Conductor

Vacancy Type: Appointment of Conductor

Application deadline:  10th February 2023

Start date: 1st September 2023

Contract and Remuneration:  The successful applicant will contract with Sheffield Bach Society on a self-employed basis and not as an employee, for 2 yearly terms.  Fees are paid for each concert and the rehearsals leading up to that at a rate of £5000 per season.

Further details:

Formed in 1950 Sheffield Bach Choir is an auditioned choir of currently approximately 45 members coming from across the City of Sheffield and the surrounding area.  Like many choirs, in the post pandemic period, the choir has reduced in size and the Committee are hoping that the appointment of a new conductor signals a regeneration of the choir towards its previous strength of around 60 singers.

Since 2020 the choir have performed four major concerts in each season which runs from September each year.  A key feature of the choir’s calendar is our performances of J S Bach’s Mass in B Minor, St John Passion and St Matthew Passion over a three yearly cycle, in addition to Handel’s Messiah on the first Monday in December each year. The Society works with professional orchestral players and soloists for most concerts, occasionally also performing with a visiting organist. The newly appointed Conductor will play a key role in shaping the season’s future programmes and supporting the Committee in identifying potential soloists. 

Rehearsals are on Monday evenings at Cemetery Road Baptist Church (Napier Street, Sheffield S11 8HA) from 7.30 – 9.30pm with a short refreshment/social break.  We rehearse from early September through to July each season, with only occasional breaks, primarily for Bank Holidays.  The Society employs a rehearsal pianist who often also plays continuo in our performances.

Please also see our website: www.sheffieldbachchoir.org.uk for a fuller version of this document and for more information about our history and performances.

Our ideal new Conductor of Sheffield Bach Choir:

• will have proven experience of working with singers successfully to prepare a choir for its concerts and have the ability to direct performances of a high standard with professional players and soloists

• must be a highly competent musician and a good communicator; bring vitality and enthusiasm to the role and be able to hold the choir to high standards but with patience and good humour

• will bring knowledge of a wide-ranging choral repertoire to the choir and the ability to introduce singers to newer works

• will have the ability to enthuse the choir, retain existing members and, we hope, attract new singers

• will, in the occasional absence of the rehearsal accompanist, have the ability to rehearse the choir from the keyboard 

SELECTION PROCESS

The selection process will include both an interview with the Committee and a session of approximately 45 minutes where each shortlisted candidate will be invited to rehearse the choir in excerpts from Bach’s St Matthew Passion. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to lead a rehearsal on either Monday 20th March or Monday 27th March between 7.30 and 9.30pm. The interviews will take place on a different evening to the rehearsal sessions which will be determined depending upon the number of candidates shortlisted.  A conditional verbal offer, subject to satisfactory references and DBS check, will be made to the successful candidate as soon as possible after the selection process. All candidates will be informed of the outcome of the recruitment process after this is confirmed. 

Please send a CV and covering letter outlining the skills and experience you feel you would bring to the role of conductor of Sheffield Bach Choir and including details of 2 referees to the Chairman, Sheffield Bach Society – Mr Christopher Walker  chairman@sheffieldbachchoir.org.uk

The closing date for applications is 10th February 2023.