Conductor/Director of Music

Pro Musica is a friendly, well-established choir of around 30 keen and often experienced singers based in Lewes, East Sussex.  We are seeking to appoint a new Director of Music from January 2024.

The new Director will succeed Olivia Tait, Conducting Fellow at St Martin’s-in-the-Fields, who has been leading the choir on a temporary basis pending a permanent appointment.  Under her directorship, the choir has gained new confidence, and is in a good position to take on new challenges, especially as we prepare to celebrate our 25th Anniversary.  We are looking for a director who can support our singers in successful performances of ambitious music, while keeping the process of getting there enjoyable, and imparting a sense of achievement.

Anyone wishing to join the choir has a voice hearing, and once accepted, is encouraged to work with the Director of Music and other singers towards high-standard performances.  The choir and conductor are supported by a regular accompanist.  Accustomed to working with a wide range of classical and contemporary music, we prepare for three concerts each year. Further information about the choir and its repertoire is available on the Pro Musica website: www.promusica.org.uk.

Rehearsals are held in Lewes during school term times, on Monday evenings from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

The Director of Music also works with a members’ committee, which is dedicated to maintaining a thriving and evolving choir, and is responsible for membership records, finance, publicity, performance venues, and ticket sales among other administrative roles.

Job Description: key duties

• To plan, direct and conduct rehearsals

• To conduct concerts and performances

• To carry out ‘voice hearings’ for prospective members

• To ensure that good choral practice and singing technique are core to rehearsals

• To select music for each season

• To assist the committee in selecting and engaging soloists and instrumentalists for concerts

• To attend committee meetings as an ex officio member – these are online and we’d normally expect attendance at one of these per year

• To attend and report to the AGM of the choir

Essential Qualities and Person Specification for the Director of Music

• Proven ability to conduct choral groups with expressive direction

• A degree or equivalent in music

• Ability to energise the choir with passion and enthusiasm

• Ability to encourage singers in a supportive, tolerant musical environment

• Ability to work with and value the variety of skills among members  

• Willingness to work collaboratively with the committee

The role of Director of Music is remunerated.  Applications by CV plus a covering letter of no more than one side of A4 should be sent to Sue Wight (email: swight1919@hotmail.co.uk) by 31st July 2023.

Informal enquiries about the position are welcome, and applicants are also very welcome to visit one of the regular rehearsals on a Monday evening, by prior arrangement with David Nicholson, Chair (email: david@nicholson.force9.co.uk), and come to our Summer concert at St Michael’s in Lewes on 24th June at 7.30pm.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview early in the Autumn term, and to conduct the choir for a short period on the same day, during a Monday evening rehearsal, as part of the interview process.