Job Advertisment - Music Director Dartford Choral Society

Job Advertisement – Dartford Choral Society 

Music Director 

conductor and accompanist from January 2025  

Dartford Choral Society is a non-auditioned SATB choir of around 25 people (approximately 8 sopranos, 9 altos, 3 tenors and 5 basses) of mixed age and musical experience/ability, performing a varied repertoire of sacred and secular choral music. The Society’s year runs from September to June, with rehearsals on Monday evenings and four concerts per year. We are seeking a music director/accompanist to take up the position in January 2025, succeeding Michael Bell, who is retiring after 40 years’ service. There is a modest remuneration for this post, in line with the Society’s limited financial resources, and the successful applicant will be self-employed.  

Duties  

• To conduct and accompany the choir at rehearsals. 
• To conduct the choir at concerts, in most cases to include a preceding afternoon rehearsal. 
• To develop and improve the quality of the existing choir. 
• To actively assist in the recruitment of new members. 
• To work in collaboration with the Committee and attend all Committee meetings. 
• To select suitable music for each concert, in consultation with the Committee, taking into account the constraints of vocal resources and budget. 
• To book a competent organ accompanist for each concert. 
• To book professional soloists for concerts where the programme dictates, and, in certain circumstances, to select soloists from within the choir. 

 Required skills/qualities  

• A recognised professional musical qualification.
• Experience of choral conducting and good knowledge of the choral repertoire. 
• Experience of working with choirs of mixed abilities and ages, particularly those of more mature years. 
• Ability to accompany rehearsals and direct from the piano. 
• Good organisational skills and time management. 
• Good communication skills. • An engaging personality, enthusiasm and a sense of humour.  

Application process  

Applicants should complete the application form and email this together with a full CV and suggested music programme for the Spring, Summer and Autumn concerts in 2025 to publicity@dartfordchoral.org.uk. 

The deadline for applications is 12 noon on Wednesday 25th September 2024. 

For further details about the Society, please see our website at www.dartfordchoral.org.uk. Please contact our Chairman, Pat Everington (chairman@dartfordchoral.org.uk), with any queries or for further information about the vacancy.  

Dartford Choral Society 3 September 2024