On the afternoon of Saturday 15 June 2024, a large attendance gathered in the wonderful and welcoming surroundings of Monkstown Parish Church for a Memorial Recital in memory of the late Raymond Russell. The event also included the presentation of certificates to the 2024 students/graduates of the Archbishop’s Certificate in Church Music. Raymond, who commenced his church organist career at the tender age of 16, and who died in June 2023, had been the organist in Monkstown. Raymond was a longtime, very active, and committed member of the committee of Church Music Dublin.
Music for the memorial recital was provided by Monkstown Parish Choir who opened proceedings with a performance of the “Ave Verum Corpus” by Mozart. They concluded the recital with the Hymn “Lead me, Lord”. Six of the current ACCM organ students/graduates performed a variety of organ pieces to include works by Buxtehude (Ciacona in E minor), Stanford (Prelude on Orlando Gibbons), Krebs/Bach (Prelude in G minor and F major), and also a Cornet Voluntary in A minor by that most prolific of eighteenth-century composers ‘Anonymous’. The standard of performance by the students/graduates was exemplary and this served once again to emphasise the long-term benefits that come from the organist and choir training programmes run by Church Music Dublin. In addition to organising the organ training programme each year, Church Music Dublin run a number of very popular short courses including the annual Living Worship which helps church musicians to understand and develop their role in liturgy, worship and in leading and supporting communal hymn singing which is such an important part of the worship experience in the Church of Ireland. From the standard of musicianship demonstrated by the 2024 cadre of ACCM students/graduates many parishes will share this wonderful musical experience for years to come. There are nine students studying in the current training programme.
The Raymond Russell Memorial Recital was hosted by Monkstown parish and The Revd Canon Precentor Roy Byrne graciously welcomed everyone. The ACCM certificates were presented by Phyllis Whyte, Raymond’s sister. The event concluded with the usual socialising and chat over tea, coffee and cakes.