Choir Director (Coventry)

You don’t necessarily need to be a hugely experienced choral conductor (although it wouldn’t hurt!), but will need experience of leading and facilitating community music. You’ll also need an excellent ear, keen musicianship, great taste in music, the ability to work with and lead other professional musicians, and of course the ability to engage and inspire and have fun with 30 or so people who may not be used to the discipline of a choir setting. You’ll work alongside the Coventry Choir Committee (whose role will be to recruit and support choir members, plus provide logistics for gigs, workshops and rehearsals).  You’ll receive support and supervision from our central team and other CWNN choir directors.

The choir will run either a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday evening in a venue in central Coventry and we are aiming to start the week of 28th March, so ideally you will be available then, although we could be flexible around times and dates for the right candidate.

The job itself

Rehearsals

• Plan each session’s repertoire and set rehearsal schedules, in consultation with choir members
• Provide the direction and attention to detail necessary to support choir members in achieving the best sound possible, paying attention to tone, pitch, rhythm, tempo, and harmony
• Lead weekly warm ups with attention to healthy vocal technique, fun and variety
• Give leadership and direction to accompanists and musical volunteers
• Arrange repertoire, taking an inclusive and accessible approach
• Allocate and coach soloists, again paying attention to inclusion and diversity
• Encourage and support choir members in their endeavours outside of choir, musical and otherwise

Performances

• With choir committee, consult on appropriate performance opportunities
• Manage the musical side of gigs; book the band, ensure they will be rehearsed to a professional standard, ensure equipment is adequate etc.
• At gigs, be the front person for the group, chatting to the audience and leading them in any participative sections
• Lead the choir in establishing a suitable formation for the space
• Conduct choir and give direction to musicians

Other

• Any administrative tasks or reasonable requests associated with the role
• Meet regularly with choir committee, CWNN’s Artistic Director and other CWNN choir directors for planning and training purposes  

Person Specification

Essential

• Passion for the organisation and its members’ potential, and commitment to its vision, mission and values
• Excellent musical skills, including arranging for a four-part choir, with facilities to share arrangements with other directors
• Ability to lead a choir of differing abilities in a way in which its members feel both comfortable and challenged
• Ability to inspire and make people feel good about themselves
• Ability to improvise and think on the spot
• Ability to lead and direct other musicians, including accompanists and dep choir directors, and a network of them to call on
• Experience of leading choirs, or community music group workshops

Desirable

• Experience of working with vulnerable adults
• Accompanying skills (e.g. piano, guitar)
• Reading and writing music using music notation software

For details of how to apply and the applicaiton process visit our website: www.choirwithnoname.org/choir-director-coventry