Recruitment
Why do we need New Members?
The Huddersfield Choral Society has stated its aim to be recognised as the country’s leading choir, and to do so we need to raise our profile to a wider audience.
This means being able to accept more invitations to perform all over the UK and abroad, which in turn requires a larger choir membership to manage the workload!
Within the last 12 months or so we’ve participated in a BBC Prom, including a newly commissioned work by the BBC, recorded a Christmas CD, travelled twice to Europe to sing in Brno (Czech Republic) and Antwerp (Belgium), performed in Huddersfield for Her Majesty the Queen, and to top it all, been to Osaka, Japan to perform in a very moving performance of Britten’s War Requiem with the Osaka Symphonic Choir.
All that on top of our usual Subscription Programme and other concerts slightly closer to home.
So as you can see, these continue to be very exciting times for The Choral, and to maintain this momentum we are keen to recruit new members to share the thrill and pleasure of singing with this great organisation.
We have also welcomed a further 30 new members in the last 12 months, so choir numbers continue to grow. Luckily we still have room for more to join us to share the thrill and pleasure of singing with this great organisation.
We will continue to audition throught the year, so if you are interested in becoming a member, and seeing what's in store for the coming season, please contact Gaynor Haliday, Recruitment Officer - details at the foot of this page.
The choir itself is a friendly community of like-minded people, including members of all ages and from many walks of life. Rehearsals take place on Friday evenings with chorus master Joseph Cullen and the atmosphere is one of enjoyment and professionalism.
Membership is by way of a short audition, lasting only about 10 minutes. Previous experience of choral singing is not necessary although the ability to read music and a basic level of sight-reading are expected. Prospective members are given a clear idea of what is involved so that they can prepare, and the audition itself is conducted in a relaxed, friendly manner to give candidates every opportunity of gaining membership. Potential new members are also given the opportunity to participate in some of the choir’s weekly rehearsals before deciding whether to audition.
About The Audition
Yes, unfortunately, membership is by way of an audition. There isn’t really any way round this. However, we do try to make this as painless as possible – we want people to join us and we never turn away a good voice. And we realise you might be nervous.
Let's dispel some myths:
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The audition is in front of a huge panel - No it’s not…there will be the Chorus Master Joseph Cullen, the Choir Secretary Andrea Crawshaw, a member of the choir and the President John Denham. That’s it - four really friendly people who want you to do well and be able to welcome you into The Choral.
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I need to have singing lessons - Well I’ve never had a singing lesson in my life (though maybe I ought to). If you so wish, we have a vocal coach, James Ashworth, who can listen to you and advise you of your choice of piece, and also help you give your best performance.
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I’m not sure I’d be good enough – We now like to give prospective members the chance to attend a couple or more rehearsals before auditioning - that way you’ll soon find out if it’s for you or not! It also sometimes helps to have sat next to someone who can then vouch for you at the audition. Most people think it’s so great they can’t wait to join us.
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What will happen in the audition? Firstly Joseph will listen to you warm up with a few scales and arpeggios. This is to establish the range and “colour” of your voice. You will then be asked to sing your prepared piece. We recommend something you are familiar and confident with, which shows your range without being too stretching (nerves can make you squeak!) Perhaps an aria or a hymn or a traditional song. There will be a little sight-reading to do, and probably an opportunity to sing back a phrase of a few random notes, and picking out notes from a chord to check your “ear”.
And that’s it, 10 minutes of mild discomfort in return for a lifetime of pleasure. You’ll wish you’d done it sooner. I did.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the age range?
Huddersfield Choral Society is extremely fortunate in having a membership with a wide range of ages. Currently our youngest member is 18 and oldest “over 80”. Many of our members joined at a young age and some have given 50 years of service to The Choral.
Surely all Huddersfield Choral Society members are music teachers or professional musicians/soloists?
Not so: our members are drawn from all walks of life, their common interest being an enjoyment of singing and the sense of camaraderie, fun and being part of a great team! Of course some are very capable of taking solo roles, but the key is to blend in with the other members in order to create the great “Huddersfield Sound”.
I’m already in another choir, can I do both?
As we only rehearse on a Friday night from 7.30pm to 9.30pm at Greenhead College (with occasional additional rehearsals) it is perfectly possible to combine being in The Choral with being in another choir - of course one that rehearses at another time! About a third of our members also sing in other choirs and enjoy the wide range of experience that it brings.
How many concerts do I have to do?
That is entirely up to you. As we are an organisation made up of amateurs (although with professional standards and outlook) we recognise that our members have other commitments outside The Choral! That’s one of the reasons we need a strong membership - not everyone is able to participate in every concert.
How many rehearsals do I need to attend?
In order to perform in any concert all members need to have attended a minimum of 2/3rds of the available rehearsals for that concert. This is important in achieving the high standards expected by our audiences.
Do I need to live in Huddersfield?
Not at all, as long as you can get here to rehearse and perform – we have members from all parts of Yorkshire (and some even venture here from the other side of the Pennines).
How much is the annual subscription?
The annual subscription of £75 (half price for students) helps to cover the weekly rehearsal costs with professional chorus masters Joseph Cullen and deputy Darius Battiwalla, and sessions with vocal coach James Ashworth. As an incentive, if you introduce a new member and they pass their audition, you’ll receive £75 as a reward – then your membership is effectively free! Introduce more than one, and you’re in profit.
So now you’re ready to apply for membership!
Applying for Membership
If you would like a copy of the application form then please download it here!
Recruitment Page
If you would like to discuss possible membership for yourself or put forward the name of prospective members known to you, please contact:
Gaynor Haliday
Recruitment Officer
01484 667 849 (home)
07951 482 047 (mobile)
Email Gaynor