Music Director
Music Director
Newent Orchestral Society
The Newent Orchestral Society is seeking a suitably qualified and motivated individual to take up the
position of Music Director of the Society, to start in September 2026. The vacancy has arisen as a
result of current MD moving into full time employment and needing more time to devote to the new
role.
The Society started in 1940 and has a long serving, loyal membership and following of audiences,
and has an ethos of accepting players from all backgrounds and abilities and sets the membership
fee at a low level to encourage this. The new Music Director would be expected to fully support this
all-inclusive ethos.
Rehearsals are held on Saturday mornings from 10:00 am till 12:00 pm in Newent, Gloucestershire,
at the Newent Community Centre. Concerts are normally held twice a year locally. Workshops, of 6
hours’ duration are also held most years, at which players from outside the orchestra are invited to
join us to perform some more challenging pieces. The orchestra’s playing year generally runs from
September to May or June.
Administratively, the Society is run by a committee, which normally meets about four times per year,
and the Music Director would be expected to attend these meetings to provide advice and support,
but with no entitlement to vote. The committee conducts its day-to-day business and contacts with
members via email, so the Music Director is required to be contactable by email. The orchestra has a
website and Facebook account which are used to publish our concerts and events and policies.
The Music Director will be responsible for the selection of the music to be played by the orchestra
but will be expected to liaise with and take guidance from the committee and the orchestra
members on these selections and to obtain approval from the treasurer for purchases. The orchestra
possesses a library of music, including some unusual occasional pieces, which should be considered
for drawing upon as appropriate.
Additional information on the Society can be found on the orchestra’s website at:
https://www.newentorchestra.org/.
An appropriate remuneration will be agreed and normally payable monthly. The Music Director will
be engaged by the Society on a self-employed basis as an independent contractor and is therefore
expected to account for his/her own income tax, Class 4 National Insurance contributions and VAT
returns.
Applications, together with a CV, should be submitted to the secretary of the Society at the following
email address: newentorchestra@gmail.com. Further information can also be obtained from this
address. Interviews will be held on a mutually convenient date