THOSE WHO INSPIRE CHURCH MUSIC IN CANADA

Honorary Fellowship -F.SCIM

Fellows of the Summer Institute of Church Music have made a significant impact on the study, practice or condition of church music in Canada over the course of their career.

About F.SICM

In 2009, SICM’s 40th anniversary year, composer, Mark Sirett, wrote and dedicated his anthem, Bwana Asafiwe!/Make a Joyful Noise, to SICM Director Emeritus, Dr. Kenneth Inkster, and donated proceeds from its sale by Kelman Hall Publishing of Music Plus (Kitchener, Ontario) to SICM’s ongoing work. Inspired by Dr. Sirett’s example, the SICM Board of Governors voted unanimously to confer every two years an honorary Fellowship of the Summer Institute of Church Music – F.SICM – upon an individual who, like Dr. Inkster, had given deeply of themself to church music in Canada. Moreover, a Canadian composer would be approached to honour that individual by offering or composing an anthem or other sacred choral work that would be published by an SICM partner and performed in the presence of the honouree at a public concert at the close of annual Institute week.

F.SICM Practice and Criteria

Every odd-numbered year SICM’s Board of Governors’ identifies an individual for recognition as a Fellow of the Summer Institute of Church Music.  As part of conferring this honour, SICM approaches a composer to submit a score for consideration, with the understanding that the score will be dedicated to a laureate of the F.SICM designation, and that the composer will abide by whatever requirements are necessary for publication by a publishing partner of SICM.

The Honoree

The honoree will be an individual who has pursued training, employment and ministry in church music in a deep and personally-transformative way. The individual will also have made a significant impact on the study, practice or condition of church music in Canada over the course of his or her career. Specific connection to the Summer Institute of Church Music is not required and shall not be considered by the Nominating Committee in determining candidates for this honour.

The Composer

A Canadian composer, often with a biographical connection to the honoree, is approached to create a new sacred choral work in honour of the conferring of the F.SICM. Specific connection to the Summer Institute of Church Music is not required and will not be considered by the Nominating Committee in this opportunity.  The composer, though encouraged to compose in forms accessible to many church choirs, is left free to choose text, and in making any arrangements with SICM’s publishing partner.

F.SICM Fellows