Musical Director

The National Federation Of Music Societies; St Asaph; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Ripieno Choir, based near Esher in Surrey, is seeking a Musical Director from May 2027 to build on its 80-year history and develop the choir’s vocal technique, musicianship and repertoire.

You will have sound knowledge of Renaissance and Baroque music, enjoy exploring outside that repertoire, and be able to conduct a small choir to a high standard. Occasional keyboard support during rehearsals, plus selecting orchestras and soloists, are expected, along with publicity work and tours.

Qualifications

• Experience conducting a small choir to a high standard.
• Sound knowledge of Renaissance and Baroque repertoire and willingness to explore outside it.
• Able to provide occasional keyboard support during rehearsals.
• Experience selecting and conducting professional orchestras and soloists.
• Commitment to choir sustainability and financial success.

Responsibilities

• Conduct the Ripieno Choir and lead Sunday evening rehearsals.
• Develop and expand the choir’s repertoire across periods, including Baroque and Renaissance.
• Select and conduct professional orchestras and soloists for concerts.
• Contribute to publicity, social media and programme notes.
• Organise tours and manage the choir’s production cycle.

Skills

Choral conducting

Music leadership

Keyboard accompaniment

Repertoire development

Public program planning

Job description

Musical Director Position

Ripieno Choir

The Ripieno Choir is a well-regarded, auditioned chamber choir of around 30 experienced and responsive amateur musicians, based near Esher in Surrey. https://ripienochoir.org.uk/

We have a particular for exploring newly discovered or little-known works from the Baroque and Renaissance periods. But we do enjoy performing repertoire from more recent periods too. Throughout its 80 year history the choir has consistently worked to improve its expertise, range and musical ambition; in consequence we have grown a loyal and enthusiastic audience whose support enables us to interleave our a cappella concerts with performances accompanied by professional soloists and period orchestras..

We are seeking a new musical director from May 2027 to build on this base and further develop the choir’s vocal technique, musicianship, and repertoire.

You will have sound knowledge of, and pleasure in, the Renaissance and Baroque repertoire, with a willingness to explore outside of it. You will be an enthusiastic singer with experience conducting a small choir to a high standard, and be able to provide occasional keyboard support during rehearsals to supplement the choir’s reasonable sight-singing competence. You will also have experience selecting and conducting professional orchestras and soloists, and be committed to the choir’s sustainability and financial success by proposing attractive programmes for our concerts and contributing to our production cycle of publicity materials, social media and programme notes. Most importantly, you will understand how to engage with an amateur choir to promote their enjoyment of rehearsals and pleasure in performance.

Rehearsals are held off Hampton Court Way on Sunday evenings (19h45-21h45) during term time, with approximately 10 rehearsals per term. We typically perform 3 or 4 concerts each year. Every few years we also enjoy mini-tours in the UK or abroad to enjoy singing in the fabulous venues and acoustics for which our core repertoire was crafted. The successful candidate would be expected to join the choir on these adventures.