Interview With Dennis Akerman, Music Director We asked the Music Director at Sanbornton Congregational Church, UCC, Dennis Akerman, who is a Minister of Music, to talk to us about the music program at the church. Following are our questions and his responses: Q: Sanbornton Congregational is not a big church, but the choir is considered one of the finest small choirs in the state. What sort of music does the choir sing? Akerman: We sing everything from plainsong to twentieth century music. Our music spans 600 years. The 14th century words we sing are just as meaningful today. We look for fine sacred music in every century. In the past two weeks we have sung a traditional English melody, a Bach chorale and a lovely anthem by twentieth century composer William H. Harris. Actually, our Senior Choir has about 22 singers, the Junior Choir about 10; these are not small choirs, but really quite ideal in size. Q: How does one join your choir? What is required? Akerman: A prospective member has to like to sing, be able to carry a tune and be willing to make the commitment to rehearse every Thursday evening and sing every Sunday morning. We take new members on for a trial period. It’s not necessary to know how to read music if you can learn the music by ear. But it is vital to be faithful in attendance. The choir sings from Labor Day to mid-June. We invite guest artists to the summer services. Q: How do you train the choir? Akerman: Week by week. We learn by singing. And each summer many members of the choir take special courses offered by the Royal School of Church Music in the United States and the United Kingdom. Our choir members have studied in Washington D.C., Princeton, NJ, London, Salisbury, and Canterbury, England. This summer two members are going to courses at Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Washington, D.C.; and two are going to Saint David’s Cathedral in Wales. The Cathedral Courses are very demanding. The group becomes the Cathedral Choir and sings 12 hours a day for a week to 10 days at practice and at all the services of the Cathedral. It is a very exciting experience. We make friends from all parts of the world and look forward to singing with them again. Q: What is the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM)? Akerman: It’s a British institution for music training with branches in many countries. There are 8000 affiliated churches of all denominations. The RSCM is "committed to providing education and training for church musicians and all concerned with music and worship. No matter what your experience or resources, the RSCM can help you to develop your skills." Literally hundreds of people attend RSCM courses each year to sing with master teachers, to improve their practical skills and to increase their understanding of music’s place in worship. The founder of the RSCM held as a cardinal principle that "whatever music is used, it should be the best of its kind and should be performed as well as the available material permits." Q: You have a special title, "Minister of Music." Are you a member of the clergy? What does it mean? Akerman: In the United Church of Christ, a commissioned ministry is one to which one is called and prepared for a specialty, such as education, parish administration or music. I have taken courses at Andover Newton Theological School and at the Episcopal Divinity School. I was examined by an ecclesiastical council. I am a minister, but I am commissioned and limited to one area of work, in my case to a music ministry. Q: Is there anything that you would like to add? Akerman: We are always on the lookout for new members of our choirs. If you or one of your children is interested, contact me so we can talk about it. I can be reached by e-mail at the link below. | 
