South Berkshire Singers is seeking a Musical Director to start in September 2025
After a very successful decade with the choir our current Musical Director (MD) is retiring, and the South Berkshire Singers is seeking to recruit a successful, experienced and enthusiastic music director, with a good sense of humour too, to start with us in September 2025.
The fees are negotiable but would be expected to be consistent with the rates published by organisations such as “Making Music”.
South Berkshire Singers is a non-audition community SATB choir based in Wokingham comprising about 70 members meeting weekly on a Tuesday evening, 7.30 for 7.45 until 9.30 pm, during school terms. The choir is organised by a committee of eight members which enjoys formal but convivial meetings approximately four times per year with the Musical Director as an important, invited member of the team.
Currently the choir performs three concerts each year plus providing some occasional less formal entertainments in other community settings. The regular concerts currently are:
- Music & Meditation concert held at St Paul's Church, Wokingham in March/April with the proceeds go to the church's annual charities.
- Our Summer Concert in July, with the proceeds donated to our own nominated charity.
- Christmas Concert at Corpus Christi Church, Wokingham in early December with the proceeds go to the church's Africa Fund.
For further information about the choir and the range of music we have been singing please visit our website at:
www.southberkshiresingers.org.uk
If you are interested in following up this appointment, please contact the chairman by email for the job description and further details, including relevant fees:
info@southberkshiresingers.org.uk or
Closing date for applications 5th April with auditions planned for 22nd and/or 29th April
Peter Loring (26/02/25)
Music Director: Post Specification
The main job of the Musical Director (MD) is to continue with the development of the musical abilities and potential of the choir, to ensure that our music-making is a joyful experience. They would be expected to lead us to new works while continuing to direct us in performing established choral works. In addition, the MD will work with the choir to enhance its appeal to audiences and new members alike.
In addition to choosing the repertoire (in association with the committee) we would want the MD to identify any soloists and instrumentalists required for our performances.
Fees for the MD and any soloists and instrumentalists are, of course, negotiable but would expect to be based on current rates published by “Making Music”, “Musician’s Union” or other representative organisations.
The MD is responsible for rehearsing the choir on a weekly basis. If the MD is unable to attend a rehearsal or concert, they are responsible for arranging for a suitably qualified substitute to lead the choir.
The MD will be an ex-officio member of the choir’s organising committee and would be invited to attend committee meetings for discussion of items such as concert matters, repertoire, costs for hiring musicians.
Musical Director; Job Description
a) Propose new music for the choir and coach us to a standard acceptable for public performance.
b) Maintain a repertoire of music from previous years at a standard that is acceptable for public performance.
c) Conduct choir rehearsals on a weekly basis at our rehearsal venue in Wokingham during school terms.
d) Prepare music programmes for three principal concerts and up to three informal entertainments, e.g. Christmas songs in other community settings, each year.
e) Identify and recruit guest artists, soloists and instrumentalists, to support the principal concerts as required and within a budget agreed with the committee
f) Presenting and announcing performances at public and informal concerts.
g) Identify where additional members are required to improve the voice balance of the choir and liaise with the committee and, in particular with the Membership Secretary, in appropriate recruitment activities.
h) With the support of the chairman, maintain the conduct of the members during rehearsals with respect to time keeping and attention.
i) Encourage and coach individual, and groups of, choir members to perform solos, duets etc.
Peter Loring (23/02/25)
