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

NAC - The National Association of Choirs

NAC represents over 400 choirs, in male, ladies, mixed and youth categories. The NAC offers a fully comprehensive service to choirs, together with insurance and music discounts. The Association is run in groups where choirs can gain advice and practical experience. There is a yearbook with contacts for every member choir and a quarterly newsletter.

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

Web site www.ukchoirsassoc.co.uk

RCO - The Royal College of Organists

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 Salisbury 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  mailto:education@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   

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 are:

Maxwell Pryce MBE maxwellpryce@educamus.free-online.co.uk and

Carol Timson c.j.timson@herts.ac

Web site www.schoolsmusic.org.uk

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

SingUK

Born out of the successful 24-year record of youngchoirs, the national singing charity for children and young people, SingUK is dedicated to providing exceptional singing opportunities for all.

Our work falls into three main areas:

 

LOCAL SINGING PROJECTS - clusters of schools take part in singing 'animation' schemes usually over a three-year period. Schools are visited by one of our Animateurs who breathe life into singing activities and raise vocal standards.

 

SINGING EVENTS - following work undertaken by our Animateurs and school teaching staff in advance, large groups of young singers are brought together under the direction of a leading choral conductor. The event culminates in a major public concert performance, which can be local, regional or national.

TRAINING - professional development is provided for teachers and choral leaders to sustain the future of musical education. SingUK has developed a professional training qualification in association with Trinity Guildhall, London.

Tonsil representative is Project Director Malcolm Goldring admin@youngchoirs.net

Web site http://www.singuk.org/