National Association of Choirs Home Page

This page has been set up to allow member choirs of the National Association of Choirs to seek the services of others, items listed here are placed entirely free of charge, and at the discretion of the National Association of Choirs Executive Officers and are for the benefit of member choirs only. All ads are the sole responsibility of the advertiser and the Officers of the National Association of Choirs accept NO RESPONSIBILITY for the accuracy and content of the advert placed. Please make contact directly with the specific choir listed in the ad, if your choir wishes to make use of this service please email the Services Officer with your details, remembering to include your choir name, group and contact information. All items placed are subject to edit where appropriate.

ABCD – The Association of British Choral Directors www.abcd.org.uk Further choral vacancies can be found here

Midlands South West Group

Bel Canto Singers, Redditch, Worcestershire

Vacancy for a piano accompanist

We will require the services of a replacement accompanist to take up their duties as from 1st January 2009. Rehearsals are currently held weekly on Monday evenings 7.30 - 9.30pm, and a weekly remuneration is offered.

We offer a keen, fun loving choir who will welcome passion and involvement from our accompanist alongside opportunities for solo work from our accompanist.

Founded nearly 20 years ago, Bel Canto Singers has established a reputation as one of the best choirs in the area. More details about the choir can be found on our website at: www.belcantosingers.co.uk

The choir currently has 35 singing members and has a full and varied concert programme for events throughout 2008, ensuring focus and direction to our weekly rehearsals. Our bookings in recent years have been regular and busy. We currently have 2 concerts per year for our own funds but are much in demand by other societies and fund raising events which ensures regular concert performances from us. The choir's repertoire covers a wide range from classical, religious, folk songs, songs from the shows to popular chart music.

Applications from interested parties are welcomed and you should apply in writing to:

Mrs Polly Speers, Myrtle Cottage, Tanners Green Lane, Birmingham, B47 6BE

Or phone 01564 822672

SOUTHERN COUNTIES GROUP

Basingstoke Male Voice Choir

Founded in 1964, BMVC is a choir (60 choristers) of international repute, having toured in Europe, USA and Canada.
Our Musical Director of 27 years, David ‘Dai’ Ogborn, is retiring at the end of 2008. Under his direction the choir has built a varied repertoire which has entertained audiences locally, nationally and internationally in venues both large and small, averaging 12-15 concerts per year.

We rehearse on Monday evenings 7.30 – 9.30 in the United Reformed Church, which has fine acoustics, located in the centre of Basingstoke town. Our accompanist of some 30 years makes full use of both the piano and organ.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and knowledgeable MD who will be committed to the long term development of the choir.

The successful applicant will be an ex-officio member of the executive committee and will work closely with the music sub-committee.

David Lester, Chairman BMVC, 25 Greenbirch Close, Kempshott, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG22 5JL (email:- david.lester12@btinternet.com )or via the choir website.

Closing date for applications is Monday 15 September 2008
Interviews before 7 October 2008.

ANGLIA GROUP

Peterborough Young Singers

is seeking to appoint two dynamic Musical Directors to succeed our talented Directors who have gone to music study at The Royal Academy (Junior Choir MD) and PGCE at University of Edinburgh (Senior Choir MD). The new Directors will be invited to take up the positions as soon as possible from September when the Young Singers reconvene after the summer break, although there could be a transitional hand-over period during which conducting duties are shared.

We are entering into our 15th season with more than forty regular members spread over the two choirs, and meet Saturday mornings during term time in Peterborough at 10 am for a two hour practice. The new Musical Directors will be asked to work to an already agreed concert timetable which includes a joint Christmas concert, a charity concert and a Choir competition in spring. We will be performing at the NAC AGM in Kings Lynn in March and a possible additional two concerts to finish off the academic year. The highlight of the year is the annual Peterborough Festival in late June or early July.

The most important quality the applicant must possess is an enjoyment of children and young people; and infectious enthusiasm and a good sense of humour. They must have a good understanding of the wide range of secular and religious music available for young people as they will be responsible for the repertoire and the musical development of the children, in agreement with the Governing Committee. The Musical Directors must be able to work collaboratively with each other, and under the leadership of the Governing Committee, who will undertake all aspects of administration.

Information about Peterborough Young Singers is on our web-site at www.youngsingers.net .

Lesley Steward, Choir Secretary, at secretary@youngsingers.net

DEVON GROUP

Torridge Male Voice Choir, Devon Group

The Torridge Male Voice Choir was formed in 2002, by successfully combining both the Bideford and Hartland Male Voice Choirs. And has continued to entertain audiences with a wide variety of songs at locations all mainly across north Devon. These range from churches, chapels, old folks homes, concert halls, hospitals and stately homes, sometimes for its own funds, but more often for charities.

October 2007 saw the retirement of our Musical Director, of the previous 12 years, and our deputy took over. But unfortunately due to increasing work pressures, he too is no longer able to continue. Therefore our choir, of 25 strong is now currently seeking a new MD. The position is open to either male or female, positive enthusiastic applicants and previous experience is preferred, but not essential.

The choir rehearse every Tuesday evening, from 8-9.30pm at Woolsery village hall.

Mrs Lisa Balkwill, 31 Fulford Close, Gammaton Road, Bideford, North Devon EX39 4DX

THAMES NORTH GROUP

Clacton Choral Society – Thames North Group

is seeking to appoint a Music Director to succeed Peter Kenvvn Jones who will be leaving the post in October after five years service. The new Director will be invited to take up the position from October 13th after the Society’s Mendelssohn/Bruch concert on the 11th, although there could be a transitional hand-over period during which conducting duties are shared.

