sideBar_t_1 for SICM

“To aid church musicians in their efforts to enrich and improve
the musical offering within church worship”

To browse through past Sessions of SICM on this site, click here.

Founded in 1970 by Dr. Stanley L. Osborne, the Summer Institute of Church Music has for nearly 40 years welcomed students from across Canada and the United States, from all Christian denominations and at all levels of ability, and the foremost figures in the world of Church Music as the faculty for a week of study, community, and discernment in the field of church music. It was the first, and remains Canada’s only summer study program in church music. 

 

Dr. Osborne was principal of the Ontario Ladies’ College in Whitby, Ontario, which under that name and its name since 1979, Trafalgar Castle School, the Institute has called home for most of its history. He resigned as Director in 1974, and was succeeded by his assistant, Kenneth Inkster. In 1976, using the proceeds from his book, If Such Holy Song (a commentary on the Anglican/United Church Hymn Book of 1971) Dr. Osborne and his wife endowed what is now called the Osborne Organ Competition., which celebrated its 20th Scholarship competition in Summer 2008.

 

 

 

 

Since Mildred Andrews appeared as the Institute’s first guest instructor in 1970, SICM has brought to Whitby and its students the finest performers, conductors, teachers and thinkers the field of church music has to offer in North America. This team is based annually on the presentation of daily classes in organ and choral/vocal music. As the field of church music has broadened and become more complex, the basic organ/choral duo team has expanded to include specialty presenters to instruct, speak and lead discussions on such subjects as the use of piano and other instruments, newer trends in worship and music, the special challenges of youth choirs, new technologies and musical administration. In this image Dr. Osborne is pictured with American virtuoso David Higgs, affiliated now with the Eastman School of Music.

 

Throughout the years, one of Canada’s major music retailers has visited the Institute to exhibit published music and lead anthem reading sessions to expose students to material, new and old. Mostly this role has been played by the Canadian Choral Centre (Winnipeg, MB) and Hysen Music (London, ON). In 2003 Music Plus (Kitchener, ON), joined this group of music retail partners which remains at the heart of church music in Canada..

 

Dr. Inkster served faithfully and with distinction as Director of the Institute for thirty years: under his leadership the Institute’s visiting faculty became a who’s who of prominent church musicians in North America, and generations of church musicians and hundreds of congregations were the beneficiaries.  Here, prominent Canadian United Church Musicians William and Patricia Wright in 2000.

Perhaps most significant during Dr. Inkster’s tenure were three developments in 2001: the adoption by Members of the Institute of its first Constitution, its registration as a Charitable Organisation, and the election of its first Board of Governors. Also beginning in Dr. Inkster’s tenure and ever since, bursaries have been made available to assist church musicians in attending the Institute and reaping its benefits fro themselves and their congregations.

He was in turn succeeded in July 2004 by Christopher Dawes.

 

SICM Directors 1970-present

Dr. Stanley L. Osborne

Director, 1970 - 1974

Founding Director, Stanley Llewellen Osborne, studied music at the University Toronto, with Charles Peaker and Healey Willan as his organ teachers, and later, theology at Emmanuel College, and was ordained a United Church Minister in 1932. After serving several churches he became principal of Ontario Ladies’ College (name changed to Trafalgar Castle School in 1979) in Whitby, Ontario, serving in that role until 1968. Dr. Osborne was co-editor of the United Church’s Canadian Youth Hymnal (1939), and full-time secretary to the joint committee of the United Church and the Anglican Church of Canada for The Hymn Book, which they published together in 1971. In 1975 he completed If Such Holy Song... the Story of the Hymns in the Hymn Book 1971. He died in 2000.

Dr. Kenneth W. Inkster

Director, 1975 - 2004

The Institute’s second Director began attending in its inaugural year as Assistant to founder Stanley Osborne, and assumed the Directorship upon the latter’s retirement in 1974. He has served the United Church of Canada as Secretary of Worship and Liturgies and Chair of Simcoe Presbytery, and prepared the standard-setting indicies of the hymn book, Voices United. He has served as Director of Music and Organist at St. John’s United Church in Alliston, Ontario since 1961, and from 1975 to 2000 served as Chair of Resources and then Secretary to the National Council of the Royal Canadian College of Organists, which made him an honorary Fellow in 2000. Also in 2000, Victoria University, University of Toronto, made him an honorary Doctor of Sacred Letters.

