Choral Scholarships

REIGATE & REDHILL CHORAL SOCIETY

CHORAL SCHOLARSHIPS – 2024/25 SEASON

About Us

Established in 1941, Reigate & Redhill Choral Society is an ambitious choir open to all ages without formal audition, currently comprising around 90 members across all voice-parts and under the leadership of our musical director, Naomi Butcher. We have an impressive history of programming concerts featuring a diverse range of works from the most popular classics to a selection of contemporary British composers, often with professional soloists and orchestra. Whilst based in Surrey, we also sing in festivals and on tour in the UK as well as on the Continent.

We are excited to announce the opening of a new Choral Scholarship programme, starting in September 2024. Applications are now open for experienced and confident young choral or solo singers to enhance and support the choir, who are keen to develop their musical abilities and expand their knowledge of repertoire and technique.

The programme will run from September 2024 to July 2025, and is aimed at four scholars, one for each voice part. We rehearse in Redhill (trains from London Bridge/Victoria & near M25 J8) on Tuesday evenings and hold four concerts per year, in November, December, March and early July; in addition, we often go on tour over a May Bank Holiday weekend. We welcome applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, although the roles will likely be of most benefit to undergraduate or postgraduate music students.

Successful candidates will be:

• Confident choral and/or solo singers with the ability to support their voice part section
• Secure sight-readers
• Willing to attend a minimum of 80% of weekly rehearsals per term
• Able to perform at all concerts during the period of the agreement

Benefits offered to candidates:

• Excellent training to support their music studies and improve their musical repertoire and technique
• Opportunities for small solo performances at concerts or understudying larger solo roles
• Opportunities to lead sectional rehearsals
• Coaching in choral leadership skills
• Annual honorarium of £1000, payable monthly in arrears from September to June, plus extra fees for other solo work or events, by agreement

Dates for 2024/25 Season:

3 September       First rehearsal of term – Upper Hall, Shaw’s Corner URC, Redhill RH1 6AU

19 October         Workshop – at Reigate Park Church, Reigate RH2 8BD

16 November     Autumn Concert – Beethoven Missa Solemnis with Surrey Pro-Musica ensemble at Reigate St Mary’s Church, Reigate RH2 7RN

17 December      Christmas Concert & Social – at Shaw’s Corner URC, Redhill RH1 6AU

22 March             Spring Concert – Britten St Nicolas, Tippett Five Spirituals from ‘A child of our time’, Britten Serenade for Tenor, Horn & Strings at St Mary’s Church, Reigate RH2 7RN

12 July                  Summer Concert – Repertoire TBC – at St John the Evangelist Church, Redhill RH1 6QA

How to apply

Please send your CV, together with a short recording and a covering letter to chair@rrcs.org.uk. If you have any questions, you may call Ailsa on 07775 735419. The closing date for applications is 31st August, and interviews with voice tests will take place on Tuesday 17th September.

www.rrcs.org.uk

27th July 2024