News
Congratulations to Co-Director Catherine Gray, ARCT
Congratulations to our Choir School Co-Director Catherine Gray who earned her second Associateship Diploma (ARCT) in Voice from The Royal Conservatory in Toronto. Catherine's first ARCT was in Organ Performance. She also holds an Associateship Diploma (ARCCO) for the RCCO and a Fellowship (FNCM) in Organ Performance from the National College of Music in London, UK.
Congratulations to Renee Nikkel, CRCCO
Congratulations to the Metropolitan United Church Choir School's first Organ Scholar, Renee Nikkel, who earned the Royal Canadian College of Organists Colleague Diploma in October 2020 via examination. Renee is currently studying organ at the University of Western Ontario.
Congratulations to Organ Scholar Renee Nikkel
Congratulations to Junior Organ Scholar Renee Nikkel, who earned a First Award for her performance of Bach and Coleman at the 2018 Kiwanis Music Festival of London. Renee participated in the Organ Class for those with one year of study or less and won the RCCO Award for Excellence.
Metropolitan Choir School Thrives at 2018 Kiwanis Festival!
Congratulations to the Choristers of the Metropolitan United Church Choir School for their outstanding showing at the 2018 Kiwanis Music Festival of London. The Senior Choristers and the Training Choir entered five separate classes and received a First Award in each!
Congratulations to Catherine Gray!
Congratulations to Catherine Gray who passed the examination for the Associateship Diploma of The Royal Canadian College of Organists in June. Catherine's diploma will be awarded at the RCCO National Convention in July 2017.
The Choristers of MUCCS Win Kiwanis Bettger Prize
Congratulations to the Choristers of the Metropolitan United Church Choir School, who were awarded the Bill and Eva Bettger Prize for their performance in the 2016 Kiwanis Music Festival.
MUCCS Receives Grant
The Metropolitan United Church Choir School is delighted to receive a grant from The Westminster College Foundation to underwrite the cost of the Third Annual Metropolitan Choristers' Festival in October 2016.
Congratulations to Catherine Gray!
Congratulations to Metropolitan's Senior Shipman Organ Catherine Gray, MM, ARCT, BMus, BA, CRCCO for passing the Fellowship Diploma in Organ Performance from the National College of Music, London, UK. The adjudicator referred to her playing as "A near perfect performance played with stunningly beautiful phrasing and a musicality rarely encountered these days!"
The Choristers of MUCCS thrive at Kiwanis
Once again the Choristers of MUCCS participated in the 2016 Kiwanis Music Festival of London in the Church Choir Class. Their performance earned a First Award with a score of 88! The adjudicator praised the choir for their "lovely tone" and "excellent breath control".
The Second Annual Metropolitan Choristers' Festival
The Second Annual Metropolitan Choristers' Festival took place on November 13-15, 2015. Our guest clinician for the day was Sarah MacDonald, FRCO Director of Music at Selwyn College, Cambridge University and Director of the Ely Cathedral Girls' Choir. The festival hosted 90 Choristers from London, St. Thomas and Toronto for a wonderful day of music making!
An exciting evening with Jennifer Moir
The Choristers had an exciting evening of vocal training with Jennifer Moir of the University of Western Ontario on Thursday, October 21, 2015. Jen worked with the choir on expressive singing techniques.
The Choristers sing at the 189th Opening of the Courts Service
The Choristers were the featured choir at the 189th Opening of the Courts Service, which took place at Metropolitan United Church on Wednesday, September 30th, 2015. The service, filled with pageantry and military precision, is a powerful reminder of the history of church and court in our great city.
Congratulations to Organ Scholar Catherine Gray!
Many congratulations to Shipman Organ Scholar Catherine Gray, CRCCO, who passed the requirements for the Associate's Diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. Catherine's examination recital included works by Francois Couperin, Johann Sebastian Bach, Cesar Franck and Jean Langlais.
The Choristers sing at Budweiser Gardens
The Choristers of MUCCS had the honour of singing the National Anthem at Budweiser Gardens on Friday, September 11, 2015 for the NHL Rookie Game. The game , which was broadcast nationally was played between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators rookies. Their performance was received with great enthusiasm.
Congratulations to former Organ Scholar Andy Cloutier!
Many congratulations to Metropolitan's former Shipman Organ Scholar Andy Cloutier, CRCCO, who has been appointed Organist of St. Anne's Catholic Church in St. Thomas, ON. We send Andy our best wishes for a long and fruitful tenure!
The Choristers record their first CD!
The Choristers of MUCCS have recorded their first CD, entitled Christmas with the Choristers of Metropolitan Church. This beautiful Traditional Service of Lessons and Carols features music by Rutter, Lindley, Vaughan Williams and others. The CD also features organist Catherine Gray, performing music by Bach, Guilmant and more.
Congratulations to Organ Scholar, Catherine Gray, CRCCO
Congratulations to Shipman Organ Scholar, Catherine Gray on being awarded the George Black Scholarship from the Hymn Society of the United States and Canada. Catherine is the first Metropolitan Organ Scholar to be honoured with this award.
November 2014: The First Annual Metropolitan Choristers' Festival
The First Annual Metropolitan Choristers' Festival took place on November 14-15, 2014. Our Guest Music Director was Bruce Neswick of Indiana University. Bruce worked with over sixty young singers on repertoire by Parry, Rutter and Hurford. A Closing Service took place in the sanctuary.
November 2014: MUCCS is the recipient of a Westminster College Foundation Grant
The Metropolitan United Church Choir School is proud to announce that we have been the recipient of a grant from The Westminster College Foundation. The grant will be used to underwrite the costs associated with the 2015 Metropolitan Choristers' Festival, which will take place in November.
May 2014: MUCCS Choristers win receive two awards!
Our Choristers received two awards this year in recognition of their outstanding performance at the 2014 Kiwanis Music Festival in London. In addition to winning their fourth Bill and Eva Bettger Trophy, which recognizes the children's church choir with the highest Festival score, the Choristers also won the Lutheran Social Services Church Choir Award for the first time.
May 11, 2014: The Choristers sing for the TVH&SA Annual General Meeting
The Choristers of MUCCS were delighted to be invited to sing for the Annual General Meeting of the Thames Valley Home and School Association. The choir sang a program of music drawn from their recent Toronto Tour and were enthusiastically received!
The Choristers of Metropolitan United Church return from Toronto mini-tour!
May 2014: The Choristers of the Metropolitan United Church Choir School undertook a mini-tour to Toronto at the beginning of May. The choir sang at Toronto's Metropolitan United Church, accompanied by their fine choir. The Choristers also worked with their Director of Music, Dr. Patricia Wright, and attended a performance by the Toronto Symphony.
MUCCS receives a gift toward the purchase of a new computer lab!
MUCCS has received a gift $4,000 from Metropolitan's Easter offering that will enable us to purchase a new computer lab to be used by our Choristers to study ear training and music theory, both at the church and at home.
Kiwanis Music Festival
Congratulations to the Choristers of Metropolitan United Church and to the Metropolitan United Church Choir for their recent victory at the Kiwanis Music Festival in London. The Choristers' received first place in their class, as well as a Gold Award.
MUCCS receives a major grant!
The Metropolitan United Choir School is very please to announce that they have been the recipient of a major grant from Middlesex Presbytery of the United Church of Canada. The grant, which totals $13,000, will be used to fund the work of the Choir School over the next two years.