Information for Candidates for the post of Music Director
Bristol Bach Choir is seeking a Music Director to take up post in January 2009. We are looking to appoint an exceptional choral musician, with the ability to lead and inspire the choir, a group with an enviable reputation as one of the foremost choirs in the South West.
For almost ten years, Peter Leech has been our Music Director. Through his musicianship, the choir has developed enormously. His imaginative programming, choral experience and expertise has ensured some of the most exciting and moving performances in the choir’s history. With Peter’s departure in December 2008 we wish to appoint a new Music Director who will be no less talented and inspirational.
The choir’s repertoire is wide, with a bias towards J.S. Bach and the Baroque and contemporary music. Our most recent concert for example, featured English composers of the 20th and 21st century, including a new work commissioned for the choir by Michael Stimpson, while our November 2007 concert in Wells cathedral, was a performance of J.S. Bach’s B Minor Mass. Future concerts include music by Langlais and Fauré in June this year, early English music in November, and a performance of Handel’s Messiah in March 2009.
The choir performs in prestigious venues in Bristol, including St George’s Bristol, St Mary Redcliffe Church and Bristol and Clifton cathedrals. Further afield, the choir has performed in the cathedrals of Wells, Gloucester and Worcester and Malmesbury Abbey. A tour to Dresden is planned for July 2009; previous tours have included Prague in 2005 and Porto in 2002.
Each year the choir organises an open workshop inviting other singers as well as choir members to study and perform a work or particular genre of music.
Throughout school terms the choir rehearses on Thursdays from 7.30 – 9.30 pm, with an additional rehearsal in the week of the concert. All rehearsals are taken by the Music Director together with the choir’s own accompanist Nigel Nash and are held at the United Reformed Church in Henleaze, Bristol.
If you are interested in applying for this post please send by email to Alison Grant, the Choir Secretary:
The closing date for applications is 5pm on 30 June. Shortlisted candidates will be informed by 25th July and invited to attend for an audition with the choir and a formal interview in Bristol on Saturday 4 October.
Subject to satisfactory references, the successful applicant will be notified by 10 October and will take up their post on 1 January 2009.