Con Anima Musical Director

Con Anima (www.conanima.org.uk) is an auditioned amateur chamber choir based in Aberdeen for over 20 years.  At any one time it has about 20 members, all singers, who perform typically four concerts a year, sometimes augmented by guest singers and sometimes in collaboration with other music ensembles. 

Con Anima Chamber Choir rehearses from 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm on Thursday evenings in the John Skinner Centre, King Street, Aberdeen.

The repertoire is broad, including large scale works (eg Handel’s Messiah with orchestra), a cappella works (eg Morten Lauridsen’s Madrigali), new compositions (eg Judith Weir’s The Big Picture, taking part in soundfestival) and Christmas carols.  The membership of Con Anima is subject to frequent change.  The choir members are represented by their committee, whose membership also changes, but less frequently. 

Con Anima decided at its AGM in 2019 to move from inviting conductors project by project to establish the post of Musical Director, to create a more consistent approach to the choir’s overall sound, ensemble and vocal technique. This became particularly important as we returned to singing after the Covid-19 pandemic and remains our goal. We are now seeking a new Musical Director, as the current post holder, Ralph Jamieson, is retiring at the end of 2025

Purpose/Role

To create a consistency of approach by giving advice on matters musical, choral and vocal, and so develop the choir’s standards of musicianship and performance.

Key responsibilities/duties:

• to effect the musical training of Con Anima in such works as shall be chosen and to attend rehearsals as arranged by the Committee with the agreement of the Music Director;
• to conduct and direct Con Anima and other performers at concerts or other events as shall be fixed;
• to work with the Committee in selecting music for Con Anima;
• to ensure that the highest possible standards are achieved both at rehearsals and concerts, consistent with Con Anima’s musical and financial resources
• to audition prospective members of Con Anima and to make recommendations to the Committee in the light of such auditions;
• to make recommendations to the Committee for the engagement of soloists and other performers needed for concerts and to audition them if necessary;
• to advise and assist the Committee in the artistic direction of Con Anima;
• to provide to the Committee as requested all details reasonably required for producing programmes and publicity material;

The Con Anima Musical Director

• must have the necessary musical skills to perform the above responsibilities.
• must be able to make rehearsals enjoyable.
• must be able to work collaboratively with the choir and its committee.
• should have sufficient keyboard skills to facilitate rehearsals.

Administrative arrangements:

• The Musical Director will be an ex officio member of Con Anima’s Committee
• Con Anima offers a fee of £2,500 per year inclusive of VAT if applicable to cover payment and expenses relating to all preparation for each concert, including rehearsals, payable quarterly in arrears on receipt of invoice.
• Any appointment will be on a self employed/freelance basis under a contract for services

Appointment process:

• Interested applicants should submit their CV and their proposal for a 75 – 80 minute programme for our Spring concert, currently planned for Saturday 14 March 2026, together with a covering email and two referees, by 5:00 pm on Monday 1 September to Cathy Guthrie, Chair of Con Anima Chamber Choir contact.conanima@btinternet.com  
• Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview on Thursday 11 September before that evening’s rehearsal
• The successful applicant will be engaged from 1 January 2026 for a trial concert with the intention of permanent appointment thereafter, following review

For an informal discussion and further information, please contact Cathy Guthrie via the email address above.