Conducting Fellowship 2024/25

Hertford Choral Society is delighted to announce the opening of applications for its Conducting Fellow scheme for the 2024-25 season.

Hertford Choral Society is a friendly, non-auditioned choir with over 100 singers which rehearses on Tuesday evenings in Hertford directed by Manvinder Rattan. We perform major choral works alongside modern pieces - four concerts each year with professional soloists and orchestras, usually at All Saints’ Church, Hertford, together with other singing events led by HCS and involving others from the community. This provides for a rich and enriching musical experience for all those involved and particularly for the successful applicants, giving access to hands-on experience with repertoire and orchestras.

We were pleased to re-start, in 2022-23, our scheme offering a conducting fellowship after a gap of many years, and in this short film you can hear more about the scheme from Adam Hilton, currently our Conducting Fellow.

The Conducting Fellow role is as follows:

To support the Musical Director with all aspects of rehearsal planning and whole musical approach and delivery for each concert

• Attend all rehearsals and concert performances, ideally, but 80% of rehearsals as a minimum for each concert
• Demonstrate good conductor training (ideally to Sing for Pleasure’s Advanced level), particularly for amateur singers
• Be able to lead varied and relevant warm ups on a weekly basis
• Lead part of choir rehearsals on a weekly basis, and exceptionally all of the rehearsal if required to deputise for the MD
• On occasions, conduct part of a concert at the MD’s discretion
• Receive mentoring and coaching support from the MD
• Support the occasional group singing activities led by HCS and involving others in the local community, such as the Hertford Mayor's Carols at the Castle and preparation and participation in singing events away from Hertford in the UK or abroad

The fellowship will suit someone early in their career who has had conducting training, some choral conducting experience and who is keen to build their experience working with a well-established choral society. The ideal applicant will also have well-developed singing and keyboard skills while a significant connection to Hertford would be very welcome. The fellowship will last from September 2024 to June 2025 and attract an honorarium of £2,000 for the season. Performance dates: 26 October and 14 December 2024, 29 March and 21 June 2025.  

Conducting Fellow applicants should apply here by Monday 17 June 2024.