July 17, 2009--Jonathan B. Hall, FAGO, has received word from the American
Guild of Organists that he passed the 2009 certification exam for Choirmaster
(ChM).
Hall earned the Associate's certificate in 1997, winning both the Associateship
Prize and the S. Lewis Elmer Prize for highest scores.
In 1999, while a student at Indiana University, he became a Fellow of the
Guild. He was graduated a Doctor of Music in 2001.
In 2003, he sat for the Fellowship diploma of Trinity College, London, and was
successful. (In the UK, the terms "degree" and "diploma" are used, and the
FTCL is an accredited post-baccalaureate distinction. In the US, the term for
the process of direct examination is "certification.")
Guild certification is a valuable experience; and as JH had not earned the
Choirmaster yet, he decided 2009 was as good a year as any.
The test was similar to the AAGO, in that there was a practical section and a
paperwork section. However, in lieu of organ performance, the candidate must
direct a small vocal ensemble in the rehearsal of three specified works. He
must also perform certain keyboard and sight-reading tests. The paperwork
section is about three hours long.
Hall likes to joke with friends that he is now entitled to wear eight academic
hoods: BA, MA, MM, DM, AAGO, FAGO, ChM, FTCL. Of course,
wearing all eight at once would be a serious breach of protocol, as well
as probably fatal. Still...
Is Jonathan done with exams? Probably not; though future ones may not
be in the fields of literature or music.
Guild of Organists that he passed the 2009 certification exam for Choirmaster
(ChM).
Hall earned the Associate's certificate in 1997, winning both the Associateship
Prize and the S. Lewis Elmer Prize for highest scores.
In 1999, while a student at Indiana University, he became a Fellow of the
Guild. He was graduated a Doctor of Music in 2001.
In 2003, he sat for the Fellowship diploma of Trinity College, London, and was
successful. (In the UK, the terms "degree" and "diploma" are used, and the
FTCL is an accredited post-baccalaureate distinction. In the US, the term for
the process of direct examination is "certification.")
Guild certification is a valuable experience; and as JH had not earned the
Choirmaster yet, he decided 2009 was as good a year as any.
The test was similar to the AAGO, in that there was a practical section and a
paperwork section. However, in lieu of organ performance, the candidate must
direct a small vocal ensemble in the rehearsal of three specified works. He
must also perform certain keyboard and sight-reading tests. The paperwork
section is about three hours long.
Hall likes to joke with friends that he is now entitled to wear eight academic
hoods: BA, MA, MM, DM, AAGO, FAGO, ChM, FTCL. Of course,
wearing all eight at once would be a serious breach of protocol, as well
as probably fatal. Still...
Is Jonathan done with exams? Probably not; though future ones may not
be in the fields of literature or music.
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