We are always delighted to hear from singers who would like to audition to join us.
“one of Britain’s very best choirs” (New York Times)
Ex Cathedra comprises freelance professional singers, professionally-trained singers who have other careers and sing with us as volunteers, and students. There is a friendly, almost family ethos within the choir – a group of people who enjoy working together and making music at a very high standard.
You can find more about us here, and all our forthcoming concerts here (to give an idea about our range of repertoire – which reaches from Renaissance masters Byrd and Tallis to world premieres, with a particular focus on music from the Baroque.
Professional singers
Please email your CV and a video of two contrasting pieces to Melissa Brown (Concerts Producer).
We hold audition days approximately twice a year. We will reply to let you know if we can offer you an audition and when, and send you all the details.
Professionally-trained volunteer singers
This section is particularly designed to provide more information for professionally-trained volunteer singers and students, to give you an idea of what to expect if you are thinking of requesting an audition. It may be helpful for professional singers too.
Ex Cathedra provides a unique opportunity for you to perform a very wide range of choral repertoire at such a standard, alongside the UK’s finest professional choral singers, and in some of the UK’s greatest concert halls and churches. This includes concerts that are accompanied by our own Baroque orchestra of leading UK players, performances with other orchestras (CBSO, Britten Sinfonia amongst others), with leading period-instrument ensembles like His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts, collaborations with dance companies (Birmingham Royal Ballet, Cas Public, Keneish Dance), and – of course – unaccompanied concerts such as our magical Christmas Music by Candlelight and Summer Music by Candlelight series.
Professionally-trained volunteer singers are not expected to sing in all of our concerts. We recognize that you may have other commitments. Indeed, some of our concerts are performed by the professional singers only (the Consort). We rehearse on a project basis, so if you sign up for a concert you are expected to attend all of the rehearsals for that concert. N/as may be agreed in advance in exceptional circumstances. If you are available for a concert and can attend all the rehearsals you would usually be invited to sing in that concert.
Rehearsals usually take place on Wednesday evenings from 6.30-9.30pm at St John and St Peter’s Church in Birmingham, B16 8TF. Rehearsals occasionally take place on other days.
All singers are auditioned. If you are considering auditioning as a non-professional singer you will usually have had professional training and/or sung at a high level with other choirs. You will need to read music confidently and able to work in a fast-paced musical environment.
If this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you!
To request an audition, please email Melissa Brown (Concerts Producer) with an outline of your singing experience and a video of yourself singing a piece. If you have any questions about that please contact us and we can advise. We hold audition days about twice a year. If we invite you to an audition, we will ask you to sing two contrasting pieces (we will provide an accompanist) and to do some sight-singing. We recognize that some people find sight-singing easier than others, so do not be put off.
Equality and Diversity:
Ex Cathedra is committed to building an inclusive and diverse organisation that reflects our region and the communities with whom we work.
We recognise that diversity brings a wealth of benefits and strongly encourage audition requests from people of all ages, of Black, Asian, and ethnically diverse backgrounds, women, trans and non-binary candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and those who have a disability. If you have any access needs relevant to the audition process, please get in touch with us directly so we can help.
To help us monitor our ability to reach a range of prospective singers, we encourage you to complete our Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form, which is anonymous and not used as part of the selection process.
We believe, that whoever you are, and however you engage and connect with us, and whenever you do so, you are entitled to feel safe, at ease, respected, and welcome. This incorporates our approach to safeguarding children and adults at risk of harm. You can find our full statement of beliefs, safeguarding policy and related documents here.