Update on Auditions

This is proving a difficult year for everyone who loves the performing arts, whether as professionals, amateurs, or would-be audiences.

In Cadenza, we too have been disappointed by having to suspend our rehearsals and cancel concerts. We’re a very friendly choir so we miss each other’s company, as well as giving great concerts – exciting to perform and hopefully exciting for our audience to hear.

Photo by Jonathan Petersson from Pexels

But we’re also looking beyond the current Covid-19 crisis. While a lot remains uncertain about when, and how far, we can return to normal, we are hoping to re-start rehearsals in October for our Christmas concert. Cadenza is always looking for good singers of all voices. We don’t have a huge turnover of members, and the greatest need is in the bass and tenor sections, but we’re still interested in hearing from any singer who might like to try us out with a view to joining us.

How can you do this? We normally hold an Open Rehearsal in October (if that is safe and practical this year), as a chance for you to sing with us for the evening and to see what we’re like – no obligation, but a warm welcome. So keep an eye on our News page for updates. We then arrange short private auditions for anyone interested in joining us with our Musical Director, Jenny Sumerling. If you’re successful, we’ll ideally want you to join us with immediate effect. See our Join page for more information about membership.

What does membership involve? Broadly, our annual repertoire includes three contrasting programmes:

  • On the ‘lighter side’, 2‒3 charity concerts, largely a cappella, in April to June.
  • Our ‘showcase’ Fringe concert, with major works and often with orchestral accompaniment, in late August, usually in the magnificent Greyfriars Kirk.
  • Our Christmas concert in early December.

Details of our upcoming concerts and previous concerts can be found elsewhere on our website.

We rehearse weekly on Wednesday evenings, in ‘terms’ that mirror the school calendar, meaning breaks at Easter, in the summer and at Christmas.

We’re a relatively small choir, performing a lot of richly varied music, some of which is quite complex, so it is very important that members attend most, if not all, rehearsals and, obviously, all the concerts. So we’re looking for a serious commitment, but one we’re sure is worthwhile.

So, while we’re still subject to advice on resuming social gatherings, we’d still be glad to hear from you if you are even tentatively interested. Contact Membership Secretary, Chris Ayton (membership@cadenza.org.uk, 07770 754369, or via our Contact Form), for more information and we’ll keep in touch with you as things develop.