Southampton Philharmonic Choir - Musical Director Vacancy (from September 2026) Southampton Philharmonic Choir (SPC), one of the leading and longest-established choirs in the Wessex region, seeks a new Musical Director to take up the post in September 2026. SPC is an auditioned choir of around 110 singers drawn from Southampton, South Hampshire and the New Forest. We rehearse and perform in partnership with the Southampton University Philharmonic Choir, which typically augments our numbers by 20-40 voices. Rehearsals take place on Monday evenings at Turner Sims, the concert hall at the University of Southampton. Our concerts are held mainly at the O2 Guildhall Southampton, with occasional performances at Turner Sims, Romsey Abbey and Winchester Cathedral. We perform three major concerts each year, engaging professional orchestras and soloists, and presenting a varied, ambitious repertoire ranging from the baroque to contemporary works. We are looking for a dynamic and inspiring conductor with the skill, creativity and warmth to motivate singers, develop musicianship and continue the choir's artistic growth. Further details, including role description and application process, are available in the https://drive.google.com/file/d/11CWub0swqk3i_CHI0q6JMJOdivdtir5o/view?usp=sharing - Candidate Information Pack. Applications should be sent to Deborah Mitchell, Secretary, at mailto:[email protected] - [email protected] by midnight on Friday 2 January 2026. Please send your application by email to [email protected]. • A covering letter explaining why you are applying and what you would bring to the role We are also happy to receive testimonials from choirs with which you have worked and/or short video recordings of yourself conducting, but these are completely optional.Job Summary
Job Description
Remuneration (reviewed annually): in the current year, £1,400 per concert plus £140 per 2-hour rehearsal (minimum 30 rehearsals p.a.; minimum two concerts p.a.). Note that the MD is engaged on a freelance basis.Useful Links
How to Apply
If you have any questions about the process, please contact Deborah Mitchell, Secretary, at the same address.
Your application should be submitted as a single email with attachments in MS Word or PDF format. You will receive an acknowledgement upon receipt.
Your application should include:
• Personal details, contact information, education and background
• A CV outlining relevant experience
• References from two professional contacts
• A brief statement outlining your vision for the Choir over the next five years