Cathedral Music Trust and the RSCM launch new Church Choir Award
19 April 2022
Cathedral Music Trust and the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) are both deeply aware of the vital role that church choirs play in developing the UK’s rich choral music heritage through their music-making and musical training, enhancing worship, and nurturing a love of choral and organ music throughout people’s lives. Individuals from all walks of life point to their experiences singing in their church choir as being the start of a life-long journey, developing musicianship, discipline, friendships as well as instilling a deep love of choral music.
Cathedral Music Trust is therefore delighted to be working in partnership with the RSCM to launch The Church Choir Award in April 2022. We have created the award to recognise and develop excellence in music-making by church choirs by funding imaginative new projects and activities.
Financial support to innovate and enrich music making
Choirs are invited to apply for grants of up to £10,000 for a specific, innovative, or enriching project aimed at developing excellence, be that through choral and organ training programmes, imaginative recruitment projects, or through projects involving the wider community and local schools.
Read the application guidelines and eligibility criteria.
Free advice and resources
As well as funding from Cathedral Music Trust, award holders will also receive one year’s affiliation to RSCM and one year’s free subscription for the choir to access the soon-to-be-released Voice for Life Digital resource, the RSCM's acclaimed training programme which helps singers to develop vocal skills and musical understanding, as well as knowledge of repertoire.
Find out more about the RSCM’s soon-to-be-released digital Voice for Life training programme.
Hugh Morris, Director of the RSCM said: "At the RSCM, we work to enable the flourishing of church music. We celebrate its role in worship, and its part in our rich heritage across the UK. We nurture from childhood a love and understanding of church music, developing skills for a lifelong journey, and advocate the positive impact it has on wellbeing. It is fantastic to be able to offer this award in partnership with Cathedral Music Trust, creating opportunities for choirs to enrich more lives through music in worship."
Peter Allwood, Chair of Cathedral Music Trust said: "We are committed to supporting excellence in liturgical music at a grass-roots level, particularly given all the challenges choirs have faced since the outbreak of the pandemic. We are therefore delighted to be launching the Church Choir Award in association with the RSCM. By working together, we will be able to transform more lives through sacred choral and organ music, and enrich the worship in local communities."