| Charlotte Training Course for Boys, Girls, Teens, and Adults |
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The Royal School of Church Music in America Charlotte Training Course for Boys, Girls, Teens, and Adults, sponsored by St. John's Episcopal Church, is open to young singers ages 10-18 and to adults. Singers of all levels of ability are welcome, but all must match pitch and enjoy singing. Formal choir experience is usually expected. The course offers training for Treble Choristers, a complete program for Teen Altos, Tenors, and Basses, as well as Adults. The 2009 course begins on Monday, July 6 at Queens University of Charlotte and Myers Park Baptist Church, and concludes with Evensong at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 12, A.D. 2009.
The course will be led by Mr. Malcolm Archer, current Director of Chapel Music at Winchester College in England. From 2004-2007 he served as Organist and Master of the Choristers at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. He also served in similar positions at Wells and Bristol Cathedrals. He is widely renowned as a recitalist and one of the foremost church musicians of his generation. He is well known as a director and a composer, having more than 200 compositions in print. He is an examiner and council member for the Royal College of Organists and an examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. In 1990 he directed the Carolina RSCM Course for boys and adults in Charlotte.
The course organist will be Dr. Janette Fishell, Distinguished Professor of Music at East Carolina University and organist/choirmaster of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Greenville, North Carolina. In August she will become Professor of Organ at the prestigious Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, Bloomington. Dr. Fishell holds degrees in organ performance from Indiana University and Northwestern University; her teachers include Wilma Jensen, Wolfgang Rubsam, Richard Enright, Anita Werling, Robert Byrd, and Clyde Holloway. Named Young Organist of the Year by Keyboard Arts, Inc. while still an undergraduate, Dr. Fishell is a recitalist and teacher of international standing. | |
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The beautiful campus of Queens University of Charlotte provides excellent facilities including a gymnasium, tennis courts, swimming pool, dormitories, a dining hall, and a student center. Rehearsal and worship space will be provided by Myers Park Baptist Church, where the course will have daily services of evening worship. Public services will include the 10:00 a.m. Sunday Eucharist at St. John's Episcopal Church and the closing 4:00 p.m. Evensong at Myers Park Baptist church on July 12. The Course Managers are especially pleased that Myers Park Baptist Church has invited the RSCM to use its extensive musical facilities and beautiful worship space. For many years the RSCM Carolina Course for boys and adults concluded their courses there.
Treble, teen, and adult participants rehearse daily with Mr. Archer and with distinguished housemasters who provide individual attention in small groups. Dormitory supervision and recreational activities are provided by experienced, attentive proctors who have worked on other RSCMA courses. Rehearsals, worship, learning, recreation, and fun are a part of every day for the choristers.
A Saturday outing to Ray's Splash Planet is planned for all youth participants; adults may prefer to rest, visit a museum, shope or take a pilgrimage to the Brodt Music Company. Thirty teens will have the option of rafting for two hours at the US National Whitewater Center, where Olympic rafters train. An extra fee of $35 and special written permission from parents will be required. Please complete the whitewater forms from the forms link in the right column of this page and mail them in before June 1.
Adult participants rehearse and sing with the trebles at Evensong daily. In addition, adults have opportunities to observe
rehearsals and participate in daily adult seminars. At least one seminar will include information and materials for implementing the RSCM training scheme, Voice for Life. Others will include opportunities to discuss how to address the challenges that arise in music programs and a time to share repertoire ideas with others.
A certified examiner will be available for those who would like to test for an RSCM award. Please complete the forms for the awards found on the RSCM America web site and register with Linda Buzard by May 15, if you would like to be examined.
New in 2007, positions for two organ scholars are included in the course. Two high school or college students interested in learning to play the organ for liturgical services will be chosen to attend the course and study with the course organist at no charge. Cornel Zimmer Organ Builders is providing scholarship funds for the organ scholar this year. Contact Alan Reed to apply.
The RSCMA Charlotte Course will provide an opportunity for fellowship, worship, learning and fun for boys, girls, teens, and adults. Because the week culminates in the celebration of the Sunday services, all youth participants are asked to commit to the entire week's activities. No registrations for a portion of the week will be accepted, except from adults. Participants are asked to purchase and study the music before the course.
The Royal School of Church Music is an international, ecumenical, professional organization which promotes high standards of church music throughout the English-speaking world. It seeks to provide for its 8,000 member choirs, in church, school, and community settings, quality publications and helpful programs to assist in the offering of the worthiest praises to God. The RSCM is not affiliated with any denomination; participants from every creed are welcome to participate in our courses.
Alan Reed and Tracy Reed bring many years of experience working on other RSCM courses. They are offering this course to bring the RSCM experience to even more choristers and choral directors in the Carolinas and across the U.S. Please contact them with any questions at the addresses below.
For information about other courses offered by the RSCM in North America, click here: RSCM Summer Courses. An information brochure on all the North American courses is available also.
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