Bass Choral Scholarship

Cappella Newcastle, a chamber choir based in Newcastle upon Tyne, wishes to appoint its first Bass Choral Scholar.  This exciting role offers aspiring choral singers hands-on experience under the guidance of the choir’s Musical Director (MD) Simon Lee. They will receive support in the form of regular singing lessons with opportunities for performing solo(s) in performance. They will support the preparation for each concert by leading the bass section.

The successful candidate would be expected to start in January 2024 and the post would run through to July 2024 (i.e. 2 terms). There may be an opportunity to extend for the 2024-25 season if both the candidate and the choir are in agreement.

Duties

• Attend rehearsals which fall within school terms, approximately 35 per season, on Wednesdays 7-9pm in central Newcastle.
• Attend all concerts and other performance events throughout the season unless otherwise agreed with the MD. 
• Sing in the choir, supporting the singers as they learn and perform the repertoire for the concerts.
• Abide by the choir’s policies, including safeguarding, health and safety, social media.

Renumeration and Benefits

• £900/annum (payable in termly instalments), equating to £300 per term
• Singing lessons (2 per term) with Simon Lee, Musical Director of Cappella Newcastle
• Solo experience in both rehearsal and performance contexts (the successful candidate will be given the opportunity to sing a solo in each term’s concert, depending on the repertoire).

Personal Specification

• Essential
  • Student at university or 6th form college.
  • Bass or baritone.
  • Strong, confident singer who can lead others in learning and performing new and challenging repertoire.
  • Experience of choral music with a knowledge of a range of styles and genres within the world of choral music.
  • Good interpersonal skills and an ability to inspire the members of the choir in a kind and encouraging manner.
  • Age 18 or over (for safeguarding reasons)
• Desirable
  • Interest in pursuing a musical career

Recruitment process

• Advertise on website and social media with a closing date of noon on Monday 20 November 2023. Interested candidates to email a CV and recording (3 minutes maximum) to chair@cappellanewcastle.org.uk.
• Attendance at a Wednesday rehearsal to meet the MD and choir (22nd November or 29th November)
• Shortlisted candidates to be auditioned by the MD and 2 members of the committee, including aural tests and sight-reading skills – December date tbc

Additional information

Cappella Newcastle is a well-established mixed age ensemble with around 30 members. We usually perform three concerts a year around the North East and occasionally further afield. The choir’s repertoire is varied and ambitious, from English Renaissance composers such as Thomas Tallis and Thomas Weelkes to romantic works such as in the Brahms Liebeslied Waltzes of our summer 2022 programme, or contemporary pieces by composers such as Gabriel Jackson and Eric Whitacre. In March 2022 we gave the first North East performance of Whitacre’s extraordinary piece The Sacred Veil.  In our 2022-23 season we marked the 400th anniversary of William Byrd’s death, as well as performing pieces by other popular and lesser-known composers including Amy Beach. We sing unaccompanied or with small groups of guest instrumentalists, and whenever possible we create opportunities for young soloists to perform with us.

Forthcoming Concerts by Cappella Newcastle:

• Saturday 18th November 2023, “Dona Nobis Pacem: Music of War and Peace”, St James’s URC, Newcastle
• Saturday 23rd March 2024, “Handel’s Messiah”, St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle
• Saturday 29th June 2024, “Air”, Jesmond URC, Newcastle