Choir Accompanist / Assistant Musical Director
Choir Accompanist / Assistant Musical Director, Bishop's Stortford Choral Society
Bishops Stortford Choral Society
Accompanist and Assistant Musical Director
Bishop’s Stortford Choral Society seeks a new Accompanist and Assistant Musical Director. This exciting role will see the successful applicant support the Musical Director in the smooth running of this ambitious and active choir in Bishop’s Stortford. This role is ideal for both established professionals and early career musicians.
Bishop’s Stortford Choral Society is a choir of around 80 singers rehearsing weekly in the historic market town of Bishop’s Stortford in East Hertfordshire. Although the choir is unauditioned, the standards set by our Musical Director, Richard Brain, are high. The choir rehearses on Thursday evenings during term times at the United Reformed Church, Bishop’s Stortford CM23 2JZ.
The choir typically puts on three concerts a year in and around Bishop’s Stortford. Recent performances include Bach `St Matthew Passion', Beethoven `Symphony No.9', Verdi `Requiem', Jenkins `The Armed Man', and most recently Chilcott `A Little Jazz Mass' and Rutter `Birthday Madrigals'.
We are looking for a new member of the team who will contribute proactively to the growth and enhance the development of the choir by:
1. Accompanying rehearsals to a professional standard
2. Deputising for the Musical Director as required
3. Leading sectional rehearsals as required
4. Playing continuo and/or the piano at concerts as required
5. The ability to play the organ would be an advantage.
Rehearsal and concert fees are paid at competitive rates. This position will be held in a self-employed capacity. The successful applicant would be required to arrange their own deputy when unavailable for any rehearsal.
Auditions are expected to take place in the early part of the autumn term when the choir will be rehearsing Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana.
Bishop’s Stortford is extremely well located for transport links being situated off Junction 8 of the M11 and with regular trains to both London and Cambridge. The United Reformed Church is located in the town centre.
You can find out more about the choir at www.singwithbscs.org.uk.
Please send your CV with a covering letter outlining your experience and suitability for the post to Yvonne Unruh at chair@singwithbscs.org.uk by 7th August 2026.
Person Specification
• A skilled pianist / organist and a sensitive accompanist
• Strong sight-reading and score-reading abilities
• Fluent in reading short score and open score
• Choir training and conducting skills
• Able to work as part of a team
• Approachable with good interpersonal skills
• Confident in working with large groups of musicians
• Able to work well and collaboratively with the Music Director to facilitate rehearsals and enable singers to give their best.