Welcome

The Nottingham Bach Choir was formed in 1954 and has been making a major contribution to the musical life of Nottingham since then. Most of our concerts are held in St Mary's Church, but we also perform regularly in Southwell Minster. There are approximately 100 members who rehearse weekly under our inspirational Director of Music, Paul Hale. The choir gives high quality performances and is renowned for its sensitive and expressive interpretations of a wide range of choral music, in particular the works of Bach.

Nottingham Bach Choir is an auditioned choir rehearsing on Tuesdays at St John's Church, Carrington, and performs three concerts a year. It also performs a popular Christmas Concert each year at St. Peter's Church, Nottingham as part of their Coffee Morning series.

Although the works of J.S. Bach are central to our repertoire, we regularly perform choral music ranging from the late Renaissance era to the modern day. Outstanding reviews are regularly received for our concerts, most recently for a performance of J.S. Bach's St John Passion at Easter 2018. Amongst our recent seasons, we celebrated 60 years with a magnificent performance of Elgar's Dream of Gerontius in Southwell Minster, and this year have just performed Rossini's Petite Messe Solonnelle which was a joyous end to a wonderful season of music making

If you are interested in joining us or coming to our concerts, then explore our website for details of concerts, membership and workshops.

Nottingham Bach Choir is a registered charity number 508139

OUR NEXT CONCERT

J.S. BACH ST MATTHEW PASSION
SOUTHWELL MINSTER

Saturday March 30th 2019
Part I 3.45pm to 5pm
Part II 7.30pm to 9.45pm

Paul Hale Conductor
Rogers Covey-Crump Evangelist
Giles Underwood Christus
Ruth Provost Soprano
Helen Charlston Mezzo soprano
Peter Harris Tenor
Stephen Cooper Baritone
Geoff Williams Bass

Every few years, the choir loves to return to this, one of the great pillars of sacred music. Full of drama and pathos in the telling of the story of Christ’s Passion, the varied solos are interspersed by hymn-like chorales (originally for the congregation to join in). The soloists are often partnered by particular instruments from the orchestra, giving each aria a special colour. Whether this is your first or your hundredth hearing, there is always something new and
profound to discover in this monumental work.

Box office opens February 16th 2019

LIZ CHANT BURSARY AWARD 2019

Liz Chant Bursary for young singers

The NBC Liz Chant Bursary is available as a result of a generous legacy by a long-standing choir member. It is an award of £1000, which is made to a singer aged 16-24 whose personal address is in Nottingham or Nottinghamshire. The winner will show outstanding potential and will have achieved Grade 6 or the equivalent. The bursary may be shared between a maximum of two singers.

Who can apply?

Singers whose personal address is in Nottingham or Nottinghamshire. You should have passed Grade 6 or equivalent and be either currently studying singing or applying to specialise in vocal studies at a further or higher education institution.

What can the bursary be used for?

This is an unrestricted bursary which can be used for any expenses connected with your vocal studies, such as lessons, travel, courses, books and equipment.

How will applicants be assessed?

We are looking for someone who shows excellence in communication and performance. You will be assessed by:

- your written application

- your recordings of application pieces

- for short-listed applicants, a short interview and a final audition, before an audience, on the afternoon of Saturday 23^rd March 2019.

At the audition, applicants may bring their own accompanist or make use of the accompanist provided. Up to three pieces may be performed.

The panel will include the Musical Director and Deputy Musical Director of Nottingham Bach Choir.

Applicants should provide recordings of their own performance of their application pieces at the time of applying. Two references from singing teachers or course tutors are required at the time of application.

Unsuccessful finalists will be offered feedback by a member of the panel.

Timeline

The closing date for applications is noon on Thursday 31st January 2019.

Your application will be acknowledged.

The recipient of the Bursary will be announced on the day of the auditions.

General information

Applicants may receive the award only once.

The winner will receive, on application, two tickets for each of NBC’s concerts in the year of the award.

It is hoped that the winner will have the opportunity to give a short performance to choir members within three years of the award being made.

Unsuccessful applicants may re-apply in a later year.

Questions may be addressed to Peter Finch by email at nbcbursaries@pfwd.co.uk

Application Form

Please download an application form here or email Peter Finch at nbcbursaries@pfwd.co.uk

2 December 2018

VACANCY FOR POST OF ACCOMPANIST

Nottingham Bach Choir

invites applications for the post of

Accompanist

A rare opportunity to work with one of Nottingham’s

most respected choral ensembles

Nottingham Bach Choir is seeking a talented musician to take over from our current accompanist, Peter Siepmann, who is to succeed Paul Hale as Director of Music in September 2019. The role offers the opportunity to help to prepare the choir for an exciting repertoire of concerts, and the possibility of playing organ, piano or harpsichord in performances.

Nottingham Bach Choir is an auditioned choir of around 110 members, performing at public concerts to a high standard. The concert programme, in which the works of JS Bach play a central role, is drawn largely from the standard Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Twentieth Century choral repertoire, including regular opportunities to perform new or rarely-performed works. Rehearsals are supported by the piano, whilst performances are orchestrally accompanied. The Choir was founded in 1954 by Sir David Lumsden, with successive conductors including Professors Ivor Keys, Denis Arnold, Robert Pascall and John Morehen. For the last twenty-seven years, NBC has been under the direction of Paul Hale (now Southwell Cathedral Organist Emeritus). In September 2019, Peter Siepmann will become the choir’s seventh Director of Music. Alongside his work with NBC, Peter is Head of Academic Music at Repton School, an Examiner for ABRSM and has been Director of Music at St Peter’s Church Nottingham since 2007.

The choir rehearses on Tuesdays from 7.30pm to 9.30pm at the recently refurbished church of St John the Evangelist, Carrington, for around thirty-six weeks of the year in line with academic terms (sometimes half-term weeks are free). It usually performs three major public concerts a year, most of them at St Mary’s Church, but with regular visits to Southwell Minster too. There is also a Christmas Carol Concert usually held at St Peter’s Church.

The successful applicant will be an experienced pianist, with excellent sight and score reading ability, strong interpersonal skills, flexibility, enthusiasm and highly-developed musicianship.

For the right candidate, the position of Accompanist may incorporate the role of Assistant Director of Music, and/or the opportunity to accompany the choir (organ, piano, or continuo as appropriate) in concert.

Remunerations and fees are commensurate with experience and expertise, and guided by professional recommendations; this will be discussed further at interview. Further information (including details of the application and selection procedure) and an application form is available here via the links. Interested candidates are also welcome to contact the Chair of the Trustees, Lynda Wilson (Chair@nottinghambachchoir.org.uk) or the incoming Director of Music, Peter Siepmann (peter.siepmann@nottinghamchurches.org) for an informal discussion.