Musical Director

Horsley Choral Society is seeking a new Musical Director from September 2025, to take over from current MD, Val Beynon, who will be retiring after 13 years at the helm of HCS and several years prior to that as a choir member.

We are looking for an ambitious, enthusiastic and energetic MD with a good sense of humour and a positive and motivational approach to rehearsals. The ideal candidate will have the skills to work comfortably with an amateur choir of mixed ability in order to maximise the singing qualities of all. Proven experience of both choral and orchestral direction and a wide knowledge of traditional and modern repertoire is essential. Remuneration will be towards the upper end of the central range published by Making Music, adjusted annually.

Horsley Choral Society, founded in 1920, is an SATB choir of around sixty voices singing a range of music, from choral classics and sacred music to contemporary pieces and lighter works. We are a welcoming and inclusive community boasting a friendly committee and membership who enjoy performing at our own concerts and by invitation. We are a non-auditioning choir which is a prerequisite of being a member of the Leith Hill Music Festival, however, we strive for high standards as evidenced by our successes at this well regarded annual Festival. Founded in 1930 by Ralph Vaughan-Williams, LHMF takes place in the Spring season over two days at Dorking Halls in Surrey, where, on our competition day, we compete with local choirs in the morning, joining together in the afternoon for a mass rehearsal, followed by an evening concert with a choir of around 300, together with professional soloists and orchestra under the baton of the Festival conductor.  Outgoing Festival conductor Jonathan Willcocks has now handed over the baton to Neil Ferris who is well known to the event having adjudicated at the 2024 competition where Horsley were Division winners.

Apart from our LHMF success we have enjoyed other highlights this year including our summer concert 'Eventide' featuring the sublime Fauré Requiem and various summer themed pieces. Prior to this, our Christmas 2023 concert featured Vivaldi's Gloria and Christmas music and this December we will be performing Handel's Messiah Pt I together with carols. We perform two of our own concerts per year in addition to the LHMF concert and enjoy collaborations with other choirs. We have enjoyed a long term relationship with Oxshott Choral Society, performing a number of summer concerts together.  A recent four choir collaboration has been a performance of Verdi's Requiem at The Grange Park Opera's, Theatre in the Woods to celebrate the 160th anniversary of Godalming Choral Society.  We frequently perform locally at community events which have included, jubilee celebrations, village events and the Surrey Hills Christmas Fair at West Horsley Place. We also sing at private events by invitation and have toured in Europe, to Madrid and Brussels and in 2025 will be on tour in Bratislava.

For a detailed person profile, job description and application form please follow the link on our website www.horsleychoralsociety.com

All applications should be made using the form available via the website and sent by email to secretary@horsleychoralsociety.com by 3rd January 2025.

Interviews of those shortlisted will take place from 20th January and selected candidates will be invited to meet and direct the choir one Saturday in February (tbc). Appointment will be made subject to satisfactory references.