We are now able to offer two further choral conducting apprenticeships for 2010 and welcome applications from both established choral conductors and their choirs as well as potential apprentices.

As many members will recall, in 2005 ABCD were awarded money from the Ernest Cook Trust enabling us to offer apprenticeships to student and aspiring conductors. The focus of the scheme was to offer these conductors the rare chance to work regularly with an experienced choral conductor and their choir in rehearsal, workshop and concert situations for a year.
The scheme was very much 'hands on', with the apprentice conductors not only observing rehearsals but also taking an active role and working within concert situations. The apprentices gained regular experience in choral conducting technique, rehearsal preparation, rehearsal practice, working with an accompanist and working with soloists and orchestras. They were also given the opportunity to learn about all the normal administrative aspects of working with amateur choral groups, including the management of auditions, leadership roles and working with groups and committees.

In 2005, apprentices Matthew Watts and Aled Philips were selected to work respectively with Janet Lince/Reading Festival Chorus and Keith Orrell/Liverpool Welsh Choral Union. This unique experience enabled Matthew and Aled to work with Janet, Keith and their choirs in a range of situations and venues and on repertoire which included Verdi's Requiem and Beethoven's Missa Solemnis. The results were resoundingly positive for both the aspiring conductors and their mentors, prompting Keith Orrell to describe his year as ' ...a truly enriching experience, one indeed which I would gladly repeat'.

In 2008/2009 the success of the scheme continued with apprentice Helen Smith mentored by David Lawrence with City of Birmingham Young Voices and Christopher Chan mentored by Nicholas Cleobury and Oxford Bach Choir.

The Application Process:
Aspiring Conductors & Mentors

If you are interested in applying, the scheme is open to anyone in the UK, and applicants should be prepared to undertake some travel as necessary. You need not currently be members of abcd but, if successful, you will be required to join. The placements are with choirs spread around the UK, both junior and adult and upper and mixed voices.

If there are any more experienced choral conductors and choirs who would like to be involved in the scheme please get in touch with abcd, as detailed below, to register your interest.

All applicants should initially contact abcd’s Events and Training Officer Kate Allen, 07528 382445 / kate.allen@abcd.org.uk who will provide an application form to be returned along with a current CV and a short video of yourself conducting either a rehearsal or concert by Friday 16 April. A short list of applicants will then be invited for an informal interview with tutors and representatives of abcd.

Matthew Watts comments:
I still remember the excitement I felt the moment I found out that I was to be conducting apprentice with the Reading Festival Chorus and their M.D., Janet Lincé, during 2006. After all, how many of us get the chance to work with a hundred strong choir on a regular basis? Previously I had conducted the Highgate Choral Society briefly in an A.B.C.D. event, but otherwise my only time with large choirs had been during auditions for M.D. positions, hardly the ideal learning environment. For many of us there is a big gap to bridge between our regular job - in my case the 45 voices of the New Essex Choral Society - and a large choir. So a BIG thank-you to the A.B.C.D. and, in particular, to Janet for the opportunity! Not only do I now feel confident in front of a large group, but I know that the experience is one that I enjoy. I will certainly be on the lookout for further opportunities as an assistant or deputy conductor in the future.

I would like to end by saying thank you to the members of the Reading Festival Chorus, a lovely and sociable bunch of people.