Durham University - University College Director of Music Scholarship

Benefit

You will receive a music scholarship of about 350 EUR (roughly £300) for one year as student music director of the Castle Chapel Choir at University College (‘Castle’) at Durham University. The choir is one of the best college choirs in Durham and is run entirely by students. As music director, you will lead the choir in both musical and organisational matters. The college chaplain will appoint you and supervise you.

These activities will fill your diary: weekly Choral Evensong (a sung evening service) on Thursdays, guest services in cathedrals such as York Minster and Durham, a summer stay in London with performances at Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral, an annual international summer tour (the most recent ones took us to Sicily, Rome and Scandinavia), album recordings and solo concerts.

Eligibility

• University: You are currently a student at Durham University. You do not necessarily have to be a member of the University College itself; choir members can come from any college in Durham.
• Level: You are a student or a PhD student.
• Field of study: The subject doesn’t matter; what counts is your musical ability.
• Skills: You will be responsible for conducting a choir, providing musical accompaniment for church services and supervising organ students. A sound knowledge of organ playing or conducting would be a great advantage for this role.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply, provided they are enrolled at Durham University.

How to apply

Auditions take place during the induction week at the start of the academic year, and services begin in the first week of the term. Please contact the choir director to request the application forms and follow the choir’s Instagram page (@CastleChapelChoir) to receive leaflets and the latest information.

How realistic are your chances?

It is a single leadership role attached to a choir at a college in Durham; as a result, very few people apply for it, but you need genuine musical ability to fill the post. If you’re already an accomplished organist or conductor in Durham and audition during Freshers’ Week, your chances are good. The pay is modest; the real appeal lies in the tours, the performances in cathedrals and the recordings that come with leading the choir.