The Royal School of Church Music, in partnership with Cathedral Music Trust, is delighted to announce the recipients of this year’s Church Choir Award. Now in its fifth year, the Church Choir Award recognises and supports excellence in choral music-making by church choirs, and gives them the opportunity to innovate and develop their work.

Dr Paul Hedley, RSCM Deputy Director, says, ‘The RSCM is pleased to be continuing the partnership with the Cathedral Music Trust on the Church Choir Award, supporting musical development and ambitious projects in choirs across the land.  We extend our congratulations to the award recipients, and greatly look forward to supporting their work over the coming year.’

Holy Trinity, Stratford-upon-Avon – to launch a new junior choir

St Bede’s Roman Catholic Church, Clapham Park – to appoint choral scholars and an organ scholar

Halifax Minster – to provide chorister tuition and launch a schools singing programme

Kendal Parish Church – to provide singing tuition to choristers

The Ignatius Singers at the Church of the Holy Name, Manchester University – to appoint student lay clerks

Now in its fifth year, the Church Choir Award was created to recognise and support excellence in choral music-making by church choirs, and to give them the opportunity to innovate and develop their work. Run in partnership with Cathedral Music Trust, the Church Choir Award is a funding opportunity offered by the Cathedral Music Trust and Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) for church choirs in the UK and Republic of Ireland, providing up to £10,000 for innovative projects. The purpose of the award is to support excellence in church choral music-making; to provide funding for innovative or enriching projects that help choirs develop; and to recognise the vital role church choirs play in sustaining and enriching choral music traditions

Recipients of the Church Choir Award receive funding towards specific projects as well as a year’s Group Membership of the RSCM and a bespoke package of support.