A warmly enjoyable Christmas in July carol service was held at St Martin's School, Johannesburg on Saturday 30th July 2011 — despite the chilly, though sunny weather. Directed by Ronnie Gill, morning and afternoon practices culminated in an early evening service of traditional and modern carols. The event was attended by about 100 brightly clad  RSCM Northern Branch members and affiliated choirs. The organist was Andreas Beutel.

The picture (right) shows the choir rehearsing a vibrant new carol to the tune of Dave Brubeck's 'Take Five'. At the organ for this carol is Peter Gill.

Nestled in the foothills of the Drakensberg lies the famous Drakensberg Boys Choir School. And this is where nearly 100 delegates convened for the 47th National RSCM Summer School. Some came by car, others by bus, some flew to Durban and were ferried to the school by local members. One even hitch-hiked from Cape Town because he could not afford transport.

Director Katherine and organist David at their organ recital

Director Katherine withb Sunday Olawuwo, president of RSCM Nigeria

11 of the people who attended the International Summer School at Canterbury in 2008 met again at our Summer School

Katherine Dienes-Williams with Justin Stone of Port Elizabeth in the Organ Master Class

Karabo Mmasa and Jade Silland, from Gauteng, both with beautiful voices, were sponsored to attend the Summer School

Sunday Olawuwo with Bishop Rubin Phillip

Our director was Katherine Dienes-Williams from Guildford Cathedral. After the welcome she immediately took control and did voice placing; new to a great many people. By suppertime everyone knew their exact position in the choir. Rehearsals started in earnest next morning and Katherine was a bundle of energy, helping people with vocal techniques and created a wonderful sound mix.

During the six services that week we sang a huge range of music. We sang traditional music and the Evening Canticles written in 2010 by David Orr. David, Director of Music at St George’s Cathedral, Cape Town was our course organist. We loved the anthems by Katherine herself. On the last day at the Eucharist we sang the Missa Prima Lux Australis by Christopher Cockburn, written in 1994. The composer came especially from Durban to help us master the harmonies and complex African and Latin-American rhythms. It is accompanied on marimbas and vibraphone. All the services and most rehearsals were in the well-equipped school auditorium with its 4-manual organ and two beautiful grand pianos.

OK, explain this marimba thing to me again.

We had so many talented people, amongst them four very talented young organists. They all played in an interesting organ master class, conducted by Katherine and the Wednesday evening concert. During the concert, Melvin Peters, one of South Africa’s foremost jazz pianists, improvised gently and skilfully on some well known tunes. The concert ended with a marimba ensemble in which Katherine made her debut on the African marimba, supported by Sunday Olawuwo, president of the new RSCM Nigeria!

Katherine's marimba debut

The organ recital by David Orr and Katherine on Friday evening is something we’ll remember for a very long time.

We could not have been blessed with a better director. Her gentle but firm leadership, patience, musical and vocal skills and superb playing made the whole experience really worthwhile. What a package! I sincerely hope that we will see and hear Katherine in SA again.

This Summer School will go down in history as one of the wettest ever. During the first few days it never stopped raining. Rivers were flooded, towns were cut off from the outside world and the water pumps which usually supply the school with crystal clear water from the river broke down. While everything outside was drenched, for two days the school buildings had no water! I have never seen a group of South Africans so happy to see the sun again!

Rubin Phillip, the Bishop of Natal, came to the Summer School for the last two services of the week and joined in all the fun and celebration on Saturday evening when we said the formal farewells after Evensong. When the formalities were over, the people erupted in typical African fashion by singing and dancing, celebrating a week of singing beautiful music, making new friends and renewing old friendships, in one of the most beautiful parts of South Africa. What a privilege!

Marianne de Jager

KwaZulu-Natal RSCM Branch Chair

There were representatives from 19 different choirs, which included Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian and Congregational churches as well as from two schools. Some participants travelled from as far afield as Kenton on Sea and Knysna.

Dr Richard Cock, director of the RSCM Choral Workshop at St Mary's Cathedral, pictured with the event organisers, Jenny Yates - Chairman of the Eastern Cape Branch and Timothy Lees, Organist and Director of music at the Cathedral ►

Three lengthy practices, followed by the annual Thanksgiving Service of the RSCM SA (E. Cape), were both physically and mentally demanding, but Richard's enthusiastic guidance gave the choir the strength and motivation to produce some glorious singing at the final service, which was based on the RSCM - devised service, "How can I Keep from Singing?"

Richard Cock rehearsing a section of the combined choirs who attended the RSCM Choral Workshop, ►

The stirring organ accompaniments, provided by Justin Stone and Romano Jonathan, were also a great inspiration to the choir. Fr Christopher Holmes, the chaplain of the RSCM SA (E.Cape), led the responses and prayers at the service, while Tim Lees, the Cathedral organist, donned a new hat when he did the readings!

The organists who played at the Workshop — Justin Stone (seated) Organ Scholar at St Mary's Cathedral assisted by Romano Jonathan – Organist at St Margaret’s, Port Elizabeth ►

The St Marys Cathedral Junior Singers, who were literally thrown in at the deep end at this, their first big RSCM event, came up trumps and made a valuable contribution to the singing.On the Sunday, several people came to observe Richard conducting an open rehearsal with the Cathedral Choir. This culminated in a very beautiful service of Choral Evensong. Tim gave a boost to the singing with his scintillating yet sensitive organ playing. Fr Christopher sang the office of Evensong and preached an excellent sermon, liberally peppered with his inimitable witticisms!

Richard Cock, is surrounded by choristers from the 19 different churches and two schools ▲

Proud mother Portia Mageja from St Stephen's, New Brighton, at the RSCM Choral Workshop with Tim Lees Organist of St Mary's Cathedral and her son, Lutho, one of the pupils from Victoria Park Grey Primary School who sings in the St Mary's Junior Choir ►