Tenor Lay Clerk September 2021 Information Pack

Tenor Lay Clerk September 2021

Information Pack

History

Southwell Minster is of Saxon origin and was founded as a collegiate church in the tenth century. In 1108 Archbishop Gerard put in process the rebuilding of this Anglo-Saxon church and Southwell Minster was created. The church was elevated to cathedral status with the creation of the Diocese of Southwell in 1884 and is now the Cathedral of Nottinghamshire.

The Cathedral stands adjacent to the ruined Archbishop of York’s palace, which had a major renovation in 2013, courtesy of a £1.5 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The State Chamber of the original palace has remained wonderfully preserved, and acts as a concert venue for the Cathedral. The music department below has undergone a complete renovation, including an addition of two new rehearsal rooms, an Organ Scholar flat and a new music library.

A choir has existed at Southwell for over 900 years; the current Cathedral Choir consists of Boy and Girl Choristers, and adult Lay Clerks. Choristers have always been drawn from the Minster School – now a voluntary aided Church of England academy complete with a junior school for the education of the younger choristers and other musically gifted children; it is also part of the Choir Schools’ Association. A Girls’ Choir was added in 2005 to enhance the worship at the Cathedral, which was fully integrated into the Cathedral Choir in 2019; there are now equal opportunities available for both boy and girl choristers. In 2019 the Cathedral invested in a complete new set of cassocks and surplices as to have one style and colour for the Boy Choristers, Girl Choristers, Lay Clerks, Organists and Clergy.

Locality

Originally a Roman settlement, Southwell is a historic town with some 7,500 residents and lies on the River Greet. The town boasts a number of impressive buildings, including multiple Georgian prebendal houses, an old workhouse (now owned by the National Trust), a racecourse, independent shops and restaurants, and many old taverns. Notable events include the Southwell Music Festival and the Gate to Southwell Folk Festival.

There are good transport links by bus to Newark (20 minutes) and Nottingham (40 minutes). Regular trains from Newark to London take 1 hour 20 minutes.

The Choirs

Southwell Minster has a choral tradition stretching back over 900 years and currently comprises Boy Choristers, Girl Choristers, Lay Clerks – six Lay Clerks and six Auxiliary Lay Clerks – and the Minster Chorale. The usual pattern is that, between them, the Boy and Girl Choristers rehearse and sing services on six days of the week, including Evensong on their own on Monday and Tuesday. The Lay Clerks sing with the Choristers from Thursday until Sunday, and for Feast Days and Holy Days at other times. The Cathedral Choir’s repertoire is large and aims to include the best of all eras, from large-scale anthems of Byrd and Palestrina through to Bingham and MacMillan with much in between. The Cathedral Choir has broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and Radio 4 (most recently two services on Easter Day 2019), and foreign tours are undertaken regularly.

The Rector Chori is responsible for both the Boy Choristers and the Girl Choristers. The Assistant Director of Music is the principal accompanist for the Cathedral Choir, while the Organ Scholar plays for services as required, for any combination of Choristers and Lay Clerks, and for the Minster Chorale. The Minster Chorale, the Cathedral’s voluntary choir, is directed by the Assistant Director of Music, and sings at Cathedral liturgies as necessary, complementing the Cathedral Choir’s duties. All the members of the music foundation form a singularly warm and welcoming group; an incoming Lay Clerk would be assured of becoming a member of a happy and sociable team of distinction. 3

Duties of the Post

Southwell Minster employs six Lay Clerks, who are required to be good singers in sympathy with the Church of England ethos. Lay Clerks hold office under Southwell Cathedral Chapter and are directly managed by the Rector Chori.

The typical weekly pattern for Lay Clerks is as follows:

Thursday 5pm for 5.30pm Rehearsal & Evensong 6.15pm-7.00pm Lay Clerks’ rehearsal

Friday 5pm for 5.30pm Rehearsal & Evensong

Saturday 4.45pm for 5.30pm Rehearsal and Evensong

Sunday 9.00am for 10.00am Rehearsal & Eucharist 2.45pm for 3.30pm Rehearsal & Evensong

Occasionally the pattern of Sunday morning worship changes, and on the approach to a big service the Thursday evening rehearsal is sometimes extended. Evensong is sung by the girl choristers on Monday, and on Tuesday by the boy choristers. Wednesday is normally without music. On occasions, particularly on major festivals and Holy Days, the full choir will

occasionally be required to sing on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday; advance notice will be given of these. Days off in lieu are usually given in these circumstances.

It should be noted that currently we are streaming our Sunday services as part of our regular pattern of worship, and there is a policy surrounding this. Other special services may from time to time be streamed, and Lay Clerks will be consulted about these in advance.

The Minster Consort comprises the Lay Clerks together with professional sopranos, and is regularly called upon to sing for weddings, funerals, memorials and other events throughout the year, attracting extra fees. In addition, a recent development has seen the Lay Clerks engaging in consort and close-harmony singing of their own.

Lay Clerks take a variety of other occupations, including teaching, office work, and occasionally study. There may be opportunities to be involved in the Cathedral’s choral outreach. There are occasional job vacancies in the Minster Office, which will appear on the cathedral website. Enquiries are welcome.

