Remind me about the Diocesan Choirs Festival ...

It is a service of praise and thanksgiving held every two years in the nave of St Albans Abbey. Singers from all over the RSCM St Albans Area (the counties of Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire) come together to form a massed choir and sing to the glory of God. For many years the format for the service was Choral Evensong, but this has been changed for 2010 to a Choral Eucharist, reflecting the changing pattern of worship with the Church at large.

The title can sometimes be a little misleading: it is neither a competition for choirs, nor are choirs asked to sing on their own.

Who can participate?

The Festival is open to all affiliates. Remember that, in the case of churches, it is the church that is affiliated; not just the choir. Many choirs attend in full, though individual choristers, ‘Individual Members’ and ‘Friends’ of the Royal School of Church Music are also very welcome. In fact, small and incomplete choirs often get the most out of the Festival as singing with a large group of enthusiastic choristers is a most exhilarating experience.

What happens after I register?

The music resource booklets are sent out well in advance of the Festival. Regional rehearsals are then held to help choir trainers and choristers get to grips with the music. There are the practical factors such as who sings what part and which sections are going to be sung by the cathedral choir. Then there is the task of learning the notes. The regional rehearsals give helpful pointers and many of the challenging corners are tackled. However, time is limited, and it is expected that choristers will get to grips with the notes back on home territory.

It is not expected that choristers will be note perfect before these rehearsals take place. The regional rehearsals are held well in advance of the Festival so that help can be given at the outset of the learning process.

Do I have to attend a particular regional rehearsal?

No. They are spread over the Area so that hopefully everyone participating will find one that is not too far from home, but if either a venue or date are inconvenient, then anyone can attend any of the rehearsals. (Maybe even more than one for really keen types!)

Is attendance at a regional rehearsal compulsory?

Some years ago it was indeed the case that attendance at a regional rehearsal was mandatory. However, it is accepted that there may be exceptional circumstances where it may not be possible to make any of the venues or dates. However, everyone is strongly encouraged to attend a regional rehearsal: experience has taught that they really do help the overall learning process, and they are great fun as well.

Is the music going to be too difficult for me?

A lot of time is spent in planning the musical content of the Festival and to ensure there really is something for all levels of capability. This generally means choosing music where splitting of parts is kept to a minimum and the accompaniments are manageable by non-cathedral organists! However, there will be the occasional challenging moment, and experience tells us that choirs enjoy getting to grips with these.

There is a full rehearsal on the day of the Festival before the service commences, and this is an ideal opportunity to put the final polish on the music. However, it is best not to leave it to this late stage before learning the notes!

If there is real difficulty in learning the music at a local level, it may be possible to join forces with choristers from neighbouring participating choirs. This is of particular interest to any individual choristers who would like to attend the Festival. Further details can be given on request.

Tell me more about the music booklet ...

The music booklet contains all the pieces which will be used on the day. It is our policy to make these as useful as possible after the event, so there will often be extra material included: for example, a Nunc Dimittis when only the Magnificat is sung at the Festival. This means that the complete set of Canticles can then be performed at a later date. The booklet is intentionally made as affordable as possible to allow as many choirs as possible to attend. For large choirs, or where budgets are really tight, perhaps it would be worth suggesting that choristers buy their own copies. In this case, it would be a good idea to discuss whether people would be happy for the booklets to be kept together after the Festival for possible reuse.

Many people ask about the possibility of buying extra copies so that there is a full complement for later use after the Festival. This is of particular interest if only a small number of choristers from a choir are participating in the Festival itself. Another possibility is that local choirs may wish to put on a combined event and use some of the material contained in the Festival booklet.

We are happy to accept orders for any number of copies of the booklet. However, these are charged the same as for attendance at the Festival and, as music is printed strictly to order, it is essential that orders are in place before the closing date. We regret that copyright law prevents people from making their own copies of the booklet. It is, however, permissible to reuse the booklets within the context of worship.

What do I wear for the Festival?

Choristers from robed choirs are encouraged to wear the robes they would normally use back at home. Choristers from unrobed choirs are requested to wear something appropriate. Part of the joy of the Festival is to revel in the rich diversity of such apparel, so do not worry if you are not used to wearing robes.

Will my valuables be safe?

The Lady Chapel is used for robing and, while every effort is made to police this area during the rehearsal and service, it is not possible to give a 100% guarantee over security. Valuables are brought at the risk of the individual — if in doubt, don’t bring them.

What about refreshments and toilets?

There are only limited toilet facilities in St Albans Abbey. Some extra facilities exist in neighbouring streets and the rehearsal will end in sufficient time to make use of them. Choristers are discouraged from bringing their own refreshments (other than indispensable items) as there is neither the time nor place to consume them. The Abbey has its own Refectory, but this will really only be of use before the rehearsal starts. There is a relatively short interval between rehearsal and service.

Can I bring a friend to sing?

The Festival is aimed at choristers who are affiliated to the Royal School of Church Music. However, we realise that this is also an excellent opportunity to recruit new members, so please do not be afraid to ask about this possibility.

It’s a Eucharist service: will I be expected to take Communion?

An opportunity will be given to all those who wish to receive the Holy Sacrament. However, there is no pressure to do so if you do not wish, and a Blessing can be received as an alternative. The Abbey are very used to dealing with large congregation numbers, and clear instructions will be given during the rehearsal. Musical items will be sung by different groups during this time to make the distribution as efficient as possible.

Tell me about Child Protection policy ...

It is expected that a large number of under-18s will be present at the Festival and regional rehearsals. Rest assured that all RSCM representatives have up-to-date enhanced CRB clearances as well as specific clearance from the Royal School of Church Music itself. However, it is worth noting that choir trainers are responsible for all under-18s in their charge. Copies of the parent/guardian consent form can be downloaded from the Archive page of the Area website.

Any other questions?

If you have any further queries, please let us know using the form below and we'll get back to you.