The local RSCM has been busy over the past year, but we have not circulated a newsletter for a little while and so there are a number of events to be celebrated.

Last year's Festival was a challenging sing, but the assembled choirs sang superbly under the direction of Michael Stoddart. Soon afterwards we bade farewell to Michael as he moved to take up the post of Master of Music at Newcastle Cathedral. We thank Michael for all he did to support the RSCM in this area.

We look forward to welcoming Simon Lole back again to direct this year's festival 'Angel Voices' on 10th October. Simon was until recently Director of Music at Salisbury Cathedral. Now freelance amongst other things he presents on BBC Radio Three and is, appropriately enough for us this year, Music Director for the pop group 'All Angels'.

Cathedral SingUp is in full swing the moment. The cathedral choir and music staff have been working with schools such as Wooton, Binstead, Cottage Grove, Paulsgrove and Craneswater to promote singing in choirs as part of the government's Music Manifesto. If you would like us to work with your local school please email singup@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk

Please do take a look at a number of events both committees are planning and I hope to see you at some of them.

David Price

RSCM Portsmouth Area is part of the world-wide 'Royal School of Church Music'. We seek to support music making in parishes and schools in East Hampshire, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight.

We do this by organising training days, choral festivals, conferences and an award scheme for choir singers. Please see our events page for details of our forthcoming programme on the Mainland and IOW.

The Portsmouth Area is supported by three committees

Area chaired by David Price (Portsmouth Anglican Cathedral)
Mainland
Isle of Wight chaired by June Cox (St John's Newport).

We work closely with the Anglican Diocese of Portsmouth's Music Adviser- Marcus Wibberley.