Leeds Minster named a Pilgrim Place of Christian heritage
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We are looking for a CHORISTER TUTOR (Vocal Coach) for the Leeds Minster Children’s Choir
Self-employed, on a per-session basis, and reporting to the Director of Music.
An enhanced DBS disclosure will be required, as well as an awareness of, and agreement to, the Minster’s safeguarding policies and procedures.
We seek to appoint a self-employed Chorister Tutor (Vocal Coach), to work with our fledgling Minster Children’s Choir (established in March 2025, in partnership with our church school, St. Peter’s CofE Primary School, and which currently comprises 19 boys and girls from Years 3-6). The choir currently rehearses at Leeds Minster weekly and contributes monthly to the music at the Sunday Eucharist.
The role is based upon an initial 12 attendances per annum on Wednesday afternoons, with the dates of engagement to be mutually agreeable to the successful applicant and to the Minster. The tutor will work with members of the children’s choir under the musical direction of the Director of Music, and with the support of two chaperones, who constitute the choir’s pastoral staff.
A typical hour-long session might involve taking a plenary warm-up, running a short Year 3 clinic focussing upon good basic technique and some elementary theory/notation work, and working with a small group of 3 or 4 children on technique and musicianship, as applied to excerpts of the current service repertoire.
We acknowledge that the position is extremely part-time, so it might suit somebody with a portfolio career, or perhaps an experienced musician and teacher who is semi-retired. Ideally, we are seeking a strong musician with good singing teaching experience, experience of working with young children, and who is passionate about involving children in enjoying learning to sing through the medium of traditional sacred choral music.
Remuneration will be at a competitive per-session rate, based upon professional experience.
Interested candidates should email the Minster’s Director of Music, Alexander Woodrow, outlining their musical, vocal and teaching experience. Alex is also very happy to answer any questions you may have about the choir or the role.
We would be pleased to hear from you by a deadline of Friday 23rd January; we will shortlist as necessary beyond that and invite suitable candidates to come and meet the children’s choir and undertake a couple of teaching tasks on a suitable Wednesday in the light of the applications received. We look forward to hearing from you.