Christopher Dawes

Director, 2005 - present

Please see current faculty listing for the upcoming SICM session.

SICM Faculty Listing 1970-2010

1970: Organ - Mildred Andrews (University of Oklahoma, USA)
      Choral/Vocal - Lloyd Bradshaw (St. George’s United Church and University of Toronto)
      Chaplain - The Rev’d G.A. Mundy (Brooklin United Church)
      Music Display/Anthem Reading -
      Other Presenters - Dr. Stanley L. Osborne (20th century hymnody)

1971: Organ - Dr. George Markey (First Congregational Church (Unitarian Church) of New York, USA)
      Choral/Vocal - Dr. Derek Holman (Grace Church-on-the-Hill, Toronto)
      Chaplain - Rev’d H.F. Thomasson (Welland)
      Music Display/Anthem Reading -
      Other Presenters - Peter MCoppin (Junior Choir) Recitals by Thomas Cromwell, Douglas Bodle,
         Elinore Nelson, Neil Moulton, Port Perry United Church Choir directed by Mrs. Hastings.

1972: Organ - George Faxon (Trinity Church, Boston, USA) (in Kenneth Inkster’s report on the 1971 Institute
         he expected David Craighead to be part of the 1972 faculty)
      Choral/Vocal - Giles Bryant (Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Toronto)
      Chaplain - The Rev’d Professor Douglas Crichton (Queen’s Theological College, Kingston)
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Kathleen Mounteer
      Other Presenters - Peter McCoppin (Juinor Choir), William Wright/Douglas Bodle (organ tour of Europe)

1973: Organ and Choral/Vocal- Alec Wyton (Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York, USA)
      Chaplain - Rev’d John Stinson (Meaford United Church)
      Music Display/Anthem Reading -
      Other Presenters - Anne McWhir (Litreary aspects of the English Hymn)

1974: Organ & Choral/Vocal - James Litton (Westminster Choir College, Princeton, USA)
      Chaplain - Rev’d John Speers (Trinity Anglican Church, Barrie) (or Rev’d David Thompson)
      Music Display/Anthem Reading -
      Other Presenters - Thomas Cromwell (elementary organ), Kelvin James (major choral work), Elaine Broughton (All Saints’ Anglican Church, Whitby)

1975: Organ - Arthur Poister
      Choral/Vocal - Robert Towers
      Chaplain - Rev. Donald McLean
      Music Display/Anthem Reading -
      Other Presenters - Dr. Stanley L. Osborne

1976: Organ and Choral/Vocal - Gerald Bales
      Chaplain - Rev. Lance Woods
      Music Display/Anthem Reading -
      Other Presenters - Eleanor Ewing

1977: Organ - Paul Manz
      Choral/Vocal - John Ford
      Chaplain - Fr. Stephen Somerville
      Music Display/Anthem Reading -
      Other Presenters - Jean Ashworth

1978: Organ - Wilbur Held
      Choral/Vocal - Wayne Riddell
      Chaplain - Rev. Larry Marshall
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Bert Van der Hoek (Hysen Music)
      Other Presenters - Alice Wilson, Dr. Stanley L. Osborne

1979: Organ - Larry Cortner
      Choral/Vocal - Deral Johnson
      Chaplain -
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Bert Van der Hoek (Hysen Music)
      Other Presenters -

1980: Organ - Marilyn Mason (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor)
      Choral/Vocal - Giles Bryant (St. James’ Cathedral, Toronto)
      Chaplain - Rev’d Alan Bennett (First United Church, St. Catharines)
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Bert Van der Hoek (Hysen Music)
      Other Presenters - John McIntosh (Lecture-Recital on Healey Willan), Dr. Stanley L. Osborne (the role
        of music in worship, part 1 of a set of hymn variations, and suggestions for the selection of texts)

