How to join
Open rehearsals are usually held in January and September each year and this is a good route to joining the choir. Check the events page where these will be advertised.
In order to maintain the high standards that the Edinburgh Bach Choir is renowned for, the Musical Director requires new applicants to give a simple audition. You will be asked to sing from a short piece of your own choice and to undertake simple tests to show reasonable sight-reading ability and a good musical ear. Full details of the audition process can be read here.
For further information about membership please e-mail the Choir Membership secretary, giving your name, address, telephone number and e-mail address. It would also be helpful to please state whether you are a soprano, alto, tenor or bass and what singing experience you have had. We look forward to hearing from you.
When we meet
The core of our activity as a choir is our Tuesday night meetings. Under the guidance of our Musical Director and piano accompanist, we learn and practise the pieces for our next concert. We meet from 7.15pm to 9.30pm in St Cuthberts Church, Lothian Road, EH1 2EP We have 3 ‘terms’ per year: September – December, January – March and April – May/June.
Concerts
Members are encouraged to be actively involved in selling concert tickets, although no minimum ticket sales per person are required. Dress for concerts varies. It is normally long black dresses (or black long skirt/evening trousers and blouse) for women and black trousers and shirts for men.
Music Scores
The choir librarian sources all required music scores on behalf of choir members. All members have the option to either purchase scores at a discounted price, or to hire scores for free. Occasionally there may be pieces which are not available to hire in which case there may be a small cost, but we minimise this as much as possible. Following a successful audition, the librarian will ensure you have all the scores you need. Members also need a black concert folder, which the librarian will supply for a deposit of £10, which will be returned to you if you return your folder on leaving the choir.
Subscriptions
Annual subscriptions are payable. The current rate is £160 a year or £55 for under 35's, full-time students and those unemployed and under state pension age.
Members are asked to pay their subscriptions by Gift Aid whenever possible. If preferred, subscriptions can be paid by monthly standing order.
