The evening also held another heart-felt surprise, pictured below. The Niagara-Huron Branch of the Royal School of Church Music chose the Stratford concert to honour Angus Sinclair. In 1999, the RSCM in England gave permission for the Branch to set up a syllabus to offer choristers formal singing examinations. The committee consisted of Angus Sinclair (Examiner) and William Lupton (Syllabus). Standards and exams were set up for three levels: "Dean's", "Bishop's" and "Gold" (also known as Bronze, Silver and Gold, following the Duke of Edinburgh Awards system). Flowing from this work, in May 2006 RSCM UK validated syllabuses of the three levels for use across Canada.
Here, William Lupton, Branch Chair and RSCM Awards Administrator, presented a very surprised Angus with a plaque and honorarium on behalf of the Branch in thanksgiving for his seven years of work as an Examiner. The Cantors would like to thank RSCM Niagara-Huron for choosing to make the presentation at the Stratford concert, allowing the Cantors to participate in this celebration for their colleague and friend, and acknowledging the wonderful commitment to music of the parish of St. James' where Tim Gilbert, past RSCM Branch Chair, was then Director of Music!
