Music Director for Newbury Choral Society
Music Director for Newbury Choral Society
Newbury Choral Society
Newbury Choral Society (“NCS” or “The Choir”) is recruiting a new Music Director to start in September 2026.
Personal Specification
The ideal candidate would be someone who:
Is an accomplished choral conductor with proven success in directing other choirs of a similar standard.
Is an experienced orchestral conductor – working with large orchestras playing pieces from the major choral works repertoire.
Is a singer and vocal coach and can demonstrate vocal technique across the voice range in an accessible and approachable way.
Has the ability to plan challenging, varied and stimulating programmes beyond the English choral tradition and standard repertoire demonstrating how programming and presentation attract and retain audiences.
Has high expectations of members and employs diverse strategies to inspire continuous improvement.
Has contacts with other professional singers and instrumentalists and is able to work effectively with orchestral players and soloists.
Is able to work creatively within financial constraints.
Plans for rehearsals and concerts efficiently and communicates effectively with the committee.
Additional considerations will include a candidate who:
Helps shape concerts as memorable experiences not simply performances.
Balances major choral repertoire with less known works that complement them and designs programmes that are artistically satisfying but also appealing to audiences.
Introduces new ideas in programming, presentation and collaboration, whilst respecting the choir’s traditions and capabilities.
Is comfortable introducing works from the stage, providing context and enthusiasm that enhances audience engagement.
Works creatively with limited resources (organ piano or chamber ensemble) when full orchestra is not viable.
Creates rehearsals that are disciplined, efficient and enjoyable and make the most efficient use of rehearsal time.
Maintains a balance between high musical standards and a supportive atmosphere for amateur singers.
Demonstrates the ability to develop the choir’s sound and vocal health. Provides practical vocal guidance that improves blend, intonation and stamina.
Newbury Choral Society
History - www.newburychoral.org.uk/ChoirHistory
Concerts & Repertoire
The choir performs three concerts a season, spaced so that there are approximately fourteen rehearsals for each project. At least one and where financially viable, two are performed with professional orchestra and soloists. The remaining concert(s) by a single instrument or chamber ensemble depending on available funds.
Performances take place in St Nicolas church – Newbury.
The choir performs a wide range of predominantly sacred music covering more than 500 years of composition ranging from renaissance and early music to contemporary compositions but dominated by the major works from the choral tradition. The Choir’s repertoire over the last 50 years is available for download from the web site (www.newburychoral.org.uk).
We have engaged in collaborations with other local choirs in the past and have performed one-off concerts in other venues including Messiah in London and Verdi Requiem in Basingstoke.
We visited Trondheim, Norway for a choir tour in Oct 2019 and welcomed our hosts (Trondernes Mandssangforening) back to Newbury in July 2023.
Rehearsals
NCS rehearses on Monday evenings between 19:30 and 21:30 at Newbury Methodist Church Hall off Northbrook Street from the start of September to the end of June, with a short break at Christmas and Easter. The choir does rehearse on the May bank holidays. Newbury is about three miles south of junction 13 of the M4 and the rehearsal venue is walking distance (10 minutes) from Newbury Railway Station.
An additional rehearsal is scheduled for the Wednesday, Thursday or Friday evening before the concert.
Members are encouraged to take responsibility for learning the music for each project.
There is a choir rule that requires any member who has missed more than three rehearsals for any individual project, to discuss their participation in the concert with the Music Director. Part Reps maintain attendance registers and they are expected to share these with the Music Director when required. The Rules and Constitution are available on the choir’s website.
The choir is supported by our Deputy Musical Director and Accompanist, Steve Bowey and Assistant Chorus Master, Janet Coxwell. Both are pivotal to the success of the choir and building a strong working relationship with them is a key part of the role. https://www.newburychoral.org.uk/Biographies.html#extTeams8-7x
The position of Music Director
The principal responsibilities of the Music Director are to:
Direct rehearsals and concerts.
Propose the seasons’ programmes to the committee, within the agreed financial constraints.
Engage solo vocal, instrumental and orchestral performers and agree fees (formal engagement will be completed by the committee).
The Music Director, though not a member of the committee, is invited to attend committee meetings and is encouraged to join in the Choir’s social activities.
The successful applicant will contract with Newbury Choral Society on a self-employed basis and not as an employee. They will initially be engaged for a probationary year. After this time, with the agreement of both parties, the contract will become a rolling one year contract subject to notice provisions from either party.
Fees and expenses are negotiable and dependent on experience, qualifications, and current market rates.
Selection Procedure
The Choir will be seeking applications from 1st April 2026, with the closing date of 30th April 2026. A “long list” of approximately six applicants will be invited to attend an interview in Newbury. The interview will be with the Recruitment Committee, which comprises officers of the society. A “short list” of candidates will be selected to audition with the choir. This audition will comprise a one hour rehearsal and each candidate will be asked to rehearse music from the upcoming concert. The structure of the rehearsal will be entirely at each candidate’s discretion except that it must include a warm up and a brief introduction about themselves. It is anticipated that the auditions will take place on Monday evenings in May and early June. The successful candidate will be notified as soon after as possible.
Key dates are:
Applications close 30th April
Interviews notified by 8th May
Interviews 11th-15th May
Auditions confirmed by 16th May
Auditions 18th and 25th May, 1st June
Applications
If you are interested in applying for this post, please send your application to NCS, Email: mdrecruitment@newburychoral.org.uk by April 30th 2026. Applications should include:
A CV
An indicative programme for the first season within a budget for professional musicians of £8000 (excluding any fees for the Music Director and accompanist). Please include a brief explanation of how your programming meets the requirement to maintain the breadth and variety of repertoire.
A covering letter giving your reasons for wishing to become Music Director of NCS, and demonstrating how you would meet the criteria we are seeking.
The names of two referees and contact details, one of whom must be a professional musician able to comment on your work as a choral conductor.
For further information on the choir and to read reviews, please visit our website: www.newburychoral.org.uk