Musical Director

Cantilena Singers (Registered Charity)

Vacancy for a Musical Director – Further Details

We are looking for an enthusiastic, skilled Musical Director  with the ability to motivate, to take over our ladies’ choir of mixed voices as soon as possible.  Covid and lockdown has presented the choir with a number of challenges and choir members are keen to appoint a new MD who will reset the choir and rebuild it from its present 20 or so members. The choir  welcomes new ideas for its future direction.

Background

Cantilena Singers became an  independent choir in September 2003 and a registered charity in September 2004.  The choir has enjoyed much success locally under its previous Musical Director. It is very distinctive in being a choir whose main aim is to raise money for  (mainly) local charities through its two main concerts held each year at Christmas and in the summer. We regularly send between £400 and £500 to each of two charities following the summer concert, and between £500 and £600 to a charity for the homeless at Christmas. At present the choir also performs to local charity groups such as care homes two to three times a year.

The Singing/Music

There are no auditions for the choir and it is not necessary for choir members to read music.  Membership is encouraged for ladies who are prepared to learn and work at achieving a high enough standard for public performance. As well as working hard, the aim is that choir members should enjoy their music making and relay that joy to others in its performances.  Our weekly rehearsals during term times take place on Wednesdays in Sanderstead Methodist Church, Limpsfield Road, Sanderstead, between 7.30 and 9.30, with a fifteen minute coffee/tea break in the middle. At these rehearsals we combine having fun, with working on ways to improve our technique. Our Musical Director and Accompanist provide guidance on how to deal with tricky tunings and timings.  We regularly have split rehearsals, particularly for more demanding repertoire.

The choir has a wide repertoire of mainly two or three part songs ranging from classical, folk, show and modern. It is the choice of material which ensures that there is something for everyone! The existing music library holds a large number of sets which are added to each year.

Income

Social events such as coffee mornings are held to raise money for the choir. Apart from these events, and a termly (and very popular) Bring and Buy,  the choir’s main income is from the members’ subscriptions.

Remuneration

This is a self-employed position. Remuneration is at present £38.93 per hour (£77.86 for a two hour rehearsal meeting attended) .  This increases by the RPI figure for the September preceding the following Autumn Term.  At present too, we pay £50 for each charity concert. This could be a matter of discussion.

Other activities requested by the Committee will be remunerated at an agreed rate.

Post Description

• Work with the committee to plan and manage the musical direction and strategy of the group
• Meet with the committee and advise on musical matters
• Work with the committee to plan and schedule appropriate repertoire within the allocated budget
• Draw up appropriate rehearsal schedules
• Organise split rehearsals as appropriate
• Take rehearsals, coach and conduct performers
• Conduct the group in performances
• Conduct auditions where appropriate
• Work with the librarian and the treasurer in obtaining music

Person Description

Excellent interpersonal skills

Enthusiastic

Positive

Encouraging

Well organised

Good sense of humour

Empathetic and ability to relate to a wide range of ages and abilities in singing

Committed to choir’s philosophy

Essential skills

Ability to play the piano so as to accompany different groups in the rehearsals

Good sight reading skills

Experience in improving singing technique

Experience in conducting

Desirable Skills

Appropriate Musical Qualification