Concerts, tours and CDs

The choir regular performs in concert. Until recently, the annual St Cecilia Concert in October acted as a fundraiser for Southwell Minster Choir Association (SMCA), and in recent years has included works such as Francis Jackson’s Daniel in Babylon, Tippett’s Five Negro Spirituals, and Fauré’s Requiem; there are plans to turn this into a Music Foundation Summer Concert. The choristers have been involved in performances of Britten's War Requiem and Bach's St Matthew Passion, and the girl choristers perform Britten's Ceremony of Carols to a full Quire each December.

Regular international tours are undertaken, funded by SMCA. Tours have traditionally rotated between boys, girls and lay clerks, to destinations including Cologne (2013), Leipzig (2014), Sarzana in north-west Italy (2016), Budapest (2016), the Netherlands (2018), and Sées (2019).

There are regular CD projects, including a Regent Records disc of the Vierne & Langlais Messe Solennelle, recorded in Sées Cathedral, France, a CD based on the text of the psalms with Priory Records, and a recording with the girl choristers featuring music for the Blessed Virgin Mary, to whom the Cathedral is dedicated.

Person specification

Essential (E) / Application Form (A) / Desirable (D) Interview (I) Skills • A strong singing voice with a good range E I • Excellent sight-reading ability E I • Confidence as a singer, particular in E I taking solos

Knowledge and Experience • Understanding of and commitment to the E A/I place of music in worship • Experience of singing with professional D A/I ensembles • Knowledge of a wide repertoire D I including both Anglican and European traditions • Understanding of the aims and ethos of D I the Church of England

Personal Attributes • Willingness to take direction and work as E I part of a team • Commitment to continuing professional E I development • Understanding of the need for flexibility E I in the role • Positive and friendly demeanour, with a E I good sense of humour • A professional approach to the role E I • Commitment to following best E I safeguarding practice as appropriate to the role, including enhanced DBS checks and training • Willingness to become fully involved in D I the Minster community • Openness to the possibility of working D I with children in a supervisory capacity, or to work with education events (such as Choral Outreach projects)

Stipend, accommodation and pension

Lay Clerks are currently remunerated at £8,251 (which includes a housing allowance of £1,500) and this is reviewed annually. There are additional fees for extra services, concerts and recordings, except for a number of events for which lay clerks are contracted to be present (such as the annual Choir Concert, diocesan confirmation services etc.).

Accommodation is not available through the Minster, but our current lay clerks have found suitable accommodation in the town or nearby.

The cathedral currently operates a pension scheme in respect of employment. Lay Clerks are entitled to join the stakeholder scheme at 8.5%, paid by Southwell Cathedral Chapter.

Annual holidays

There are no fewer than ten full weeks’ annual holiday, corresponding approximately to the Minster School’s term dates. Half-term leave includes both weekends. Lay Clerks are paid at normal rates in respect of periods of annual holiday.

Singing tuition

In order to help with the musical development of the Lay Clerks, the Minster organises free individual singing tuition with Bradley Smith; it may be possible to arrange for this with another teacher upon request. These twice-termly lessons tend to take place on Saturdays during term-time. Occasional workshops are also arranged.

Absences

Permission for absences must be obtained from the Rector Chori, before the Lay Clerk may book a deputy from the approved list. Subject to the production of appropriate evidence and compliance with other rules relating to absence, lay clerks will receive statutory sick pay. There are a small number of services throughout the year when it is not appropriate for lay clerks to be absent, unless in the most extreme of circumstances, and these will be listed. Such occasions include services over Christmas and Easter.

The Cathedral Choir makes regular broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 Choral Evensong, and occasional other radio and TV appearances, for which attendance is compulsory.

Three months’ notice is required to vacate the office.

Dignity at Work

Southwell Minster is committed to creating a harmonious working environment, which is free from harassment and bullying and in which everyone is treated with respect and dignity. It is committed to ensuring that individuals do not feel apprehensive because of their religious belief (including theology or church tradition), political opinion, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, race, age, or disability, or through any inappropriate behaviour towards them.

Safeguarding

Southwell Minster is committed to: • safeguarding, caring for and nurturing children and young people in the Minster and community. • safeguarding and caring for vulnerable adults in the Minster and community. • informing those involved with children and vulnerable adults in our church of the behaviour expected of them. • explaining the procedure for background checks of those involved with children and vulnerable adults in the Minster • protecting adult members of the church from malicious or false accusations of abuse.

Method of Application

Applications are to be made by 12.00pm on Wednesday 1 September using the application form supplied. There will be a selection process culminating in a shortlist, and an audition process to be held on Thursday 9 September.

Please submit a completed application form, Curriculum Vitae, and a covering letter stating how you fit the role and person specification by 12.00pm on Wednesday 1 September to the Liturgy and Music Administrator: [email protected], or Alastair Clarke, The Minster Centre, Church Street, Southwell, Nottinghamshire, NG25 0HD.

Please include two referees with your application form: a personal referee, and a musical referee.

Auditions and interviews will take place on site at Southwell Minster. You will be asked to sing two contrasting arias or songs, to demonstrate your range through vocal exercises led by a member of the music team, to read the tenor line in a piece of choral music at sight, and to undertake a short piece of ensemble singing with members of the music team.

This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

From 1 January 2021, freedom of movement between the UK and the European Union has ended; therefore we anticipate that we will only be able to offer this post to a UK citizen.

To arrange for a confidential conversation about the role, please email the Rector Chori, Paul Provost, on [email protected].