Choral Conducting Scholarship 2024-25 

Outline: 

We are seeking a dynamic, emerging conductor with previous conducting experience who is looking for more opportunity for podium time in front of student and community ensembles at the University of Warwick (https://warwick.ac.uk/) based at the Warwick Arts Centre (https://www.warwickartscentre.co.uk/). This is a paid opportunity. 

Requirements: 

You will need to be available to come to the Warwick Arts Centre, University of Warwick on Tuesday evenings and Thursday afternoons and evenings, during term time. Term dates are available here: https://warwick.ac.uk/study/termdates/#2024  

You should already be confident in taking choir rehearsals and working with singers.  

You will be supported and mentored by University of Warwick Music Centre conductors, Suzzie Vango and Tom Newall, and you will have the opportunity to conduct a vast array of ensembles including: Chamber Choir, Symphony Chorus and Pop Choir. 

There may also be the opportunity to work with our student Chamber Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra. 

This position would suit someone who has experience in running choirs but would like to develop their practice further by leading different groups of singers and instrumentalists.  

Breakdown: 

30 weeks (27 x weeks of rehearsals, 3 x weeks of performances) 

Approx. 1day per week 

Remuneration: 

£6,000 (to include travel expenses, planning and prep time) 

University of Warwick Music Centre: 

The Music Centre at the University of Warwick is for everyone. We believe passionately in the power of music and creative experiences to transform lives, enhance education, and build communities. The University of Warwick offers no formal, academic study of music practice. Our programme is inclusive, and designed to be accessible for anyone, regardless of their age, background, or level of experience. We aim to be world leaders in providing unrivalled opportunities for social music-making in higher education. This includes providing professional leadership, collaborating across art forms with distinguished artists, delivering an innovative outreach and community programme and working with musicians from across a diverse range of musical experiences and backgrounds. For more information, please visit our website: https://warwick.ac.uk/services/musiccentre/  

To apply: 
Please send the following to: suzzie.vango@warwick.ac.uk

• Current CV 

• If possible, a short video demonstrating your conducting (please send this as a weblink rather than an attachment). 

• Instead of a supporting statement we would like you to answer these questions which relate to the role (approx 200 words each). This can be written or you can send a video of yourself answering: 

Q1 What relevant choral/other conducting experience do you have that would make you a suitable candidate for this role?  

Q2 What do you hope to achieve from this opportunity? 

Q3 Which of the groups you will be working with interests you most? (Chorus, Chamber Choir, Vox Warwick (pop choir), staff choir, Symphony Orchestra) 

Q4 What experience do you have of working as part of a team? 

We will be holding an information session online where you will be able to ask any questions you have about this role at 5pm on Tuesday 16th July. Please register your interest for this session by email to suzzie.vango@warwick.ac.uk will send you a link for the session. 

Applications should be sent to suzzie.vango@warwick.ac.uk by Friday 19th July. 

Interviews will be held on Tuesday 23rd July. 
For further information please contact Associate Artist, Suzzie Vango: suzzie.vango@warwick.ac.uk  

Bursaries

Bursaries are available on a yearly basis, providing financial help towards music lessons. The bursary scheme is for musicians of any standard and there are no specific requirements except a desire to have music tuition and get involved in the life of the Music Centre!

The auditions run at the same time as the scholarship auditions (week 4 of the autumn term) and you can pick up an application form from the Music Centre office in Warwick Arts Centre in the first week of term or download a copy from our website nearer the time. Candidates will need to prepare 2 contrasting pieces totalling approx. 8 minutes and also have a chat to the panel about why they are applying for a bursary.

For more information, please feel free to contact us.

Scholarships & Exhibitions

Any full time undergraduate can apply for these.

A number of Music Scholarships are available each year, to encourage talented musicians to make Warwick their first choice for music-making and for a degree. There is no music degree at Warwick and hence these Scholarships are open to students from all subjects. Many Warwick music scholars have continued their musical education at colleges and conservatoires in the UK and abroad after obtaining a first degree in an unrelated discipline. Scholarship awards are currently £500 for each year of residence at Warwick. Exhibition awards are also £500 but these are for one year only.

Music Scholarship and Exhibition holders are expected to contribute heavily to the musical life of the campus. Scholarships are only given to students with exceptional musical ability so scholars will have a key role of playing to a high standard and inspiring the students they play alongside in their music-making. We also encourage scholars to take advantage of the excellent music tutors who work here.

You don’t need to apply before you start at Warwick. You can pick up an application form from the Music Centre office in Warwick Arts Centre in the first week of term or you can download hereLink opens in a new window.

Auditions

The auditions dates are to be decided and will be announced in due course. The audition will be about 10-15 mins long and is designed to allow candidates to demonstrate their potential as well as present level of achievement, and in particular their likely contribution to the musical activities of the Music Centre.

Candidates should choose and prepare two contrasting pieces of a total duration approx. 8 minutes. If offering two instruments or instrument and voice, one work should be prepared on each. Candidates will also have a chat with the audition panel (made up of Music Centre staff) about why they would like to become a scholar, how committed they are to music, and to allow the candidate time to talk about their musical background, interests and ambitions.