1981: Organ - Melville Cook (Metropolitan United Church, Toronto)
      Choral/Vocal - Robert Towers (Christ United Church, St. Thomas)
      Chaplain - David Newman (St. Paul’s United College, Waterloo)
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Bert Van der Hoek (Hysen Music)
      Other Presenters - Dr. S.L. Osborne (parts 2 & 3 of a set of hymn variations)

1982: Organ - Frederick Swann
      Choral/Vocal - Don McKendrick
      Chaplain - Dr. Stanley Osborne
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Bert Van der Hoek (Hysen Music)
      Other Presenters - Dr. Stanley L. Osborne

1983: Organ - Douglas Bodle
      Choral/Vocal - Wayne Strongman
      Chaplain - Fr. Stephen Somerville
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Bert Van der Hoek (Hysen Music)
      Other Presenters - Dr. Stanley L. Osborne

1984: Organ - Gerre Hancock
      Choral/Vocal - Denise Narcisse-Mair
      Chaplain - Fr. Philip Hobson
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Judy Pringle (Canadian Choral Centre)
      Other Presenters - Dr. Stanley L. Osborne, Marjorie Slinn

1985: Organ - William Wright
      Choral/Vocal - Robert Cooper
      Chaplain - Rev. Donald E. McLean
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Bert Van der Hoek (Hysen Music)
      Other Presenters - Dr. Stanley L. Osborne, Judy Pringle, Marjorie Slinn

1986: Organ - Clyde Holloway
      Choral/Vocal - Gerald Bales
      Chaplain - Rev. Robert Duncan
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Judy Pringle (Canadian Choral Centre)
      Other Presenters - Judy Pringle

1987: Organ - David Palmer
      Choral/Vocal - Wayne Riddell
      Chaplain - Rev. Lawrence Likness
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Judy Pringle (Canadian Choral Centre)
      Other Presenters - Marjorie Slinn, Judy Pringle

1988: Organ - James Bigham
      Choral/Vocal - Wayne Riddell
      Chaplain - Rev. Donald Wade
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Bert Van der Hoek (Hysen Music)
      Other Presenters - Bert Van der Hoek

1989: Organ - John Tuttle (St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Toronto)
      Choral/Vocal - Deral Johnson (University of Western Ontario)
                  Judy Pringle (Young United Church, Winnipeg/Canadian Choral Centre)
      Chaplain - The Rev. Peter Orme (St. Luke’s Anglican Rosemont/St. David’s Everett)
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Judy Pringle (Canadian Choral Centre)
      Other Presenters - Marjorie Slinn (Handbells), Elaine Broughton; Angus MacLeod, Joan Plume,
           Thomas Cromwell, Donald Wakely (elementary church music)

1990: Organ - David Higgs (St. Mark’s Episcopal/Temple Emmanu-El, San Francisco/Pacific Episcopal Seminary)
      Choral/Vocal - John Ford (Eglinton United Church, Toronto), Judy Pringle (Winnipeg)
      Chaplain - Rev’d George A. Mundy (retired)
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Bert Van der Hoek (Hysen Music)/Judy Pringle (Canadian Choral Centre)
      Other Presenters - Tom Woods (selection of Vocal Solo Literature), Norfolk Youth Singers directed
          by Ron Beckett; Tom Cromwell, Elaine Broughton, Angus McLeod, Joan Plume, Donald Wakely
          (elementary church music); Thomas Porter (Stress and the Church Musician)

1991: Organ - Patrick Wedd (Freelance organist, dir. Tudor Singers of Montreal)
      Choral/Vocal -
      Chaplain -
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Robert Anderson (Boddington Music Ltd.)
      Other Presenters -

1992: Organ - Judith Hancock (St. James’ Eposicopal Church, New York City, USA)
      Choral/Vocal - John Tuttle (St. Thomas’s Anglican Church, Toronto), Judy Pringle (Young United, Winnipeg)
      Chaplain - Rev. John Webster Grant
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Judy Pringle (Canadian Choral Centre)
      Other Presenters - Allan Ward (Alfred Publishing, Canada - Copyright), Elaine Broughton (vocal techniques);
            Angus MacLeod, Bruce Nasmith, Joan Plume, Donald Wakely (elementary church music)

