RSCM Meet and Sing in Kilbride Parish Church

Monday September 28th 2015

Making music at Meet and Sing.

Kilbride Parish Church, Doagh, hosted an RSCM Ireland Meet and Sing event on September 26.

Around 20 people gathered to hear Mark Bowyer, RSCM Ireland coordinator, talk about the role of the RSCM, the support it offers to those who are involved in church music, and how to promote the best use of music in worship, church life and the wider community.

Mark Bowyer, RSCM Ireland coordinator, in Kilbride.

Some time was spent discussing the RSCM’s Voice for Life (VfL) training scheme which offers a structured approach to helping choristers develop their full potential as singers and musicians. Thanks are extended to Rosemary Smyth from St Gall’s Church, Carnalea, who gave a brief insight into her own experience of running the VfL scheme in St Gall’s.

After a brief lunch break, there was an opportunity to do some singing, during which the choir of Kilbride Church (directed by Beth Aiken) rehearsed their harvest anthem, Greene’s ‘Thou visitest the earth,’ and there was an opportunity to get some feedback from Mark on their performance!

Enjoying the RSCM Meet and Sing event in Kilbride Parish Church.

Following this, Mark took the choir through some alternative music styles including responsorial psalms, plainchant and music by John Bell and John Rutter.

Mark said: “It was a thoroughly enjoyable few hours spent with enthusiastic local parish musicians. Thank you to all who were involved in organising the event.”

Further details regarding the work of RSCM Ireland can be found at www.rscmireland.com.