legacy to the RSCM and the important support this can provide at www.rscm.org.uk/support-us/gifts-in-wills/

Our next online Member event is on 5 June at 7pm. The topic is ‘Simple Solutions for Singing in Services’. Click here for information.

The last few places are still available for the Stanford Singing Break in Cambridge from 12 to 14 July. Click here to book. 

It is not too late to book a place for a young singer on our annual Bath Course, which runs from 19 to 25 August.

Don’t forget to download the Big Hymn Sing music pack for Music Sunday here.

It’s not long now until RSCM Music Sunday, which is on 9 June. If you’ve not yet heard the new hymn, Sing to the Lord, a new song of creation, written by Thomas Hewitt Jones and Gordon Giles, then do click here. It’s guaranteed to brighten your day! 

RSCM, 19 The Close, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 2EB

The Royal School of Church Music is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England, no 00250031.
It is also a registered charity, no 312828.