RSCM
Royal School of Church Music
The Royal School of Church Music in America,
Charlotte Training Course
Click here for 2023 Course Details
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, especially directors. (This event is an official RSCM America summer choir residency.) Singers of all levels of ability are welcome, but all must match pitch and enjoy singing. Formal choir experience is usually expected, and singers from RSCM member choirs should have reached at least the light blue ribbon level. The course offers training for Treble Choristers, a complete program for Teen Altos, Tenors, and Basses, as well as Adults. The 2023 course begins on Monday, July 17 at Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina, and concludes with Lessons and Anthems for the Church Year at Myers Park Presbyterian Church in Charlotte at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 23, A.D. 2023. Works by women and composers of color are well-represented in the repertoire this year. Registration deadline: May 31
Our director for 2023 will be Stephen Buzard, the Director of Music at St. James Cathedral in Chicago, where he directs the Cathedral Choir and Choristers. He went to St. James from Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue in New York City, where he served as Assistant Organist, and later Acting Organist and Director of Music.
Mr. Buzard holds degrees from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music and Westminster Choir College and spent a year as organ scholar at Wells Cathedral in England.
In addition to church music, he maintains a busy schedule of organ recitals with the Karen McFarlane roster. He got his start attending dozens of RSCM courses such as this one as a treble, teen, and eventually organist and now director. We look forward to his joining us as music director for the Charlotte RSCM course.
The 2023 course organist will be Edie Johnson, Organist and Music Associate at Church Street United Methodist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. She is also an adjunct faculty member in the School of Music at University of Tennessee, Knoxville where she teaches private organ and courses in organ literature and church music. Dr. Johnson previously served as Assistant Organist/Choir Director at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and Seminary Organist and Affiliate Professor of Church Music at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, Indiana.
At age 13, Dr. Johnson began organ study with Johnny Bradburn at Christ United Methodist Church in Greensboro, North Carolina. She completed the B. Mus. in organ, Magna cum laude, at Furman University, as a student of Charles Tompkins. She then earned both the Master and Doctor of Music degrees at Indiana University, studying with Larry Smith. Dr. Johnson has also studied organ with Marilyn Keiser and harpsichord with Elizabeth Wright. Her piano study has been with Derek Parsons, David Gibson, George Kiorpes and Alice Ann Johnson.
Dr. Johnson has won prizes in many organ performance competitions including first place in the John Rodland organ and church music scholarship competition. She has performed for national conventions of the American Guild of Organists (AGO), the Association of Anglican Musicians, the Organ Historical Society, and the National General Assembly of the Disciples of Christ Church. Several of her performances have been broadcast on American Public Media’s Pipedreams. In the summer of 2011, Dr. Johnson premiered Pamela Decker’s first concerto for organ, El Tigre, at the Region IV AGO convention. She was featured performer and presenter at the 2015 Region V AGO Convention in Indianapolis, IN.
Dr. Johnson is also actively involved in the work of RSCM America. She has served on its Board of Directors and as chairperson of the Interdenominational Committee. At the Charlotte Summer Course, she has been both Housemaster and Course Organist. In 2023 she will serve again as primary organist, accompanying services and rehearsals and teaching our two organ scholars.
The beautiful campus of Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina, provides excellent facilities including a gymnasium, tennis courts, swimming pool, dormitories, and a dining hall. Rehearsal and worship space will be provided on campus at Davidson College Presbyterian Church, where the course will have daily services of evening worship.
Public services will include the 7:00 p.m. Lessons and Anthems for the Church Year on Friday, July 21, at Davidson College Presbyterian Church, the 10:15 a.m. Sunday Eucharist at St. John's Episcopal Church and the closing 4:00 p.m. Lessons and Anthems for the Church Year at Myers Park Presbyterian Church on Sunday, July 23. The service at St. John's is available live on-line and later on St. John's Youtube and Facebook channels.
A Saturday outing to Sports Connection is planned for all youth participants for laser tag, bowling, and arcade games. Pizza and other snacks will be available for sale. Adults may prefer to rest, visit a museum, or shop.
Adult participants rehearse and sing with the trebles at Evensong daily. In addition, adults will 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. All participants under age 21 will share rooms and hall bathrooms.
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 accompanying and service playing with the course organist at no charge. Cornel Zimmer Organ Builders is providing scholarship funds for the organ scholars again this year. Contact Alan Reed to apply before May 31.
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 June 1, if you would like to be examined for the RSCM Bronze, Silver, or Gold Awards.
All staff and participants will provide proof that they are vaccinated to the full extent allowed for their age, and the course will follow the latest guidance from the CDC for the safety of everyone.
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 begins.
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 11,000 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.
For information about other courses offered by the RSCM in the U.S., click here. An information brochure on all of the U.S. courses is available also, click here.
Watch these informational YouTube videos below about all the courses offered by the Royal School of Church Music in America.
2023 RSCM Charlotte Course Details
Dates:
July 17-23, A.D. 2023
Director:
Stephen Buzard
Location:
Davidson College, Davidson, North Carolina
Public Services:
Lessons & Anthems for the Church Year 7:00 p.m. Friday, Davidson College Presbyterian Church.
Holy Eucharist 10:15 a.m. Sunday at St. John's Episcopal Church in Charlotte.
This service is available on St. John's Youtube and Facebook channels.
Lessons & Anthems for the Church year 4:00 p.m. Sunday at Myers Park Presbyterian Church.
Enrollment:
Boys, Girls, and Teens, ages 10-18, plus adults. Complete program for trebles and teen ATB, ages 10-18; complete program for adults (especially choir directors), including an introduction to the Voice for Life curriculum published by the RSCM.
Fees:
Deposit and forms received before April 1: $675 youth choristers;
Adults: $775 residential, $495 commuting, $150 per day
for adults registering for up to three days.
Adults have semi-private or private rooms; hall bathrooms for everyone.
Register early to save money! Registration deadline: May 31.
Discount of $25 per registration for members and singers from choirs affiliated to the RSCM. Fees do not include music, but do include all meals and snacks. Some modest scholarship aid is available.
Deposit and forms received after April 1:
$700 youth choristers; Adults: $795 residential, $525 commuting, $150 per day for adults registering for up to three days.
Deposits are not refundable or transferable after June 1.
Please make checks payable to "RSCM Charlotte Course"
or send payment via Zelle.
Contact:
Alan & Tracy Reed, Course Managers
Tel: 704.408.7489, 803.228.0874
3873 FairLady Lane
Indian Land, SC 29707-0600
2023 RSCM Charlotte Course
FORMS and Music
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Handel - I know that my Redeemer liveth (teen trebles)