Updates

Haddo House Choral & Operatic Society

Our present Musical Director will be leaving in June 2025 and we are now looking for a successor.  This would be an exciting position for either an experienced, or novice, choir-master with a passion for  choral work and opera, who has the drive to continue to take our musical programmes forward with an  ever-respectful eye to the strong traditions HHCOS has built up over the years.  

HHCOS was established some 80 years ago, and currently has some 60 adult singing voices. The choir  is non-auditioned and is a blend of trained and untrained voices. The last few years have seen us  perform choral works at the theatre and chapel at Haddo House and other venues. 

Our Aims and Objectives include the encouragement of young musicians, both professional and  amateur, and our ambitious repertoire has allowed us to develop good links with the Royal  Conservatoire of Scotland from where we often engage students as our soloists. We also encourage  local orchestral players to perform in the Haddo Orchestra and we are fortunate to have a long standing relationship with the Aberdeen Sinfonietta. Over the years we have welcomed many guest  directors, singers and conductors – they have all said that Haddo is a very special place to perform. 

Our current plans for 2025/2026 comprise a performance of Stainer’s Crucifixion this October, a series  of carol concerts in December and, in March 2026, an event to celebrate our 80th Anniversary.  

We will require our new Musical Director to begin in October 2025 and to take full responsibility for  the December 2025 carol concerts before preparing for an anniversary performance in March 2026.  On completion of a trial period of 9 months with the choir, the position may become permanent. 

Our founder, June Gordon, set out to make classical music and opera something to be enjoyed by all,  and we would want our new Musical Director to embrace this philosophy. Our aspirations are  ambitious, and we look to be led by a Musical Director who can bring the very best out of us, and who  has the skills to work with singers of mixed abilities. We would look to him or her to develop our  musical programme for each year, and take weekly rehearsals with our principal choir during school  term-times, with additional rehearsals required in the lead-up to concerts and productions.  

We invite applications for this position, and ask that, together with a brief CV, applicants also enclose  their suggestions for a musical programme covering the next two seasons. Whilst we acknowledge that  you do not know us, or our capabilities as a choir, it will none-the-less give us an idea of where your  own vision and ambitions may lie. 

Remuneration for the post will be by negotiation. 

Applications should be submitted electronically to our Secretary, Sue Willing, at  secretary@hhcos.org.uk. The closing date for applications is Friday 23rd May. Interviews will be  carried out at Haddo during the following 2 weeks.

Founders: David Gordon CBE K.StJ and June Gordon CBE DL FRCM FRSAMD FRSE
Royal Patron: HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, KG GCVO ADC
Patrons: Joanna, the Marchioness of Aberdeen & Temair, Dr Neil Mackie CBE FRSAMD FRCM,
Patricia MacMahon FRSAMD, Dr Lisa A Milne MBE

www.hhcos.org.uk

The Aberdeen Orpheus Choir is currently inviting applications for the position of Musical Director to replace their current director when she retires in the Summer of 2026. Full details of the position can be found here with information on how to apply and where to make informal queries in the first instance.

Spectrum Singers are a small amateur choir based in Kemnay. We are looking to recruit a musical director who can develop our musical skills and accompany us at rehearsals and performances. We meet every Sunday from 1.45 -3.45 and enjoy the challenge and fun of learning new pieces together. Payment will be discussed at the interview and travelling expenses may be covered.

If you would like more information, please contact naida.sneddon@hotmail.co.uk or phone 07811699034.

DIRECTOR OF MUSIC POSITION   Inverurie Choral Society seeks a Graduate/Post-graduate musician with a qualification/interest in Vocal Tuition, who would like to progress their musical career development by directing a local Choir such as ours.  Excellent Keyboard skills for our weekly practices and the occasional informal performances are essential.  We do “buy in” an accompanist for formal concerts, but do not have a weekly accompanist. A fee is payable per rehearsal and for concerts.  

APPLICATIONS  Applications are invited from musicians with appropriate qualifications. A recently qualified graduate who is looking to develop experience as a choir MD is certainly welcome to apply.  A letter of application with CV attached should be emailed to arrive by Friday 17 January 2025:  to inveruriechoral@gmail.com or by post to: 
Inverurie Choral Society, 
c/o 7, Cuninghill Road, 
Inverurie, AB51 3TS. 

SPREAD THE WORD!  If you are interested, we would be pleased to receive your application a soon as possible.  If you know of anyone else who might be interested in joining us as our new Director of Music, would you please pass on this information to them? We’d be very happy to discuss the post informally with anyone interested in applying - please see contact information below.   

SELECTION PROCESS  A practical interview will be arranged as soon as possible on a Wednesday evening, provisionally 6.30pm to 8.30pm on Wednesday 22nd or Wednesday 29th January 2025. This will consist of an informal two-way discussion, followed by taking the choir for a warm-up and rehearsal.  