1993: Organ -
      Choral/Vocal -
      Chaplain -
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Judy Pringle (Canadian Choral Centre)
      Other Presenters - Alan Jackson

1994: Organ - John Weaver (Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, New York/Curtis Institute, Philadelphia USA)
      Choral/Vocal - Patrick Wedd (Church of St. John the Evangelist, Montreal)
      Chaplain - Rev. John Mastandrea (Mono Mills charge)
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Bert Van der Hoek (Hysen Music)/Judy Pringle (Canadian Choral Centre)
      Other Presenters - Diane Da Camara (soprano, opening recital); Angus McLeod, Joan Plume, Donald Wakely
          (elementary church music); John Ambrose (hymn book revisions)

1995: Organ & Choral/Vocal - Barrie Cabena (Wilfrid Laurier University, Kitchener/Waterloo))
                         Jan Overduin, (Wilfrid Laurier University & St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church)
      Chaplain - Rev. Glenda Meakin (Bishop Strachan School, Toronto)
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Bert Van der Hoek (Hysen Music)
      Other Presenters - Rev. John Ambrose, Fred Graham (Music in Worship), Elaine Broughton;
           Angus MacLeod, Joan Plume, Taylor Sullivan (elementary church music)

1996: Organ - Donald Sutherland (Peabody Conservatory, Baltimore,USA
                             Bradley Hills Presbyterian, Bethesda, MD, USA)
      Choral/Vocal - Brainerd Blyden-Taylor (Orpheus Choir of Toronto)
      Chaplain - Rev. Diane Strickland (Assoc Sec. for worship and evangelism, Presbyterian Church in Canada)
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Bert Van der Hoek (Hysen Music)/Judy Pringle (Canadian Choral Centre)
      Other Presenters - Rev. John E. Ambrose (‘Voices United’), Fred K. Graham (changes and conflict in
          contemporary church music); Elaine Broughton, Angus MacLeod, Joan Plume (elementary church music)

1997: Organ - David MacDonald
      Choral/Vocal - Lorna MacDonald (University of Toronto, Toronto, ON)
      Chaplain -
      Music Display/Anthem Reading -
      Other Presenters -

1998: Organ - Joan Lippincott (Princeton University, USA)
      Choral/Vocal - Karen Ann Schuessler (Wesley-Knox United Church, London)
      Chaplain - Rev. Paul Feheley (St. George’s Anglican Church, Oshawa)
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Bert Van der Hoek (Hysen Music)
      Other Presenters - Alan Whitmore (copyright information, LicenSing), Fred K. Graham (environment of
           worship), Margaret Kukurugya (vocal techniques); Angus MacLeod, Joan Plume, Taylor Sullivan
            (elementary church music)

1999: Organ & Choral/Vocal - Giles Bryant (All Saints’ Anglican Church, Peterborough)
                        - Christopher Dawes (St. James’ Cathedral, Toronto)
      Chaplain - The Rev. Canon Paul Feheley (St. George’s Anglican Church, Oshawa)
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Judy Pringle (Canadian Choral Centre)
      Other Presenters - Fred Graham (new worship styles), Melva T. Graham (introduction to Common Praise),
            Margaret Kukurugya (vocal techniques); Angus MacLeod, Joan Plume, Taylor Sullivan
            (elementary church music)

2000: Organ & Choral/Vocal - William Wright (Deer Park United Church, University of Toronto)
      Organ & Choral/Vocal - Patricia Phillips Wright (Metropolitan United Church, Toronto)
      Chaplain - Rev. Paul Feheley (St. George’s Anglican Church, Oshawa)
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Bert Van der Hoek (Hysen Music)
      Other Presenters - Fred K. Graham (contemporary worship experience); Sandra Rattan (mezzo-soprano
          opening recital); Margaret Kukurugya (vocal techniques); Angus MacLeod, Joan Plume, Taylor Sullivan
          (elementary church music)

