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RSCM Rocky Mountain Course

Psallam spiritu et mente

What, you don't understand the title? This Latin phrase is the motto of the week-long course recently attended in Denver by Marie Schmidt (13) and Louisa Singleton (12), two members of the Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church Youth Choir. It translates as "I will sing with the spirit and with understanding also". This course, the Rocky Mountain Course for girls, teen girls, and adults, was organized by the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) in America and held on the campus of Regis University in Denver from July 21st to 27th. Some 25 girls from choirs all over the USA attended, supported by around 20 adult singers and musicians.

"The RSCM exists to promote the study, practice and improvement of music and speech and other matters relevant to the conduct of Christian Worship." While this may sound very formal, both girls had great fun and made many new friends during the week. Each day began at 7.30 am with a Communion service (before breakfast!) and continued with a full schedule of music rehearsals in large and small groups, rest periods, crafts, outdoor recreation, a field trip to Boulder, souvenir shopping, and much choral music! Every day the girls sang Evensong at 7.45 pm in St. John Francis Regis Chapel on the university campus, at Christ Episcopal Church in Denver or St. John's Episcopal Church in Boulder, depending on the day's activities. The day closed with the service of Compline at 9.30 pm.

The course was run by Jeremy Bruns, Organist-Choirmaster of St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, Buffalo, NY, where he directs four choirs to sing in five weekly choral services, as well as concerts and recordings. He is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, and has won prizes in several international organ competitions. Mr Bruns chose some challenging music for the Rocky Mountain Course; in addition to familar names such as Tallis, the composers studied included Benjamin Britten, Kenneth Leighton and the contemporary David Briggs. In spite of his formidable reputation, Mr Bruns proved to be a popular director, encouraging the girls with enthusiastic cries of "FANTASTIC!" as they learnt and came to understand the repertoire.

At the end of the week, families were invited to join their daughters for the final events of the week. This included dinner on Saturday evening, followed by a hilarious talent show presented by students and staff. On Sunday morning, the choir sang for the morning service of Holy Communion at Saint John's Cathedral in Denver and, later in the day, for Evensong in the same Cathedral. Despite never having met each other nor sung together before the previous Monday, the girls sounded beautiful, very professional and well-blended, hitting top As with ease! Sunday's music included the Mass in F by Harold Darke, a setting of Ave Verum Corpus by Arthur Wills, and the Preces, Versicles, and Responses by Kenneth Leighton. After Evensong, the girls said their goodbyes, exchanged e-mail addresses with new friends, took lots of photographs and, finally, departed for Los Alamos.

Marie and Louisa worked hard, had an educational and exciting week, and sounded wonderful on Sunday. Both have already expressed an interest in returning next year and are encouraging their friends in the Youth Choir to come along!

For more information on the RSCM-affiliated Trinity on the Hill Youth Choir, visit http://www.latoth.org/cchoir.htm

The Rocky Mountain Course Choir on the steps of St. John's Cathedral, Denver after Sunday morning's service; The director, Jeremy Bruns is at far-right on the front row.

The Los Alamos contingent: Marie Schmidt (left) and Louisa Singleton with other choristers outside St. John's Cathedral.

For a pdf of this monitor article, click here.

Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church
3900 Trinity Drive, Los Alamos, NM 87544
(505) 662-5107