Repetiteur and Assistant Musical Director

Thames Opera Company - Community Chorus

Recruitment: Repetiteur and Assistant Musical Director

About Thames Opera Company

The Thames Opera Company (TOC) is an independent arts organisation based in Upminster, Essex. It was created in late 2020 by former members of the Royal Opera House Thurrock Community Chorus (ROHTCC) that was disbanded following withdrawal of funding by the Royal Opera House due to the Covid pandemic. We seek to build on the decade long legacy of the ROHTCC, continuing to bring opera and choral music to audiences, old and new.

At the heart of the company is the TOC Chorus, made up of around 80 non-auditioned members of mixed musical ability. It is an inclusive and friendly group, with a real sense of community and family. The Chorus meets weekly during term time and is open to members of all ages. The Chorus has a musical and dramatic focus on opera repertoire, but also performs an eclectic range of classical, choral and musical theatre repertoire. The Chorus performs from memory, and there is a strong focus on developing each member’s musical, dramatic and personal skills.

TOC is a registered charity for the promotion of the arts for the benefit of the public, through the presentation of opera and other dramatic arts.

About the role

We are now seeking a repetiteur and Assistant Musical Director to work with the Thames Opera Company Chorus and the TOC Chorus Musical Director, Jeremy Haneman. The time commitment will involve weekly term-time rehearsals on Monday evenings (19:15-21:30 in Upminster), the fee for which will be £150 per rehearsal. Additional engagements will include termly skills-building days, performances (around 3 times a year in Essex, London and other locations), and occasional meetings (mostly over Zoom or sometimes in-person).

Skills and experience required:

Essential:

• Excellent musical skills including sight-reading and improvisation

• Excellent teamwork skills and willingness to adapt to different ways of working

• Good knowledge and experience of operatic and choral repertoire and languages

• Good understanding of vocal technique and healthy singing

• Good pedagogical skills including the ability to take sectional rehearsals

• A commitment to working in an accessible and inclusive way with a diverse group of participants including mixed age groups and levels of experience

• A commitment to working in Upminster, including rehearsals, performances and meetings

• A team player approach with a natural rapport with singers, conductors and directors, who gets involved in the creative process

• A commitment to personal continuing of professional development

Desirable:

• Conducting skills

• Ability to create learning resources

• For the successful candidate, there may well be opportunities to share additional skills and specialisms with the group

• Arranging skills

 We actively encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds, and value the positive impact difference has on our teams.

Application:

To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter to matt.smith@thamesopera.org.uk by 21st October 2025.

First Round: Selected candidates will be invited to take part in a short phone/Zoom interview with the current Artistic Director, Musical Director and Trustees.

Final Round: Selected candidates from the first round will be invited to undertake a short, practical session with the Chorus on 17th November 2025 at The Coopers’ Coborn and Company School, St. Mary’s Ln, Upminster RM14 3HS.

The start date will be 5th January 2026 or shortly thereafter.