This long-established society has some fifty regular members, who meet every Monday evening in Clacton at 7.30 p.m. for a two hour practice. We are currently rehearsing for a Mendelssohn and Bruch Concert at St Paul’s Church on October 11th 2008.

The new Director will be asked to accept the Society’s plan for a Christmas concert in December featuring Eric Thiman’s Cantata The Nativity but will thereafter, in consultation with the Society, be responsible for the repertoire, and to consider the possibility of a performance of Dvorak’s Stabat Mater in the Spring of 2009.

We hope to attract an enthusiastic and experienced choir conductor to take us forward with our pattern of two major concerts each year and a shorter Christmas Concert of seasonal but often less-familiar music. In recent years we have employed an appropriate orchestra for one of the major concerts.

It is hope that choir members will undertake routine administration, leaving the MD free to deal with the musical side. Plentiful information about the choir is on our web-site at www.clacton-choral-society.org.uk. Musicians interested in applying to take on the post of Musical Director are welcome to contact the Choir Secretary.

Ken Charnock, 17 First Avenue, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO15 5AHby phone on 01255 425976, by e-mail kcharnock@rya-online.net or of course by letter.

MIDLANDS NORTH GROUP

Hadley and District Orpheus Male Voice Choir

A Shropshire choir whose roots go back to the days when striking miners from Wales visited the district at the beginning of the last century and sang to support their cause is in need of a musical director from the end of June.

The Hadley Orpheus enjoyed benevolent patronage when it was formed in 1901 and has continued to entertain with a wide ranging repertoire at churches, chapels, old folk's homes, concert halls (even supermarket foyers), sometimes for its own funds, but more often for charities.

It won the male voice section of the prestigious Welsh Eisteddfod for a number of years until organisers decided to change the rules and make the singing of at least one song in Welsh an imperative! No hard feelings, for this choir is not too distant from the Welsh border and has several Welshmen in its ranks. It enjoys competitive singing and won the Minsterley (Shropshire) Eisteddfod just a couple of years ago.

Ex-Salvation Army bandmaster Howard Renwick retires the end of June, having served for ten years and is one of just six men to lead the choir which is financially sound and has approximately 38 voices, rehearsing each Monday night in a venue in the village of Hadley in Telford, Shropshire.

Choir secretary Richard Haseley believes that the length of service of each of past musical directors (and Howard Renwick) is testimony to the choir's flexibility in the choice of music and the efficient organisation of the necessary 'business' which all choirs need to maintain standards and face challenges of new music in keeping with cultural changes.

Those who are interested should, initially, contact

Richard by calling 01952 618368 or 07791795623, writing him at 1 Red Lees,Ketley,Telford, Shropshire, TF1 5DE or emailing him at richard.haseley@gb.schneider-electric.com

SOUTH WEST GROUP

Wantage Male Voice Choir, Oxfordshire

Piano Accompanist Vacancy.

The Choir comprises 30 members and rehearses on Tuesday evenings in East Hanney, near Wantage, from 7.30 to 9.30pm.

Approximately 12 concerts are held per year, including our annual concert in the Spring.

Please contact our chairman Keith, 01235 766964 or secretary Geoff, 01235 868440 or email, via the website.

NORTH WEST GROUP

Debrose Choir

Musical Director - North West Group

The Debrose choir , Rochdale is looking for an enthusiastic Musical Director to direct and train the choir from Sept 2008 when Philip Asher, their current Musical Director, relocates to Cambridge. Under Philip's musical direction the choir has continued as an active and diverse group.

We have a common shared love and enthusiasm for singing and a willingness to work hard to achieve the best possible performances. Debrose ladies choir currently rehearse on Wednesday evenings each week.

The choir performs at least 2 concerts a year as well as performing at other local events on request.

We are looking forward to resuming competing locally, nationally and internationally.

Margaret Raynor on 01706 654199 or email margaretraynor@sky.com. Closing date for applications 28th April 2008.

WEST YORKSHIRE GROUP

Due to the retirement after 20 years of our Musical Director and after 40 years of our Accompanist, we will require the services of replacements to take up their duties as from 1st January 2009.

Founded over 70 years ago, Honley has established a reputation as one of the best choirs in the region. More details about the choir can be found on our website at: www.honleymvc.co.uk.

The choir currently has 63 singing members and has a full concert programme at prestigious venues. The choir's repertoire covers the whole range from classical, religious, folk songs, songs from the shows etc.

Rehearsals are currently twice per week on Tuesday and Friday evenings 7.30 - 9.30pm. This situation is under discussion within the choir at the moment.

Applicants should preferrably have choral experience and should apply in writing to:

Norman Mellor, Chairman Honley MVC, 44 Highfield Avenue, Meltham. HD9 5RF or ring 01484 851060 for further details.

Midlands East Group

Alfreton Ladies Choir

Assistant Conductor Wanted

Rehearsals held every Monday evening 7.15.pm to 9.00pm in line with the educational calendar.

Choir membership currently 42 ( 3 sections 1st sops,2nd sops and alto) mixed age group.

Performances to general public 10-12 concerts per year, both locally and further a field, including weddings, civic occasions and charity concerts.

Music performed is very varied including songs from musicals and also the more challenging ladies choir arrangements.
The choir is already well established, having been formed since 1936, and continues to have a considered excellent reputation in the district.

Interested female applicants should maybe consider becoming a member of the choir, this would help to assess the quality of standard of the choir. However, this is not compulsory as the post is open to both male and female.

The position will be a shared responsibility with the Musical Director Liz Moulder, who has held the post for the past 15 years, enabling the choir to have continued progression through rehearsals.

CHOIR VACANCIES