TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
IN CHURCH MUSIC
A Professional Development Course for Church Musicians
Two Saturdays
April 16 and 30, 2016
9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Location: Christ’s Church Cathedral,
252 James Street North, Hamilton
(YOU’LL FIND A PRINTABLE REGISTRATION FORM BELOW, AFTER THE PRESENTATION DETAILS AND PRESENTERS’ BIOGRAPHIES.)
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TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES SCHEDULE
♦Each Saturday programme runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at Christ’s Church Anglican Cathedral, James Street North, Hamilton. There will be breaks for coffee and lunch.
♦RCCO Hamilton reserves the right to cancel the course in the event of insufficient registration.
♦Any questions? Please call 905-572-6584 or e-mail
SATURDAY APRIL 16TH
9:30 - ORGAN REGISTRATION (SIMON WALKER). How do you approach your instrument? What makes a good solo register and what makes the best ensembles? What registrations work best for congregational singing? For instrumental/choral accompaniment? Simon will answer these and other questions, and give well-seasoned tips on how to “get creative”, and discover sounds you never knew the organ was capable of!
11:00 - VOCAL BUILDING FOR THE CHOIR DIRECTOR (JURGEN PETRENKO). We all want to make our choir sound as good as possible, but how does one best deal with the many challenges volunteers bring with them? Tuning, vocal production, blend, attitude….join JurgenPetrenko for a discussion on working with amateur singers -- how to make your whole choir sound better than the sum of its parts!
1:30 - CHOIR DIRECTOR’S SURVIVAL KIT (MICHAEL BLOSS). You dream about your choir singing 8-part motets from the high Renaissance. Then you wake up and realize music has to be made by six or seven eager singers of various vocal ranges. This workshop includes suggestions on how to arrange repertoire for your motley group. Resources will be sampled which will inspire you and your group to “Sing a New Song to the Lord.”
SATURDAY APRIL 30TH
9:30 - SONGS THAT PRAY AND PRAYERS THAT SING (ARCHDEACON DAVID ANDERSON AND SIMON IRVING). There are many ways in which clergy and organists strive to connect and share their ministry. The need for healthy and Spirit-led collaboration between these two positions is the aim of many churches. This forum is designed to foster open conversation on what is often a fractured relationship in need of healing. Archdeacon David Anderson and Simon Irving bring the fruits of their long association as they encourage dialogue with the participants.
11:00 - THE ORGAN IN MY LIFE (CHRISTOPHER DAWES). How did you come to know the organ? How have the organs you’ve played and the churches you’ve served impacted your music and life? What are some of the “turning point” musical experiences you’ve enjoyed, with the organ and its literature? Who are the great influences in your musical journey? Whose journeys are you influencing now? Under the leadership of Christopher Dawes, you’re invited to share these experiences and play examples of the organ music in your life. You might be inspired by some of the stories you’ll hear, and might want to learn some of the music you hear; your story will contribute to the rich tapestry that is our calling, and maybe encourage you1 colleagues and students.
1:30 - CREATIVE HYMN PLAYING IDEAS (CHRISTOPHER HUNT). How can I inspire my congregation to sing boldly? Can I “conduct” the congregation with the organ sound? What’s the best organ introduction to a hymn? How do I make the words “matter” more? We’ll explore some new and accessible ideas for energetic congregational singing, and you’ll be encouraged to invent your own.
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PRESENTERS’ BIOGRAPHIES (in order of date and time of presentation)
SIMON WALKER, BMus (hons), ARCO, Ch RCCO, is from the United Kingdom, and started his musical training as a boy chorister at Durham Cathedral. He is a music graduate of the University of Edinburgh, where for three years he was organ scholar of St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh. He then spent a year as organ scholar at Chester Cathedral. Simon moved to Toronto in 2010, and has since served as Assistant Organist at the Church of St Mary Magdalene. He is currently Director of Music at St Jude’s Anglican Church, Oakville, and Accompanist to the Pax Christi Chorale. He is also in regular demand as a freelance accompanist, teacher and conductor.
