A choral retreat

Every year the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) America offers summer courses around the country. These programs are led by outstanding choir directors and draw choristers from near and far who gather for a week of singing, joy, and fellowship. It’s a choral retreat for children who work with the same curriculum in their respective parishes.

This summer Saint Philip’s will send six girls to a RSCM course in Houston from June 19-June 25. Three of them will try to earn medals; Cecilia and Julia will take the exam for silver and Mary will sit for the bronze. Competing for these external awards is in itself an honor; in order to compete a chorister must first successfully complete five levels of testing.

Choristers strive to earn a medal in three levels: bronze, silver, and gold. That means Cecilia and Julia who will strive to earn their silver medals have already been awarded bronze medals. These advanced awards demonstrate significant achievement in the development of musical, choral, and liturgical understanding.

All six girls have been working hard to learn music that will be sung at three services during the week. The guest director this year will be Simon Lole who is perhaps most well-known for his tenure as Director of Music at Salisbury Cathedral.

The bronze, silver, and gold medals that choristers can earn after rigorous, oral exams.

Abby Alexander began singing at Saint Philip’s as a young child and over the years has completed all five levels of internal exams, and has earned all three medals awarded by RSCM. She will accompany the six choristers to Houston and serve as a housemaster for the week.

The six girls will sing some of their upper voice music repertoire for the Saint Philip’s community on Sunday, July 2, at the 10:00am service. This will be an opportunity to hear excellent singing, as well as congratulate them for their efforts.

Many people make the girls’ attendance at the RSCM possible: Justin Appel, Director of Music, and Jeffrey Campbell, Organist & Assistant Director of Music, spend hours each week rehearsing with the girls. Saint Philip’s Music Commission raises money throughout the year so it can provide financial assistance to cover the costs for room and board during the week-long stay in Houston. Thank you all!

The Choristers’ Prayer:
Bless, O Lord, us thy servants, who minister in thy temple. Grant that what we sing with our lips, we may believe in our hearts, and what we believe in our hearts, we may show forth in our lives. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.