Belfast-based choir Cappella Caeciliana wishes to recruit an experienced, enthusiastic Musical Director who shares a love of great choral music and will bring their own energy and inspiration to continue the choir’s very successful musical journey, further developing the choir. The current MD is retiring after 21 rewarding years with us, and the new MD will be required from September 2020.
Founded in 1995 on the feast of St Cecilia, the twenty-strong Cappella Caeciliana is a leading choir in Northern Ireland. This cross-community award-winning group has toured throughout Ireland, Scotland, Europe and USA, with repertoire ranging from plainchant to contemporary compositions, with a particular regard for great sacred music. The choir has worked closely with numerous high-profile contemporary composers and conductors including Sir James Macmillan, Stephen Layton and Eamonn Dougan, sings at liturgies and at concerts regularly within Northern Ireland and beyond, and has recorded five CDs. Our repertoire is largely a cappella.

The choir typically performs 6 concerts and sing at 2-3 liturgies per year. The MD, in consultation with the committee, is responsible for the programming and planning of these engagements and plays a core part in the development of the choir through attendance at committee meetings and auditioning singers. The choir rehearses weekly during term time on Sunday evenings 7-9pm in Belfast.
Further duties of the MD will include:

Preparing for and conducting rehearsals and performances; serving as member of committee; making proposals for repertoire and for new opportunities/events; providing expert advice to committee; assessing and auditioning all candidates applying for membership, with assistance of choir members as required; supporting the vocal and musical development of individual singers and the choir’s overall development; undertaking other duties as required and agreed.

Essential Criteria

i. Experience working with choirs at a high standard
ii. Talented musician with proven track record in choir training
iii. Excellent communication skills and a positive approach

Desirable Criteria

i. Keyboard proficiency
ii. Experience in collaboration with solo singers, orchestras and chamber groups
iii. Track record in organisation and planning of events
iv. Proven knowledge of vocal support and training.

Remuneration will be at competitive rates.

Further information about Cappella Caeciliana and recordings of the choir are available on www.caeciliana.org.

Enquiries and requests for application forms should be made to cappella.recruit [at] gmail.com.

Applications will be accepted via application form only, with closing date 28 February 2020, and must be submitted to cappella.recruit [at] gmail.com.