Archived Auckland item(s)
In case earlier material is of interest: archived item(s)Church musician honoured
As two new youth choirs begin rehearsals at Auckland’s Holy Trinity Cathedral, the Cathedral’s Director of Music has been honoured by the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) for his work in Church music across the community.
Peter de Blois, has been awarded Associate of the Royal School of Church Music (ARSCM) for his exceptional work as a tutor over many years, and latterly as Director of Residential RSCM Schools in New Zealand.
He has encouraged and set up opportunities for young people regionally and nationally and is active as Deputy Chair of the Auckland branch.
Peter has been Director of Music at Holy Trinity Cathedral since May 2000.
Each year the RSCM Council in the UK confers Honorary Awards on those who have made outstanding contributions to church music. Peter is the only person to be awarded an ARSCM from New Zealand for this year.
He has been involved in Church music both in New Zealand and the UK for 25 years.
The two new youth choirs at the Cathedral, one for boys and one for girls, provide a unique opportunity for young people from across Auckland to learn music and sing regularly in services - two additional weekday evensongs are to be established in the Cathedral’s worship pattern.
Peter de Blois can be contacted on dom@holy-trinity.org.nz or 027 2062966.
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5 Choirs
The "Five Choirs Festival" (14 September) was an exciting event and a highlight for many of those who attended the function, which was conducted by the RSCM NZ Auckland Branch during 2008.
Taking part were the choirs of St Peter's, Takapuna, Holy Trinity Church, Devonport, Pitt Street, Methodist Church, St Andrew's Epsom, and the "Home" choir of St Luke's Remuera where the event took place.
Composers with special connections to the RSCM from New Zealand and UK were featured in the repertoire including Stanley Jackson, and the late Ron Dellow. Sir Sydney Nicholson, founder of the RSCM, was also included along with Gerald Knight a long-time and early RSCM director general.
The picture in the home page slide show (taken by Robin Gummer and reproduced with kind permission) shows the massed choirs under the direction of Neil Shroff, the event organiser.
Ref: 022209 : 1108Deja vu?
David Brookes, immediate past chairman of RSCM NZ Auckland Branch, and until recently serving St Columba and Dilworth, has just taken up (29 Jan 09) the Director of Music post at St Peter's Church, Takapuna Auckland.
His first ever appointment as Organist was when he was 13 years of age (in the 1950's) and that was at St Peter's too. Except it was on the other side of the world in Shrewsbury, England. Perhaps David's new role is both full circle and deja vu?
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50th Anniversary
On Sunday 19th October 2008 Dilworth School (an RSCM NZ Affilliate) celebrated the 50th Year Anniversary of the Dedication of the St Patrick's Chapel.
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