INVERURIE CHORAL SOCIETY   ICS is a small SATB Choir, with approximately 30 active members. The ability to read music is helpful, but not essential, and we hold no auditions.  We meet on Wednesday nights at 7.30pm during school terms in the Acorn Centre, Inverurie, AB51 3SA.  Founded in 1998 by our first Director of Music John Hearne, Moira Hunter took over in 2005, with a year’s input from Paul Tierney during Moira’s absence. Gordon Jack led us from January 2019 until June 2022, and kept us singing throughout the 2020 lockdown. Faith Ockwell joined us as MD in August 2022 but unfortunately we will lose her skills and enthusiasm as she plans to relocate in the new year. 

We sing an eclectic selection from both the classical and contemporary Choral Repertoire, everything from Madrigals to Vaudeville, Mozart to Jenkins, and more. We put on a Christmas and Summer Concert each year, and organise an annual Come and Sing event. We do Sing-Outs by request at Sheltered, Care and Retirement homes, and for Charity fundraising events.   

Our new website is: https://www.inveruriechoral.co.uk/
Our email is: inveruriechoral@gmail.com

Landline: 01467 620441 (Maeve McDowall)
Text/WhatsApp  07801 078000 (Alan Grant)

Maeve McDowall, on behalf of Inverurie Choral Society Committee

Inverurie Choral Society is registered Scottish Charity no: SC034022

Dear Teachers, Young Musicians, and Parents of Young Musicians, 

Hello from the Aberdeen City Music School. We are opening our doors to young musicians on several evenings throughout the 2024/25 academic year. The purpose of the sessions is to let pupils and parents visit ACMS and find out a bit more about us.

This year, we are delighted to be collaborating with the Aberdeen City Music Service, and the North East of Scotland Music School (NESMS) for some of the workshops.

We are hosting different 'Come and Play' sessions for strings, woodwind, brass, vocal, percussion, jazz improvisation, acoustic guitars and Scottish traditional instruments. The sessions will take place on weekday evenings at the Aberdeen City Music School, Dyce Academy and will run from 5.45 pm to 8 pm. Pupils of all abilities from the ages of 9 to 17 are encouraged to participate and will have the opportunity to play in ensembles, work with ACMS pupils in sectionals, and perform in a short informal concert to parents at the end of each session. There is no charge for any of the sessions.

Here are the different Come and Play session days for 2024/25. Please click on the link and fill out the e-form to register your interest.

Events

Come and Play #1- Jazz Improvisation
Tuesday 29th October 2024 17:45 to 20:00

Come and Play #2 - Traditional Instruments  (Accordion, Harp/Clarsach, Fiddle)
Tuesday 12th November 2024 17:45 to 20:00

Come and Play #3 - Bagpipes 
Wednesday 13th November 2024 17:45 to 20:00

Come and Play #4 - Strings 
Tuesday 19th November 2024 17:45 to 20:00

Come and Sing #5 - Voice 
Wednesday 20th November 2024 17:45 to 20:00

Come and Play #6 - Woodwind 
Tuesday 7th January 2025 17:45 to 20:00

Come and Play #7 - Brass 
Wednesday 8th January 2025 17:45 to 20:00

Come and Play #8 - Percussion 
Thursday 27th February 2025 17:45 to 20:00

Come and Play Day #9 - Acoustic Guitar  (Nylon & Steel Strung - not electric)
Electric players - please sign up for the Jazz Improvisation session (29/10/2024)
Wednesday 5th March 2025 17:45 to 20:00

Details for each session:

Venue

Aberdeen City Music School
Dyce Academy, Riverview Drive,
Dyce, Aberdeen AB21 7NF

Google Maps Location Link

Dyce Academy/ACMS Main Entrance (Google Maps Pin)

What 3 Words Location Link

https://w3w.co/homecare.lays.crisis

Start time

17.45 pm

Finish time

8.00 pm (with informal concert at 7.40 pm)

What to Wear

Comfortable and casual but please wear the requested coloured shirt/jumper/top if possible.
(there are different colour themes for the different weeks)

Equipment required

Instrument, pencil, music stand, water bottle

Breaktime

There will be a short break and water and biscuits
will be provided.

Informal concert

This will begin at 7.40 pm in the Multi Purpose Area (MPA).
Audience members will be met at the Dyce Academy main entrance at
7.35 pm and escorted to the MPA
Please could visitors arrive at the entrance no earlier than 7:30 pm.

Cost:

None

Medical, dietary, and other specific requirements

Please fill out this information in the online application form.

Photo and Video

We would like to take some photos and short video clips of the event to
post on our social media platforms (Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube).
Please indicate on the e-form if you are happy or not for your child to be
photographed videoed for these purposes

Parking (Google Maps Link)

Dyce Academy/ACMS Car Park Location (Google Maps Pin)

Parking (What 3 Words Link)

https://w3w.co/intestine.clown.corrode

Contact telephone number (general enquiries)

01224 793 789

Contact telephone number (on the day)

01224 774773

Contact email

musicschool@aberdeencity.gov.uk