Ware Choral Society

Ware Choral Society was established more than 120 years ago as an amateur SATB choir. We currently have around 100 non-auditioned members. We recently conducted a visioning exercise and there was unanimity about wanting to continue to expand the range of music we sing, to embed ourselves even more firmly in the local community and to aspire to even higher musical standards. We have performed many of the major choral works along with an eclectic mix of modern works from composers such as Chilcott, Rutter and Lauridsen. Under our present musical director, Harry Sever, we have increased our repertoire, including singing in Russian and German as well as the more usual Latin and English and this summer we shall be performing Donizetti’s opera L’Elisir d’Amore in Italian. We have enjoyed the services of top class soloists accompanied by prestigious orchestral groups such as The Brook Street Band and imminently, the Chroma Ensemble. Last summer we were invited to join the Cambridge Philharmonic to sing Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony in Ely Cathedral.

Our current director’s career has developed exponentially over the time he’s been with us, and he now needs to devote more time to major projects and his international commitments.

The choir rehearses every Wednesday from 7:30pm until 9:15pm in the Riverside Hall, Ware, which is a short walk from Ware Station which is served by a good service from London Liverpool Street.

We perform three concerts each year in March, June and December in local venues.

Job specification

Overall purpose: to be the musical director of Ware Choral Society, taking weekly rehearsals in preparation for our concerts.

Responsible to: The Trustees of Ware Choral Society, a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.  

Fees: by negotiation, dependent on experience. The person appointed will be a self-employed contractor / freelance consultant. Reasonable travel expenses will be paid.

Details:

• To prepare the choir for three concerts each year, typically 35 rehearsals. These take place on Wednesday evenings from 7:30pm until 9:15pm at the Ware Riverside Hall
• to attend concert day rehearsals and conduct the concerts
• to choose and appoint professional soloists and musicians for the concerts
• to work collaboratively with the Trustees and Management committee to determine future repertoire, bearing in mind the choir’s capability and financial status.

Please see our website warechoral.org.uk for more information about us.

For further information and to apply please contact David Horner, Chair of Trustees - dvd.horner@googlemail.com

Please provide the names and contact details of two referees, one of whom should be a professional colleague. Following a zoom interview in the week of 12 June, we will invite shortlisted candidates to a short rehearsal, probably on 21 June.