Music Director

South West

Organisation: Exmouth Choral Society

Application deadline : March 27th

Description of vacancy:

Exmouth Choral Society seeks to appoint an experienced and inspirational Musical Director to continue to develop the choir, its singing and repertoire, pending the retirement of Laurence Blyth after the Spring 2023 concert. Laurence has greatly encouraged the choir for the past 13 years.

About the choir:

Exmouth Choral Society is a long established mixed voice, non-auditioned choir, founded in 1867. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, the choir has grown again to over 70 members and has a repertoire based around large scale works such as masses and oratorios. The singers are drawn from the seaside town of Exmouth, and surrounding towns and villages. We rehearse each Monday evening from 7.30pm to 9:15pm from September until May in Glenorchy United Reformed Church on Exeter Road, Exmouth, EX8 1PL.

Concerts take place in winter and spring, usually Holy Trinity Church, Rolle Street, Exmouth EX8 2ST, occasionally at other local venues. For some concerts, the choir is joined by professional soloists and instrumentalists.

The society is managed by a small team of committee members who assist the choir in achieving its aims.

Further details of the choir are available at our website: www.exmouthchoral.org

Start date:

From mid May 2023, to prepare for the start of the new term in September 2023.

About the role/responsibilities:

• In consultation with the committee, programme, plan, and schedule appropriate repertoire in a timely manner, within the allocated budget.
• Assist the choir librarian to obtain appropriate music.
• Liaise with accompanist as necessary.
• Draw up appropriate rehearsal schedules.
• Prepare for and lead rehearsals, coaching the vocal and musical development of the choir as appropriate.
• Recruit orchestra, instrumentalists and soloists as required to support the choir's concerts and negotiate their payments within the allocated budget.
• Prepare all expected costs of orchestra, hired instruments, instrumentalists, and soloists to choir treasurer for approval of the committee.
• Liaise with soloists and choir treasurer to facilitate performance payments.
• Prepare for and conduct the choir and hired musicians in dress rehearsal and performances (concerts).
• Liaise with the concert manager as appropriate.
• Advise the committee and concert manager on viable concert venues.
• Attend committee meetings ( in person or remotely), in an ex-officio, non voting capacity when appropriate.
• Prepare MD's report for AGM.
• Prepare concert feedback for choir.
• Submit MD's invoices to choir Treasurer each half term.
• Undertake other duties commensurate to the role, as required.

Essential Criteria:

• Talented musician with an established record of choral and orchestral direction.
• Excellent communication skills and a positive approach.
• Can teach music effectively to a mixed group (from non-music readers to the very experienced).
• Can connect with, encourage, and challenge the choir in a positive, supportive, and enjoyable way.
• Experience in co-ordinating musicians for performances.

Contract for Services:

The successful candidate would be engaged under a Contract for Musical Services, to cover up to 30 rehearsals, two concerts including dress rehearsals each year. Fees would be agreed by negotiation.

How to apply:

Please send your CV and supporting statement detailing your suitability for post and outlining what you believe you can bring to the choir, along with names and contact details of two referees to our Secretary, Nick Ricketts nickandmarion@hotmail.co.uk. We will only approach your referees if you are shortlisted. Closing date is Monday 27 March 2023. In addition, you should submit a suggested costed programme for two years which should be varied and suitable for the choir. Each season should include one concert with orchestra and one with a small ensemble or organ accompaniment.

Prospective applicants are welcome to contact the Secretary for further information.

Shortlisted candidates will be informed in April 2023 and will be asked to attend an informal interview with the recruitment panel on Wednesday April 19th. On Monday April 24th, they will be asked to lead a short choir rehearsal warm-up, rehearse one piece known to the choir, and another piece unfamiliar to the choir, (maximum half and hour).

Subject to satisfactory references, the successful applicant will then be in formed in early May and expected to take up the post from mid May in readiness for the start of rehearsals starting September 2023. The award will be subject to a probationary period of one year.

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