Musical Director – role description Conductor and MD for a choir within the international Military Wives Choirs (MWC) network An MWC MD will guide the choir as they sing, share and support each other, facilitate and inspire the choir as they develop as an ensemble, present attractive and varied music to MWC audiences and uphold the brand's national reputation. They will be both a skilled teacher and an inspiring leader who enjoys meeting new people and building good working relationships. They will need to be committed to enabling military families, through the power of music, to bring women in the military community together to sing, share and support each other. The Military Wives Choirs Families of service personnel move around frequently and it can often be tough to put down roots or make new friends which can leave women feeling isolated, particularly when loved ones are away for long periods of time. Research shows that singing in a choir helps to alleviate stress and contributes to an improvement in wellbeing. The Military Wives Choirs therefore have a vital role to play by bringing women in the military community together to sing. There are over 2,300 women with a military connection in 75 choirs across the UK and overseas. Every new posting for women in the military community is as daunting as it is exciting, but knowing that you have a choir to go to in your new location where you know the songs and even some of the people can be a real lifeline, and promote welfare. That's why, whilst each local choir has its own identity, all are run in a very similar way with shared music, a fun and friendly ethos and lots of 'cross-network' projects and activities. Each choir's weekly rehearsals provide an opportunity for members to connect with each other, feel supported and welcomed, and provide a safe and encouraging space for the singers to learn new music, develop skills of listening and responding, and become familiar with the nature of rehearsals and events. Above all, an MWC MD's role is to make music fun and accessible to everyone, promote a culture of support and respect, and allow our members to develop and shine as an ensemble.
Main duties and responsibilities:
* Conduct events per year as required (usually in the region of 10-15 a year), lead weekly evening rehearsals (usually with breaks at Christmas and Easter, and a summer break); attend planning meetings with the choir's committee (termly) and occasional review conversations with the committee (yearly).
* In collaboration with the committee, to devise a termly music programme, plan and communicate a rehearsal schedule and ensure that the Choir is confident and able to give well-prepared performances for their audiences. Recruit soloists from within the choir in an open, positive and confidence building way, and help to organise external personnel where necessary, such as a deputy conductor, accompanist, sound engineer or production manager.
* Ensure rehearsals are varied and engaging. Ensure new members feel welcome and work with the choir and Military Wives Choirs Music & Performance Manager to facilitate professional and choir development and ensure the highest possible standard. Qualifications and experience
* Ability to work with singers with a range of experience, confidence and expertise in a positive, supportive and empowering manner
* Experience of delivering results of a good standard to strict deadlines
* No over-commitment to other choirs and ensembles
* Desire and ability to support military families
* Experience of conducting a similar choir (in terms of size, standard and repertoire), or, if no experience, considerable and recognised training and qualifications (Degree, Grade 8 Singing, DipABRSM).
Desirable personal attributes:
* A dynamic and versatile conductor with appropriate directing, choir training and vocal coaching skills
* A supportive and empathetic personality with a willingness to learn and understand the unique challenges of military life
* Creative and thoughtful: a source of good ideas to move the choir forward
* Reliable and organised. A calm and confident leadership style: able to inspire confidence in others and maintain authority
* A grasp of musical detail, and the ability to work constructively with the Choir to improve accuracy and blend to deliver high standards of performance
* An articulate, fluent and persuasive speaker: able to communicate well with the choir and its audience
* A sense of humour, and the capacity to socialise with the Choir
Job Type: Freelance
Pay: £13.50-£50.00 per hour
Expected hours: No less than 2 per week
Benefits:
* Free parking
* On-site parking
Work Location: In person