Who is it?

TONSIL has the following member choral organisations: 

 

ABCD - The Association of British Choral Directors

 

Is the forum for conductors and choral trainers. It runs training courses and conventions, has its own publication, "Mastersinger", promotes the composition of choral music, and offers a liaison service for members in order to promote local activities.

 

Tonsil representatives are Rachel Greaves rachel.greaves@abcd.org.uk or Andrew Potter andrew@power-of-music.co.uk 

 

Web site www.abcd.org.uk

   

BABS  - The British Association of Barbershop Singers

 

BABS which gained educational charitable status in 2000 was formed in 1974 and now has 56 full member harmony clubs and 6 Associate member clubs each with its own chorus. Four part A Cappella singing in the unique barbershop style is for pleasure but there is an annual competition for both choruses and quartets. Educational events include annual Harmony College and Directors College as well as one day events hosted around the country. A Youth Programme focuses on assistance that can be given to busy music teachers and includes sponsorship to attend BABS educational events.

 

The Association is one of six world-wide affiliates to the American Harmony Society.

 

Tonsil representative is Mike Lofthouse mike.lofthouse@babs-education.info

 

Web site www.singbarbershop.com 

   

BCN - British Choirs on the Net

 

Formed in 1995 ‘British Choirs on the Net’ is a free choral listing service with email and website links to over 1500 choirs. It is designed to;

 

Raise the profile of British Choirs

Support the British Choral Tradition

Help choirs find new members and performance opportunities

Encourage the use of web technology to promote choral music

Provide links to other online choral resources and organisations

 

British Choirs on the Net has recently introduced an on-line Choral Diary service under www.concertfinder.co.uk and a site to profile vocal soloists www.vocalbroker.co.uk

 

Tonsil Representative is Phillip Tolley philliptolley@colcanto.co.uk

 

Web site www.choirs.org.uk

CSA - Choir Schools' Association

The Choir Schools’ Association is a group of 44 schools attached to cathedrals, churches and college chapels around the country . Pupils have unlimited access to a first-class schooling and musical training, giving them an excellent start in life. Just over 1,000 of a total of 15,000 boys and girls are choristers. Some choir schools take children from 7-13; others are junior schools with senior schools to 18; the majority are Church of England foundations but the Roman Catholic, Scottish and Welsh churches are all represented.

Tonsil Representatives are Dr Brian Rees, Chairman CSA headmaster@pilgrims-school.co.uk or Jane Capon info@choirschools.org.uk

Web site www.choirschools.org.uk
   

IFCM - International Federation for Choral Music

 

The International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM) was founded in 1982 for the purpose of facilitating communication and exchange between choral musicians throughout the world. Through its world and regional symposia, conducting master classes, World Youth Choir, Choral Music Database (Musica), ChoralNet website, World Choral Census, International Choral Bulletin, World Day of Choral Singing and many other projects, IFCM is fulfilling its purpose.

IFCM is the official representative of choral music on the International Music Council of the UNESCO. The Council recognizes that there are perhaps more people in the world participating in choral music than in any other group activity and that choral musicians need an organization such as IFCM to encourage and facilitate international communication and cooperation.

 

Tonsil representative is Eve Halsey eve.halsey@abcd.org.uk 

 

Web site www.ifcm.net
 

 

LABBS - The Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers

 

With 1720 members in 50 clubs (+ 3 Associate member clubs & Club at Large) we share joy in 4-part A Cappella singing in this unique style striving for just intonation.

 

The website includes people details, affiliations, activities from a Prelims & National Convention, Harmony College, educational workshops, coaching, judging training programme, magazines & Music Service (that is available to anyone) with a Music Publishing Programme Loan Service & educational material to download free.

 

Tonsil representative is Jean Sutton jeanhsutton@aol.com 

 

Web site www.labbs.org.uk

   

MM - Making Music, the National Federation of Music Societies

 

Making Music was established under the name of the National Federation of Music Societies in 1935 as a membership organisation for all voluntary music groups including choirs, orchestras and instrumental ensembles and music promoters or clubs. Members can take full advantage of a wider range of services including insurance, the Music Exchange scheme, Programme Note bank and other information and advice. Throughout the year a number of networking events are organised on a regional and national basis for members to meet and exchange experiences. In addition, Making Music also arranges training opportunities for members and non-members on topics such as marketing and fundraising and further supports voluntary musical activities through its team of regional staff. More recently Making Music has undertaken project work with and on behalf of young people in collaboration with its member groups.

 

Tonsil representative is Robin Osterley Robin@makingmusic.org.uk  

 

Web site www.makingmusic.org.uk

   

National Association of Choirs

NAC - The National Association of Choirs

 

The "NAC" represents and supports over 500 choirs and 26,000 voices, all of them voluntary and amateur throughout the UK.

 

We are committed to achieving the best in music for our members whatever the resources, whatever the styles through education, training, publications, advice and encouragement.

 

We hold an Annual three day conference in a different regional location offering tutorial session, master classes, workshops, trade exhibition as well as regional groups which are highly successful in organising courses, singing and repertoire days,

workshops and other events throughout the year.

