About the Choir

The Liverpool Renaissance Singers is an Early Music choir of about 24 accomplished amateur singers formed in 1965 as the Renaissance Music Group. We perform music of the Renaissance and early Baroque eras, usually unaccompanied. The choir's voices include the usual soprano, alto, tenor and bass ranges.

We are a friendly and welcoming choir, with members of all ages and backgrounds creating beautiful music together. Our Music Director Deborah Catterall has led the choir since the 2016 /2017 season.

Our main repertoire is Renaissance music, occasionally ranging into the Medieval and early Baroque eras. We mostly sing un-accompanied, though sometimes we invite other instrumentalists and soloists to perform with us.

The choir regularly performs in Liverpool, across Merseyside (including Wirral) and North Wales. We usually give around 6-8 recitals per year, with our three main recitals at Christmas, Easter and in the early summer.

We currently rehearse at Liverpool Parish Church (Our Lady and St Nicholas) in Liverpool city centre on Wednesday evenings. New members are welcome at any point in the year. If you have any questions about the choir please look at our FAQs or learn more about us.

The choir was originally formed in 1965 as the Renaissance Music Group under the direction of Morris Davies who remained Director until his retirement in the 2015/2016 season. The choir enjoyed a long association with the School of Music at the University of Liverpool for many years. If you are interested in finding out more about the history of the choir, please enquire via our contact page.

Liverpool Renaissance Singers are registered with Charity Commission of England and Wales, Charity number 1189084. Our objects are “to advance, improve, develop and maintain public education in, and appreciation of, the art and science of music in all its aspects”

The choir is a member of Making Music.

Joining the choir

For more details on being a choir member, please read our FAQs

If you are interested in joining the choir, please email the choir at renaissancesingersliverpool@gmail.com

If you would like to support the choir, please donate

Searching for our new musical director

Introduction: Musical Director

Application Deadline: 27th November 2024

The Liverpool Renaissance Singers invite applications for the position of Musical Director, to take up the post no later than 30th April, 2025. Comprising approximately 25 mixed voices and established in 1965, the choir specialises in mainly unaccompanied music spanning the late mediaeval to early Baroque period.

Rehearsals take place at St. Nicholas, Liverpool’s Parish Church at the Pier Head on Wednesday evenings during term-time from 7.30 - 9.30 pm. Recitals are given at Christmas, Easter and in the summer term. The music is often performed again at a different venue in Merseyside or further afield. The choral items in our recitals are usually interspersed with instrumental items. All members of the choir read music and some are able to sing solos. Auditions are held at the Musical Director’s discretion for new members.

We are looking for a Musical Director who shares our interest in Renaissance music and who will wish to perform works of the early 14th to early 17th century. Above all, we hope to appoint someone who will be able to develop our singing abilities and at the same time continue to make our rehearsals a pleasurable and rewarding experience.

Job Description

The Musical Director will have the following responsibilities:

  • To rehearse the choir and prepare for up to six recitals across the three terms. This may include the occasional liturgical performance.
  • To conduct those concerts
  • To work with the Committee to prepare musical programmes for the coming season, through a planning session in the summer
  • To provide the Committee with all details reasonably required for producing programmes and publicity material

Skills and Abilities

Essential

The musical director will

  • Have excellent conducting skills and musicality
  • Be a skilled vocal coach able to develop choral technique in others
  • Have extensive knowledge of the Renaissance repertoire
  • Have the ability to devise an inspiring and balanced programme
  • Enjoy working with people of differing abilities and be able to develop a good rapport
  • Be able to work cooperatively and constructively with a committee

Desirable

  • Be able to play piano/organ to accompany the choir in rehearsal if needed
  • Integrate and develop a relationship with the local musical community

Outline terms of appointment

  • The Musical Director will enter into a self-employed contract for the provision of his/her services
  • Remuneration will be between £3,250 and £4,250 per annum depending on experience

Appointment Process

  • The closing date for applications is 27th November, 2024
  • Application is to the Chairman by email or letter accompanied by CV, including the names and contact details of two referees, and a suggestion for a summer programme that would not exceed one and a half hours (including an interval of fifteen minutes)
  • Those long-listed will be invited for interview on Wednesday, 11th December
  • Short-listed applicants will be invited to conduct the choir in rehearsal on Wednesday, 8th January 2025
  • The successful candidate should take up the post no later than 30th April 2025

Please send a letter or email of application along with your CV to Christopher Smale, Chairman, Liverpool Renaissance Singers, 55 Heathbank Avenue, Irby, Wirral, CH61 4XY or postmaster@thesmales.plus.com

For further information please ring the Chairman on 0151-648-4944 and see http://www.liverpoolrenaissancesingers.org or Facebook page