Questions For A Prospective Musical Director.

[seniorcit]

We are a small Community Choir that, in normal circumstances, meet for a morning once a week. Due to illness, we have to find a new Musical Director. We have two interested people who have given us their CV s. It is up to our committee members to conduct virtual interviews as our outgoing M D is too ill to do this. We have no idea of the most pertinent questions to ask. Both the applicants seem to be very well qualified and already have quite a work load. Any advice would be
very much appreciated.

[Paigntonian]

The one that smiles the most. It should be about joy.

[woofgang]

Make a list of what you are looking for, ask the rest of the choir too...do you value a casual attitude over high standards and so on.

[Electrochem]

As someone who has sung in a variety of choirs for around sixty years (including a Community Choir), I would ask the following:

How would you bring the best out in our members?

What experience have you had of leading a choir such as ours?

What three things do you see as most important in being a part of a Community Choir?

How would you encourage shy members?

I still sing in a Community Choir, but I also sing in a much more formal choir, which sings heavier Choral Music, meaning that members need to be able to read music and have good sight reading ability. Our MD in that choir, is very experienced musician and spends a lot of time on teaching phrasing and diction amongst other things.

The MD of the Community Choir is also a very experienced singer and brings out the best in us. Not all the members can read music, so parts are taught individually. We sing a capella.

Community Choirs are fantastic and it's important that all members enjoy themselves and have fun.

I hope you find someone soon.