 

Tonsil representative is Celia Johns celia@johns52.fsworld.co.uk

 

Web site www.nationalassociationofchoirs.org.uk
   

RCO - The Royal College of Organists

 

The Royal College of Organists was founded in 1864 by Richard Limpus and received its Royal Charter in 1893. It is an educational charity whose first object is ‘to promote and advance the arts and practice of organ playing and choral directing and related activities to the highest standards of competence and artistry’. As an examining body our qualifications are internationally recognised and comprise:

Organ Performance:      Certificate (CertRCO), Associate (ARCO), Fellow (FRCO)

Organ Teaching:            Licentiateship in Teaching (LTRCO)

Conducting:                  Choral Directing Diploma (DipCHD)    

In September 2003 the College relocated its headquarters from London to Birmingham where it plans to restore, convert and extend the former Curzon Street Station, a Grade 1 listed building standing at the heart of the city’s planned Eastside Development. Here, along with a fine new pipe organ, will be housed the British Organ Library (combining the College’s important collections with that of the British Institute of Organ Studies), and space will be available to develop our existing programme of education and outreach work.

Membership of the College is open to anyone with an interest in organ and/or choral music, whether or not they are actively involved in music making. Members enjoy many benefits including use of the extensive library (containing organ and choral music, books on music, journals and sound recordings) and eligibility to apply for scholarships and grants for study.

Tonsil representatives are Simon Williams simonwilliams@rco.org.uk or Andrew Macintosh andrew.macintosh@rco.org.uk

Web site: www.rco.org.uk
   

RSCM - The Royal School of Church Music

 

RSCM runs a nation-wide education and training programme for singers, instrumentalists and choir trainers, and all interested in the role of music in worship. This includes both training events and the Voice for Life training scheme, designed for use with singers of all ages and abilities. Voice for Life takes singers from the first stages of choral singing to advanced vocal techniques, repertoire and musical knowledge.

Training events are arranged both at the RSCM's headquarters in Surrey and locally in more than 40 areas. These events include a wide variety of residential and non-residential courses; hundreds of singing festivals and workshops; and three-day events involving some 800 children each year.

Members of the RSCM enjoy many benefits including free subscription to Church Music Quarterly and Sunday by Sunday (the RSCM Liturgy planner), 25% discount on RSCM publications and discount on the nationally organised RSCM courses.

 

Tonsil representative is Kathryn Burningham mailto:kburningham@rscm.com 

 

Web site www.rscm.com 

   

SfP - Sing for Pleasure

 

Sing for Pleasure has, for over 40 years, encouraged better singing for children and adults through a variety of courses for children and adults, day to week long, for singers and choral conductors. In addition to that, Sing for Pleasure has developed a wide range of well respected song books for both children and adults; the former are especially popular for engaging children to use their voice in a fun way. Our choral conducting courses are extremely popular, catering as they do for Foundation through to Advanced level where they carry accreditation with the ABRSM.

 

Tonsil representative is Manvinder Rattan admin@singforpleasure.org.uk

 

Web site www.singforpleasure.org.uk   
   

Sing UK

Sing UK is a national singing organisation with a UK-wide footprint.

We deliver quality, educational singing programmes and events which benefit the lives of many children, young people and adults.

The greatest part of our work is with children and young people, reaching them via their schools and communities. We have access to all the Local Authorities, schools, teachers and children across the UK.

Sing UK is committed to the Government's Every Child Matters agenda, specifically Be Healthy, Enjoy and Achieve and Make a Positive Contribution.
 

Tonsil representative is Malcolm Goldring

malcolm@singuk.org  

 

Web Site www.singuk.org

 
 
 

SMA  - The Schools Music Association

 

The Schools Music Association, founded 66 years ago as a result of the outstanding success of a scheme for non-competitive schools music festivals, has its main object

 

To promote the musical education of young people by encouraging and supporting those who work with them.

 

To this end the Association

·         provides opportunities for its members to learn about, discuss and evaluate developments in music education

·         organises national residential weekend conferences and day courses at different venues

·         holds schools concerts in prestigious venues, such as the Royal Festival Hall and St Albans Abbey, encourages its regional committees and local SMAs to hold courses for its members and concerts and festivals for their pupils

·         maintains close contact with other bodies concerned with school music, including the DfES, DCMS, OfSTED, QCA, TTA, MEC and the GTC.

 

SMA members are TEACHERS, INSPECTORS, ADVISERS, LECTURERS and STUDENTS, LEAs, LOCAL SMAs, SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, MUSIC SERVICES and MUSIC CENTRES, LIBRARIES and THE MUSIC TRADE.

 

To this day, SMA considers the singing voice to be the starting point for music education.

 

Tonsil representatives is Carole Lindsay-Douglas (Hon Secretary) lindsaymusic@taltalkbusiness.ent

 

Web site www.schoolsmusic.org.uk
   
Thye Voices Foundation

VF Voices Foundation

 

VF exists to enable all children to realise their full potential through a singing based music curriculum, and to influence national perception of the vital importance of music in education.

 

We help primary schools and others deliver a music curriculum which is accessible to all children, which sets high levels of expectation, and which embeds effective teaching and learning.  We do this by training and supporting teachers in the classroom, running training courses, developing materials, and working with partners to deliver music in the curriculum.

 

Tonsil representative is Nicola Wallis nicola@voices.org.uk

 

Web site www.voices.org.uk