Dorking Choral Society (DCS) is seeking to appoint a new Musical Director from January 2022.
DCS is an active amateur choir with membership of between 60-70 based in Dorking, Surrey. The choir traces its origins back to 1922, and is a longstanding member, and competitor in, the Leith Hill Music Festival (LHMF), held annually in Dorking Halls. In 2022, we will be celebrating our 100th Anniversary.
We rehearse weekly in Dorking on Wednesday evenings from early September to July. In a typical year, DCS will stage a major orchestral concert in November and a Christmas Concert, including a local children's choir, in December. It competes and performs a major work in the LHMF in March/April and arranges a summer event/orchestral concert and /or tour.
Recent performances have ranged from Mozart's Requiem (2018) and Brahms' Requiem (2019) to Songs of the Sea (2021), which included 2 movements from RVW's Sea Symphony. Highlights of recent years include Bach's Christmas Oratorio, Haydn's Creation, Monteverdi's Vespers and Chilcott's A Little Jazz Mass. DCS has also commissioned works, including Zimbe! (2010) by Alexander L'Estrange, All our Revels (2020) by Piers Maxim and the orchestration of A Drop of Nelson's Blood by Ian Assersohn. In October 2021, we welcomed soloist Roderick Williams and the Royal Philharmonic Society to rehearsal, as part of the RPS outreach programme for amateur choirs.
More information and background can be found at www.dorkingchoralsociety.org.uk. The Chair, Ann-Christine Harland, will be delighted to provide further information.
DCS welcomes applications for the position of Musical Director from candidates with experience of choral and orchestral conducting. This is a paid role within the normal range appropriate to amateur choirs for rehearsals and performances.
By midnight Friday 19th December 2021, applicants are asked to submit
1) A C.V., including 2 references, together with
2) A supporting statement of no more than 300 words, explaining why you are applying for this position and how you would develop and grow the choir over the next 5 years.
by email to dorkingharlands@netscape.net.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a 50 minute audition with the choir on Wednesday 5th or 12th January 2022, with the intention of making an appointment by Wednesday 19th January 2022.
