Our conductor and musical director, Richard Grylls, is retiring from his role with the choir, so we are seeking a successor. Ridgeway Chorale is a small, sociable chamber choir of eighteen voices, established over twenty years ago.

 The choir (SATB) all read music and are good sight-readers. We enjoy singing a wide range of shorter pieces, both sacred and secular, from mediaeval to contemporary, some accompanied, the majority a capella. We’re happy to split parts, so often have firsts and seconds in each voice, occasionally including two-choir pieces.

 We have access to an extensive library of past pieces, sets of collections such as the Oxford Book of English Madrigal and Carols for Choirs – and we also expect to hire in new pieces as needed.

Most of the choir are based in Tring or nearby, although we draw members from a wider area.
We currently meet to rehearse on Wednesday evenings, from 7.45 – 9.45, from the end of September to mid-May. We hire St Leonard’s Parish Hall (which has a piano), although we also have access to a space at Ivinghoe, and could consider other options.

We usually give three concerts a year, mostly in local churches, raising money for charity:

• from late September we work towards a Christmas concert in December (and more informally sometimes contribute to local carol events and a Nine Lessons and Carols service)
• in the new year we focus on preparing for two concerts, with similar repertoires, in April and May - the first is given locally, and the second involves a trip away, often to an area with a connection to a choir member: past venues have included Oswestry, Minchinhampton and Southwell, and occasionally we’ve ventured abroad, to Switzerland and Montréal in Burgundy
• we usually showcase young, local instrumentalist talent as guests at the concerts, and occasionally include entertaining readings

Ridgeway Chorale is looking for an enthusiastic musical director and conductor, who will

• support the choir in maintaining a high standard of performance, including vocal technique
• suggest/choose new repertoire, and revisit previous repertoire, in consultation with choir members – with the aim of developing the choir’s musical skills and interests, and offering concert content with a broad appeal to audiences
• be happy to be involved to some degree in rehearsal and concert organisation (although choir members also manage elements of this)

Ideally candidates will also

• accompany the choir on piano or keyboard at rehearsals, where relevant to individual pieces (we may be able to supply a concert accompanist)
• potentially arrange or adapt new pieces
• utilise or establish local contacts for venues and instrumental guests

For more information about the choir, past concerts and some recordings, please see our website: http://www.ridgewaychorale.org.uk/.

To apply, please send a CV and covering letter, explaining why you and Ridgeway Chorale would be a good fit, to contact@ridgewaychorale.org.uk. Any queries can be sent to the same address.

Deadline: August 12^th, with interviews and/or trial auditions with the choir from mid-September (there is some flexibility around these dates).