2001: Organ - Marnie Giesbrecht (University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB)
      Piano - Joachim Segger (Kings University College, Edmonton AB)
      Choral/Vocal - Harry Jansen (Trinity Avenu Presbyterian Church, Durham, NC, USA)
      Chaplain -
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Judy Pringle (Canadian Choral Centre)
      Other Presenters - Fred Graham (emerging trends and changing responsibilities for the church musician)
             Margaret Kukurugya, Joan Plume, Taylor Sullivan (elementary church music)

2002: Organ - William Maddox (Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, Toronto)
      Choral/Vocal and Piano - Nancy Telfer (Aurora)
      Chaplain - Rev. Dr. Carol Gierak (Caledon East United Church, Caledon)
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Bert Vander Hoek (Hysen Music)
      Other Presenters - Fred Graham (worship trends), Margaret Kukurugya, Joan Plume, Taylor Sullivan,
          Christopher Grocholski elementary church music)

2002: Organ - William O’Meara (Our Lady of Sorrows R.C. Church, Toronto)
      Piano - Ron Kluismeier (Knox United Church, Parksville, Vancouver Island)
      Choral/Vocal - Victoria Meredith (University of Western Ontario)
      Chaplain - Rev. George Johnston (Calvary Baptist Church, Gravenhurst)
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Judy Pringle (Canadian Choral Centre)
      Other Presenters - Alan Whitmore (Computers and Copyright)

2004: Organ - Paul Jacobs (St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, New York, USA)
      Choral/Vocal - Lori-Ann Doloff (Mississauga Festival Choir, University of Toronto)
      Chaplain - Rev. Dr, Wayne Irwin (Centenary United Church, Hamilton)
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Bill Labron (Music Plus)
      Other Presenters - Fred K. Graham (Celtic worship), Anna-Lynn Murphy (Junior Choirs), James Chubb (MIDI)

2005: Organ - Ian Sadler
      Choral/Vocal - Ann Cooper Gay
      Chaplain - Rev. Canon Tim Elliott
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Music Plus (Kitchener, ON); Judy Pringle (Canadian Choral Centre)
      Other Presenters - Andrew Donaldson, Bev Foster, Michael O’Connor, Judy Pringle, Christopher Dawes.

2006: Organ & Choral - Paul Halley
      Chaplain/Liturgical Movement: Alexandra Caverly-Lowery
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Music Plus (Kitchener, ON); Angela Wakeford (Canadian Choral Centre)
      Other Presenters - Andrew Donaldson, Bev Foster, Christopher Dawes, Barbara Paull

2007: Organ - Jonathan Oldengarm
      Choral - Marta McCarthy, Lenard Whiting
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Music Plus (Kitchener, ON)
      Other Presenters - Andrew Donaldson, Christopher Dawes, Bev Foster, Barbara Paull

2008: Organ - Michael Bloss
      Choral - Michael Bloss, Lori-Anne Dolloff
      Chaplain Rev. Dennis Dolloff
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Music Plus (Kitchener, ON)
      Other presenters - Hilariter/Andrew Donaldson, Patricia Wright, Christopher Dawes, Heather Whaley/Kim Michele

2009: Organ - Maxine Thevenot (Cathedral Church of St. John, Albuqurque, New Mexico, USA)
      Choral - Mark Sirett (Cantabile Choirs of Kingston, Ontario)
      Chaplain Rev. Daniel Hansen
      Music Display/Anthem Reading - Music Plus (Kitchener, ON)
      Other presenters - Gordon Adnams, Andrew Donaldson, Douglas Cowling, Fred K. Graham, Elaine Broughton

2010: Organ - Roger Bergs
Choral - Mark Vuorinen
Chaplain - Rev. Don McBey
Chris Dawes, Rob Hanson, Dr. Andrew Donaldson, Gordon Adnams, Fred Kimball Graham
Music Display/Anthem Reading - Music Plus (Kitchener, ON)

follow the links below, or click here to take the Institour...