The grounds of Wells Cathedral were filled with a joyful noise on Saturday as the Junior Choir of St Mary’s Swanage came together with RSCM Voices West for a day of collaborative singing. For much of the junior choir, this was their first time singing in a cathedral and the excitement for this was evident! RSCM Voices West were delighted to be singing alongside such an enthusiastic and skilled group of young people, directed by David Fawcett (St Mary’s Swanage) and George Castle (RSCM Voices West).

Continuing the youth focus, it was great to have Joe Goodlad (RSCM Emerging Leader 2024-25) at the cathedral organ accompanying both choirs as they sang Bob Chilcott’s exuberant Three Choirs Service together with the Stanford Responses (arranged by Jeremy Dibble) and Edgar Bainton’s much-loved anthem And I saw a new heaven.

Embedded within the mission and strategy of the RSCM is young people, without whom there is no future for church music or, indeed, for the church as a whole. This collaboration of choirs is one which we seek to continue building; bringing together our regional Voices Choirs and their professional directors with local junior choirs so we can better encourage, resource, and inspire our young church musicians, ready to become the church music leaders of tomorrow.

Inspired by this story? Want to find out more? Attend our online event ‘Introducing the Young Voices Toolkit‘ to hear David Fawcett and Hugh Morris discuss an exciting, brand-new, RSCM resource to help those looking to set up or develop singing opportunities for young people in their churches.