JURGEN PETRENKO has Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Organ (Performance) from the University of Toronto, and has 40 years of experience as a professional organist and choirmaster. Since 2000, he has held the dream position of Titular Organist at St John’s Anglican Church in Elora. One of the few parishes still to use the old Book of Common Prayer, St John’s has a 22-voice all-professional choir directed by Noel Edison. Jurgen is the founding conductor of the Toronto Classical Singers, a 105-voice choir currently in its 24th year. He teaches oratorio performance to the graduate voice majors at the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, and is active as a freelance musician.
MICHAEL BLOSS has developed a celebrated reputation for animated performances, sensitive collaborative playing and illuminative coaching. In an enviable career of touring, performing and recording throughout the world, he was the first Canadian to be awarded the designation of Preisträger at the International Bach Competition in Leipzig, Germany, playing in Bach’s own church. Currently, Michael leads the parish and diocesan music at Christ’s Church Cathedral, Hamilton, following respected tenures at the Cathedral Church of St James and Timothy Eaton Memorial Church, Toronto. He also, serves on the Examining Board of Conservatory Canada.
CHRISTOPHER HUNT was educated at Queen’s University and at the University of Reading, England. For three decades he taught music full-time at Mohawk College. From 1998 to 2004, Chris was a resident pianist at the prestigious summer language school at Middlebury, Vermont. He is Director of Music at First-Pilgrim United Church in Hamilton, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Royal Canadian College of Organists. Much sought after as a piano and organ accompanist, he has appeared frequently in this role with tenor Michael Toby in “Hear Freedom’s Ring”, a unique celebration of the Underground Railroad and its links to Canada.
CHRISTOPHER DAWES is a freelance musician based in the Toronto area, a staff accompanist to the Toronto Children’s Chorus, and accompanist and coach to graduate and undergraduate choral and instrumental conducting at the U of T’s Faculty of Music. Since 2005 he has been Director of Canada’s Summer Institute of Church Music in Whitby, and frequently consults for churches and congregations on musical matters, including recently Timothy Eaton Memorial Church in Toronto on its organ’s centenary. Since completing graduate work in Music Criticism in 2006, Chris often speaks at conferences and concert performances, and publishes an occasional blog and podcast at His website may be found at
THE VENERABLE DAVID ANDERSONis the Rector of the Anglican Church of St John the Evangelist, Hamilton and the Archdeacon of Undermount. David is currently completing a doctoral programme in the area of congregational mission and leadership with Luther Seminary in St Paul, Minnesota. His thesis is entitled, “Transforming Communities and Creating Disciples of Jesus through the Practices of Neighbourliness: Apprenticeship in the Ways of Parish Life for the Twenty-First Century”. David is currently in his tenth year at St John’s. Over more than thirty years of pastoral ministry, he has worked with nine church organists and a number of other musicians.
SIMON IRVING has been an organist since age 13. From 1984 he was organist at Carlisle United Church, and in 1992 took early retirement from his IBM management position to become Director of Music at the Church of Our Lady in Guelph. He served as National President of the RCCO from 1998 to 2000, having earned his FRCCO diploma in 1994. Simon is the Founding Director of the Guelph Symphony Orchestra, which he led for ten years, retiring in 2011. He is now Conductor Emeritus of the GSO, Director of Music at St John the Evangelist Anglican Church in Hamilton, and Music Director for the Canadian Orpheus Male Choir.
TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
IN CHURCH MUSIC
A Professional Development Course for Church Musicians
Two Saturdays April 16 and April 30, 2016
9:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Registration Form
Name: ______
Address: ______
City: ______
Postal Code: ______Telephone: ______
E-mail (please print very legibly): ______
The course registration fee is $65.00 for the whole course, or $40.00 for an individual Saturday. Full-time students, please inquire about bursary assistance.
The registration fee includes mid-morning coffee but not lunch.
Please indicate your intention:
I wish to attend both Saturdays April 16 and April 30 ($65.00) _____
I wish to attend only Saturday, April 16 ($40.00) _____
I wish to attend only Saturday, April 30 ($40.00) _____
Please mail this form and yourcheque with the appropriate amount (payable to “RCCO Hamilton”) to the address below. Cheques may be post-dated, to no later than March 31, 2016.
Christopher Hunt
RCCO Hamilton
90 Duke Street, Apartment 1703
Hamilton Ontario L8P 1X6
Telephone inquiries: 905-572-6584 E-mail inquiries:
We’d be happy to send you a receipt if requested (not an Income Tax deductible receipt).