Musical Director

The Fourth Choir is seeking an ambitious and engaging Musical Director to further hone, lead and inspire a diverse group of singers based in and around London.

Founded in 2013 to give professional and non-professional LGBT+ singers and allies the opportunity to sing a cappella choral music to the highest standard possible, the choir has since performed more than 100 times in over 40 venues: from well-known performance venues including King’s Place, Shakespeare’s Globe and the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, to less traditional spaces including Heaven nightclub, the Brunel Tunnel and the inflatable Colourscape pavilion.

We are an auditioned choir of around 50 members (typically performing with 32-36 singers) with high expectations of our singers in terms of attendance, commitment and continued musical development, including working with 1-1 singing tutors, sight-reading and musical theory. Fostering a fully inclusive musical environment is at the heart of what we do, and we work to affirm the identities of our members, support their wellbeing, challenge stereotypes and explore innovative themes through our activities and concert programming.

Responsibilities

- Devise 5-6 choral concert programmes per year in collaboration with the artistic team with diverse and challenging repertoire

- Lead weekly evening rehearsals and provide notes for home study

- Audition and approve new members

- Conduct self-promoted concerts and professional engagements

- Establish and develop relationships with orchestras, vocal tutors, composers, professional soloists, venues and musical organisations

- Work closely with the choir’s Trustees to jointly define long-term strategy for the choir

Requirements

- Experience leading both amateur and professional choral ensembles

- Ability to rehearse efficiently and prepare a choral concert with new repertoire in 6-8 weeks

- Ability to model and coach good vocal technique and musicianship

- A strong understanding of and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, particularly with respect to the LGBT+ community

Pay is competitive at fixed rates for rehearsals, concerts, meetings and recordings.

Hiring timeline

- Initial expressions of interest are welcome until 31 May 2021

- Candidates who are long-listed will be asked to provide answers to questions, complete a repertoire challenge, and provide videos in June/July.

- Interviews and shortlisting will take place in August/September

- October-December: trial rehearsals - We expect to make an appointment around the end of the year

Click below for more information and to submit a expression of interest.