Diocese of Westminster, Music department
Vacancies have arisen for a counter-tenor and a tenor lay clerk to sing in Westminster Cathedral Choir. Westminster Cathedral is the principal cathedral of the Roman Catholic Church in Great Britain and is the seat of the Archbishop of Westminster. It is also, along with Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral, one of the three professional choral foundations in London.
The Choir has an international reputation. In addition to its liturgical duties in the Cathedral it gives concerts both at home and abroad, and is well known for its recordings and broadcasts.
The Choir sings services daily. Eight professional lay clerks (two counter-tenors, three tenors and three basses) are employed to join the boy choristers, who are all boarders in the Cathedral Choir School. Additional men join the Choir for Sundays and special services, concerts and recordings, and there is a substantial approved deputy list from which lay clerks may engage deputies within permitted limits.
The normal schedule of services is: Monday-Friday 1620 Rehearsal
(excluding Tuesday) 1700 Vespers (men’s voices)
1730 Mass (full choir)
Saturday 1000 Rehearsal
1030 Mass
Sunday 0945 Rehearsal
1030 Solemn Mass
1500 Rehearsal
1530 Solemn Vespers
The schedule is worked as a rota, and each lay clerk takes Tuesday and one other day off per week by arrangement with his colleagues. Services on Tuesdays are sung by the choristers in term time.
The salary is currently £21,777, reviewed annually. Special services, broadcasts, concerts, recordings, etc, are subject to extra fees.
Candidates for this post are expected to show excellent sight-reading abilities. An understanding of Gregorian chant and the mainstream polyphonic repertory is essential. The Cathedral will be looking for evidence of commitment to and sympathy with its aims and ideals and those of its Choir.
The appointed candidate will be offered a probationary contract for ten months in the first instance. The ideal start date is 1 September 2012, although this can be negotiated if necessary.
Please return the enclosed application form, together with a copy of your curriculum vitae and the names and addresses of your referees by 18 May 2012
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